RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 23rd - 29th June 2018
Here’s what’s been happening in a scorching hot week here at Mersehead…
Last week we reported that some of our house martins had been forcibly evicted from their nests by house sparrows. This proved to be very temporary accommodation for the sparrows however, as we arrived on Monday morning to find one of the nests shattered and its remains on the ground. The assumption is that the nest contents were predated, although the culprit remains a mystery. As previously mentioned, Great Spotted Woodpecker are known to occasionally attack house martin nests, and Sparrowhawk will sometimes shatter a nest in this way. Another suspect could be an enterprising Stoat, which have been seen hunting outside the Sulwath Centre previously. Stoats are able to climb quite well, and one may have figured out a way to get at the nest. It seems that this particular crime will go unsolved though.
Elsewhere around the reserve, a hunting Kestrel was spotted hovering over the fields, and a pair of Snipe were seen from Meida hide. Fledgling Swallow are constantly swooping around the Sulwath Centre, and sometimes can be seen chasing away young Pied Wagtail.
Misty sunrise at Kirkconnell Photo by Dave Long
On Wednesday we were up bright and early for another wader survey at Kirkconnell Merse, the fourth of the year. This visit focused on Curlew, and we were particularly interested to see them exhibiting behaviour suggesting the presence of chicks, such as alarming and protective behaviour like mobbing of predators. With curlew numbers declining nationally, it was encouraging that not only were good numbers seen, but some of these behaviours were also observed. As well as curlew, we also saw decent numbers of Oystercatcher and a few Redshank.
This week’s butterfly survey showed the Meadow Brown and Ringlet to be the most prominent species around the reserve currently. There were also quite a few Common Blue sighted at the meadow end of Rainbow Lane. Other species sighted were Small Heath and Green-Veined White, and an exciting added bonus was the sight of a Red Admiral – the first of the year!
Red Admiral Photo by Jenny Tweedie (rspb-images)
Species found in our moth trap this week included the beautiful Small Elephant Hawkmoth, Clouded Border, Barred Straw, Garden Tiger, Poplar Hawkmoth, Heart and Dart, Brown Line Bright Eyes, Neglected Rustic, Common Rustic, Buff Ermine, White Ermine, Common Wainscot, Brimstone, Purple Clay, Bulrush Wainscot, Pearly Underwing and Copper Underwing.
Small Elephant Hawkmoth Photo by Dave Long
Finally, since I have spent most of this week being devoured by Horse Flies, or Clegs as they are commonly known, here are a few fun facts about them. Did you know that male clegs are harmless and it is only females that bite and feed on blood? They need this to provide protein which enables them to reproduce. The main diet of clegs is in fact plant nectar, and they play an important role as plant pollinators, as well as providing a food source for birds and other predators. So we may curse them, but the humble cleg still has its part to play in the world’s ecosystems.
Dave Long – Residential Volunteer
Every fortnight from 7 June to 20 December, come along to our Mersehead Discover Walk to discover some of the amazing wildlife. As the season's change, so too do the habitats and special creatures found here. These walks will give you a chance to see it all close-up and learn how we manage this important place for nature in our fields and on the wetlands. And for the kids, there's a wild challenge for them to take on too. 11am - 1pm, price: Adults £4 (RSPB members £3), Children half price. Car parking charges apply for non-members. To find out more head over to our website: https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/events-dates-and-inspiration/events/details.aspx?id=tcm:9-455314Read more at http://ww2.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/mersehead/b/mersehead-blog/default.aspx#L6PBbUJrvXaRboUS.99
Plus, get your kids interacting with nature! Every day from June 30th - 31st August we have our Daily Self-lead Wild Challenge - Nature Discovery activity for children under 15. 10am - 4pm, £2 per child, RSPB Members half price. No booking required.