Mersehead Recent Sightings 2nd- 8th December
Last week we reported that a Little Egret flew over the reserve, not a bird that we see every day here at Mersehead so a welcome sight. This week we were spoilt when 5 were spotted on Monday. Smaller than the commoner Grey Heron, the Little Egret more than makes up for its lack of stature with its brilliant white plumage, jet black legs and bright yellow feet. It first bred in the UK in 1996 in Dorset and has since spread rapidly northward with breeding pairs now numbering over 900. In winter this number increases as birds come from the continent to take respite from the harsher winters there.
Little Egret. Photo credit: Paul Chesterfield
Also seen in bigger numbers this week were Roe Deer, with 13 spotted together in one field. In summer Roe are usually solitary or in family groups but can form these larger groupings in the winter. Other non-bird related sightings include a Red Squirrel and an Otter near the entrance of the reserve by the Beck Burn, spotted by one lucky visitor on Tuesday. The female Marsh Harrier has been seen again this week, hunting over the reedbed while the confiding Kingfisher was seen from its regular perch just outside of Meida Hide. In the woodland there has been regular sightings of the Great Spotted Woodpecker as well as a party of Long-tailed Tits.
Otter. Photo credit: Ben Andrew
Out on the wetlands the usual array of dabbling ducks were joined by a group of 8 Tufted Duck and a female Goldeneye. These ducks are different from dabbling ducks, who upend and search for food in relatively shallow water (up to 50cm), by instead diving for their food to depths of over 2m. They are cleverly adapted to this lifestyle by having their feet set further back on their body compared to dabbling ducks; this allows them to propel themselves through the water in search of food.
We were over at our Kirkconnell reserve this Thursday carrying out the high tide reserve count. There was a battle with the weather at points when a strong, cold wind and heavy showers made for slightly unpleasant counting conditions but with the promise of a warm cup of tea at the end in mind the counters continued unfazed. The highlights included 189 Wigeon, 48 Shelduck, 13 Goldeneye, 164 Lapwing, 1 Greenshank and 4 Scaup.
Greenshank. Photo credit: Andy Hay.
With a hard frost and light falling of snow over night the monthly Wetland Bird Survey count here at Mersehead recorded lower figures than usual with the amount of frozen water present. A diversity of waders were recorded including 2408 Oystercatcher, 91 Dunlin, 90 Curlew, 11 Redshank, 217 Lapwing, 19 Ringed Plover, 61 Golden Plover and 23 Grey Plover. A good count of Pintail was recorded from Bruiach Hide with 157 counted. The female Goldeneye was still present and 3 Little Egret were spotted.
Lana Blakely, Assistant Warden