Treasured Memories

RSPB Mersehead Blog 19th - 25th August 2023

My two weeks of work experience at Mersehead has certainly given me the opportunity to develop many skills and receive excellent insight into the varied nature of conservation work – from habitat management to species surveying; from unpicking Owl Pellets to a ride in the tractor to check on the cows…

Checking on the cows. Photo credit: E. Harvey

It would be impossible to single out a favourite moment – but exploring new, remote corners of the reserve, and experiencing the wildlife that it homes was amazing!  Often the species we spotted appeared when we least expected them… from a Short-Eared Owl while conducting butterfly-surveys, to numerous Cave Spiders with Egg Sacs that we spotted while managing silt levels in the cows’ water trough supply!

Cave Spiders with egg sacs under lid of water supply. Photo credit: E. Harvey

Getting to know other volunteers and interacting with visitors definitely made it memorable, including on the Family Fun Day – meeting ones from different backgrounds, but who all have something in common – a love of the outdoors and the wildlife it supports.  While discussing the species that can be seen on site at this time of year with some visitors, a Holly Blue Butterfly obligingly appeared right on cue! – not a species commonly seen at Mersehead.

Holly blue butterfly. Image credit: Chris Shields (rspb-images)

Yes, my time was not all hunky dory – the good old Scottish weather was not always on our side, including a heavy downpour while digging out rubbish from the beach - a 30 minutes’ walk away from shelter… however, this was far out-weighed by the many positive experiences – memories I will not quickly forget - such as the opportunity to see new species, including a Gold Spot Moth – no picture can do its iridescence justice!

Gold Spot moth. Photo credit: E. Harvey

As my last day of volunteering on sight approaches, I reflect on what made my time here so special – was it the Chiffchaff perched less than a metre away from me, welcoming me on my first day? Or the Hare that often bounded in front of me in the early morning sunlight?  And how could I forget the Great Spotted Woodpecker that was never far away? Perhaps it was the magnificent scenery, such as the perfect reflections in the Southwick Water out on the merse… What I do know is that this will certainly not be my last time here!  

Southwick Water reflections. Photo credit: E.Harvey

Ellie Harvey, Work Experience volunteer

In other sightings...

Taking time out from greeting visitors and serving teas at the Visitor Centre, Calum captured Common Lizard, Spotted Flycatcher and Common Carder Bee during his walk to the Meida Hide.  Here is the proof!

Common (aka Viviparous) Lizard on log along farm track (Mersehead 23-08-23).  Photo credit: Calum Murray

Spotted Flycatcher near Meida Hide (Mersehead 23-08-23). Photo credit: Calum Murray

Common Carder Bee feeding on Knapweed along farm track (Mersehead 23-08-23). Photo credit: Calum Murray

Notices

RSPB Mersehead is running a full and varied Events Program. We are looking for Volunteers who can help with all our Visitor Engagement Activities, from welcoming people on arrival, to leading events and activities. In a nutshell, we are looking for volunteers who can provide a great visitor experience here on the reserve. If you love nature and working with people as much as we do, then we’d like you to join our team! Please get in touch with us here.

 For more information on individual events and to book a place please go to our website: https://events.rspb.org.uk/mersehead

Holiday Cottages 

In the winter, RSPB Mersehead is home to internationally important numbers of wildfowl including the Svalbard Barnacle Geese. Book your Mersehead holiday this winter through the cottage links – Barnacle and Shelduck – located in the heart of reserve.