RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 14th - 20th July 2018
It’s hard to imagine in this hot July weather, but work is already in progress here at Mersehead to prepare for autumn and the arrival of wintering bird populations. Hay has been baled, and grazing cattle are helping to control invasive species in the grassland, wetland and salt marsh areas of the reserve. This helps to ensure suitable nesting sites for waders, and also that there is a plentiful food source on the salt marsh for ravenous Barnacle Geese after their long flight from Svalbard. It also means there is always work to do building or maintaining the cattle fences around the reserve during the summer months, as herds are moved from field to field.
There’s still time to enjoy the summer wildlife activity on the reserve though! A notable wader sighting in the reed beds this week was a juvenile Water Rail, so it is good to see that these secretive birds are breeding successfully here at Mersehead. The Water Rail is a bird that is more likely to be heard than seen; its call is a loud squealing shriek that has been likened to that of a pig! It spends most of its time skulking around amongst the reeds, which makes it very hard to spot.
Water Rail Photo by Mike Richards (rspb-images.com)
This week's Mersehead Discovery Walk was well attended, and participants were rewarded with several interesting sightings, including the first Painted Lady butterfly of the summer, Spotted Flycatcher in the woodlands, and capped off with a roosting Kestrel in the trees by Sulwath Garden. For information on how to attend one of these events and learn more about our reserve, see below.
A couple of other raptors sighted this week were an Osprey flying along the beach and a Red Kite seen hunting over the reserve.
It’s fascinating to watch the butterfly population changing here at Mersehead as different species emerge. Aside from the aforementioned Painted Lady, other less frequently spotted species seen this week were Small Copper and Small White. The Peacock has reappeared, as has the Green-Veined White, and there are also still plenty of Ringlet, Meadow Brown and Red Admiral around. Small Heath was also seen this week at the meadow end of Rainbow Lane. The Butterfly Meadow is currently awash with Common Knapweed, and aside from attracting lots of bees and butterflies is looking an absolute picture, so come on down and take a look!
Painted Lady seen in the Butterfly Meadow during Discovery Walk Photo by Dave Long
We have been continuing to monitor Badger activity in the Sulwath Garden ahead of this Saturday’s “On The Night Watch” event, and there has been plenty of it, with as many as six badgers being caught on camera at once, so things are definitely looking promising for badger watching on the night. As well as badgers, the cameras have also picked up Fox, Bat and even a low-flying Barn Owl. Working on projects like this certainly is a reminder of how lucky we are as volunteers to be living right in the middle of the reserve. There aren’t many places where you can watch badgers in the garden and at the same time see not one but two barn owls fly past, all from out of your bedroom window!
Badgers in Sulwath Garden Photo by Dave Long
Celebrate nature with us
This Saturday, July 21st at 9:30pm is our first ‘On the Night Watch’ event, which will give participants the opportunity to see crepuscular and nocturnal wildlife (creatures of twilight and the night) through special night vision equipment and hearing the inaudible sounds of different bats, using bat detectors. The whistles, chipping and flatulent sounds of bat calls can be used to determine different species. We’ll also have a brief look at the variety of moths collected that day on the reserve, before going indoors for refreshments, a short talk and finishing the experience with our resident badgers (or whatever else comes into the wildlife garden for a feed). If you can't make it this time, there are further events on 9th and 18th August, at the slightly earlier time of 9pm.
Read more at http://ww2.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/mersehead/b/mersehead-blog/default.aspx#PcRLxCpZAJBX6jrS.99
Every fortnight from 7 June to 20 December, come along to our Mersehead Discovery 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.
Dave Long – Residential Volunteer