RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings: 17th October – 23rdth October 2020
A mix bag of weather during the week has brought a variety of bird species in across the reserve. The wardens, plus residential volunteer Beth were up early on Sunday to complete the wetland bird survey with a variety of species on the high tide wader roost including Curlew, Dunlin, Knot, Redshank, Grey and Ringed Plover in good numbers. The wetlands are providing a home to increasing numbers of Barnacle Geese and winter wildfowl, both taking up residence in front of the two hides for visitors to enjoy.
Barnacle flapping. Photo credit: David Lewis
Teal, Shoveler, Wigeon, Gadwall and Pintails all made their presence felt along with a Little Grebe showing nicely and Moorhens darting out of the sides of the reedbed.
A pair of Shovelers. Photo credit: David Lewis
Elsewhere, across the Merse and hedgerows, Twite have been spotted quite regularly this week with 14 in one flock. Another “small brown jobbie “ to some, but a wonderful little bird with a colourful yellow beak and orange brown chest. They breed on moorland in the Scottish Highlands, Northern England and North Wales but favour the coast in the wintertime, preferring saltmarshes and coastal margins.
Twite. Photo credit: Lawrence Reeve
Barnacles are not the only geese to be found on the reserve currently. Greylags can also be seen in good numbers, especially across the saltmarsh. This group below were eagerly awaiting the return of sunshine after some heavy downpours today.
Greylags on formation. Photo credit: David Lewis
It’s been a great week for spotting Kingfisher across the water margins. Not only has one been viewed taking up position on the water markers from the Meida hide but also across the Merse, following the channels of water alongside Rainbow Lane. A quick flash of blue for some but others reporting views on top of fence posts. One for the camera next week hopefully.
It’s already been a good year so far for spotting Fieldfares and Redwings as these birds come onto the reserve to make short work of eating nature’s harvest. There are plenty of hawthorn bushes ripe with berries, alongside the holly and the rowan trees.
Holly Berries. Photo credit: David Lewis
But it’s not just the obvious berries that provide food for our Autumn residents and passing nature. The woodland is a magical place at this time of year, and you don’t have to look far to see it spreading its bounty of fruits. The Horse Chestnuts are laden with conkers which not only provide food for squirrels but also for our deer population who will happily munch on the seasons produce.
Horse Chestnut " Conkers ". Photo Credit: David Lewis
The woodland pathways are also an opportunity to spot something a “little weird “going on. The reserve is home to plenty of Oaks, from Pendunculate to Sessile. These are full of acorns at this time of year and on closer inspection, some of these may even be home to Gall wasps. With a bit of nature detecting the other day, I came across acorns in the leaf litter with a strange “alien” growth on them. With a burdening desire to know more, I delved into the world of the Knopper Gall Wasp (Andrious quercuscalicis).
Knopper Galls on Acorns. Photo credit: David Lewis
Galls appear on Oaks in many forms, with up to 70 different ones being common on some of the largest trees. They are created by Gall wasps (about the size of a mosquito) who cause a growth to form on the tree once the eggs have been injected into the base of fertilised flowers in Spring. In this case, the Knopper Gall Wasp would inject the eggs with its ovipositor (a tube-like organ). This causes a genetic change to happen and the acorn grows with a “helmet” … a gall, in which the larvae feed on the tissues of the tree. At this stage, they can be a range of colours and during the summer, they will harden and turn brown and woody.
Knopper Gall Acorns. Photo credit: David Lewis
Into Autumn, the tree will start shedding its acorns and the gall falls to the ground alongside the acorn. But that’s not the end for our friend … the Knopper Gall Wasp. During the winter, it will stay inside the gall and with the returning Spring, it will break out of its enclosure in the form of an adult. This 9-month relationship with the oak is a fascinating story, one in which it forces the tree to become its host and then feed it as it grows. And there is a happy ending …. the tree doesn’t suffer any ill affect from the chemical induced distortion. So, the next time you are kicking through a pile of leaves from an oak tree, look out for the galls on acorns and remember our new friend … The Knopper Gall Wasp.
From this story to another, and the emergence of fungi across the woodland and grass verges. Rowena, the warden at Mersehead, introduced you to “Chicken of The Woods “a couple of weeks ago and whilst out today, I have spotted another daintier looking mushroom, “the Egg Yolk Mushroom “.
Yellow Fieldcap. Photo credit: David Lewis
This yellow mushroom is a key indicator of rich grassland and starts life as a bell shape as photographed. However, this is short lived as it soon changes to a brown, flat parasol shape over the course of a day. It is not uncommon across the U.K and is classed as inedible. Hopefully there will be some more spots to come across the Autumn season … over to you Rowena!
Lots going on across the reserve this week and it’s been wonderful to see the Tuesday volunteers back in action with some willow cutting around the ditches. A back breaking job, but one that is vital to maintain the clear waterways around the reserve. Photograph from Dave Jackson, on a much-needed break.
Willow cutting. Photo credit: Dave Jackson.
Finally, a word of warning regarding access on the reserve. The Lot’s Wife waterfall (pictured) is a beautiful feature along the far side of the Merse and is one that many visitors love to view from the safety of the beach at low tide.
Waterfall. Photo credit: David Lewis
However, due to an upsurge in social media activity about this natural feature on other websites, some of our visitors have been taking upon themselves to try and cross the saltmarsh and view this up close. The Merse is a very dangerous place and especially at high tide when water levels can increase very quickly and without warning. All the staff and volunteers on the site would like you to have a wonderful experience when coming onto the reserve and with this in mind, please keep to the footpaths down Rainbow Lane and through to the shoreline and do not attempt to reach the waterfall across the Merse. It may put the lives of yourselves, the people that work here and the emergency services at risk. In these troubled times, we would like visitors to experience all the wonders of nature but in this case, from a safe distance. Thank you for your understanding on this from all the Mersehead team.
Take care and stay safe everyone.
David Lewis
Community Engagement Officer