Mersehead Recent Sightings 25th- 31st August 2018
There’s been a definite chill in the air this week; summer may finally be on its way out. This is an exciting time of year for wildlife watching though. Lots of species, especially birds, are starting to move as they leave their breeding grounds and begin their journey to the area where they will spend the winter months. A mixture of adult and juvenile Swallows, House Martins, and Sand Martins have been lining up in the telegraph wires on the reserve, with numbers exceeding 40 birds. Out on the wetlands, despite being fairly dry at the moment, there were over 100 of these Hirundines (the family name for Swallows and Martins) hawking for insects, their wheeling and acrobatic displays creating quite a spectacle on mass. Despite the lack of obvious water, the ground and vegetation has remained damp, which is perfect for a number of different insects, which in turn provides a bountiful source of food for birds. These birds will travel all the way to sub-Saharan Africa and are making the most of this food source before they start their journey to warmer climes.
House Martins. Photo credit: Nick Upton
At this time of year we are making preparations for the return of our winter visitors. Water has been let onto the wetland this week; it will take a few days for water levels to increase but will then provide the valuable roosting and feeding areas for a variety of ducks, waders and geese. Across other parts of the reserve we’ve continued to cut the grass and other vegetation so it is in the right condition for the Barnacle Geese’ arrival in late September/early October. Keep your eyes to the skies in the coming weeks as you may hear the distinctive ‘wink-wink’ of the Pink-footed Goose or the ‘whooping’ of the Whooper Swan.
Field cut for silage. The short, nutrient-rich grass will provide a rich food source for the Barnacle Geese. Photo credit: L.Blakely
Many summer visitors are still with us; a Whitethroat was spotted in the hedgerow along Bruaich Hide path, whilst at least 10 Willow Warblers, were calling and moving through the woodland trail on the way to Meida Hide, there is a high chance that these birds are on the move south and have stopped at the woodland to feed up. Also present in the woodland was a Treecreeper, its distinctive thin call piercing the air, whilst a Buzzard flew overhead calling, unable to hang around as it was being mobbed by a group of Crows and Rooks. Linnet, who will remain with us all year, are starting to form small flocks ready for the winter; some of the birds, most likely juveniles, sing weak songs from the hedgerows, possibly to practise and learn the complex song that will gain them a mate next year. Across the fields there are mini-murmurations of Starlings that have finished breeding and are starting to flock together, during the peak winter months there has been as many as 40,000 out over the reedbed. During our fortnightly guided walk around the reserve there was lots to see, from a Sparrowhawk chasing a swallow over the wetlands, Red Admirals, Wasps, and other insects feeding on a sap run on an Oak near the entrance to Meida Hide, to a Speckled Wood butterfly flitting along the woodland edge; there is always a something to see or discover. The next walk runs on Thursday 13th September from 11-2. Phone 01387 780579 or email Mersehead@rspb.org.uk to book your place. This event will run every two weeks up until the 20th December.
Although the nights are cooler now, we are still getting a variety of moths into the trap. This week we had 8 Brown-spot Pinion, 7 Setaceous Hebrew Character, 3 Flounced Rustic, 4 Square-spot Rustic, 1 Hedge Rustic, 1 Silver Y, and 2 Rosy Rustic.
Brown-spot Pinion. Photo-credit: L. Blakely
The weekly butterfly transect also produced a good haul with Red Admiral, Painted Lady, and Small Copper seen along the tracks, Green-veined Whites in the wetter areas, Speckled wood in the woodland, and Small Tortoiseshell and Common Blue see along Rainbow Lane, which runs adjacent to the saltmarsh.
Pink Purslane (here at the reserve the flowers are actually white) and Red Campion are still flowering along the woodland trail, whilst Rosebay Willowherb, Purple Loosestrife, and brambles weighted down with ripe blackberries line the farm tracks.
Pink Purslane. Photo credit: L. Blakely
We had an unexpected visitor to the bird feeders at the visitor centre this week in the form of a Red Squirrel. Although we’ve had records of these wonderful animals on the reserve before, they are not a common sight and so was a treat to see.
Last, but certainly not least, we held a BBQ on Tuesday to say a big thank you to all our volunteers that have contributed so much to the reserve. Without them we would not be able to carry out half the work that we are able to, so again a big thank you for all the commitment and dedication that has been given.
Staff and volunteers at this year's BBQ. Photo credit: D. Long
This Sunday 2nd September we have the opening of our New Play Area which will be held in the Sulwath Garden at Mersehead. The event will run from 11am- 3pm. Official opening of new play area for children on the reserve. Families can take part for free, to give children the chance to swing high or go down the slide towards a custom-made badger sett, where they can hide or rummage in tunnels (just like badgers or foxes). Kids can get creative in the mud kitchen or sand pit. There's a musical corner too. We'll also run activities on the day, from building sandy sea creatures to assembling giant bugs (from the things they eat). And there’s always time to go in search of real mini-beasts too or get a chance to make and take home a ladybird lodge. Hannah’s Bananaiffic Faces will be here too, face-painting your little ones into wild creatures for the day. For more information call 01387 780579 or email mersehead@rspb.org.uk.
Lana Blakely, Assistant Warden