Mersehead Recent Sightings 31st August – 6th September 2019

There is a sudden Autumnal feeling at Mersehead with overnight temperatures dropping to single figures with a minimum of 5oC recorded. The hedgerows are bursting with bright scarlet berries on the Hawthorn and Rowan trees which will provide a fantastic food source for returning winter migrants. The English Oak is heaving with acorns at Meida Hide. Most acorns will never get the chance to germinate as they are a rich source of food.

Haws. Photo Credit: R.Flavelle

This week we have been preparing for the return of the Svalbard Barnacle Geese by cutting silage across three of the dry grassland fields. Over the summer, as the grass grows the length becomes too long for the geese which prefer a short sward. The cutting and importantly the removal of the grass in the form of hay or silage, ensures a nutrient rich short sward. Busy hunting over the cut grass hundreds of Swallows, a smattering of House Martin and the odd Sand Martin indicated a rich source of insects on the wing. Ever watchful for small mammals, 3 Buzzard sat silently on the fenceposts. Our herd of 34 cows have been busy munching away over the summer improving our Natterjack toad habitat and are now assisting with goose preparation in the dry grassland fields.

Buzzard. Photo Credit: Andy Hay

Our first Icelandic breeders have started to return with skeins of Pink-footed Geese heard high in the sky. A flock of 80 spent last night out on the wetlands. After completing the summer habitat work across the wetlands last Friday, the sluice boards have been opened and water levels are coming up in front of the hides. We saw plenty of Snipe whilst completing the work so keep a look-out for their distinctive shape as they jump into flight. Another returning winter visitor was spotted just this morning when Wigeon sprang up from Meida Hide. A hunting Peregrine put up a flock of Teal towards the back of the reedbed. The Kingfisher has been spotted again this week. Lapwing are flocking together and feeding across the wetlands.

Wigeon. Photo Credit: Andy Hay

The distinctive song of the Chiffchaff was heard in the woodland this morning. Migration continues with Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Whitethroat on the move. Keep an ear and eye out for returning migrants such as fieldfare and redwing. Although they can start returning to our shores from late August the main arrival generally occurs in mid-late September. Red Campion and Pink Purslane are providing a splash of pink through the woodland. A flash of black and white revealed the presence of a Great Spotted Woodpecker. On the warmer days we are still seeing plenty of butterflies including a Speckled Wood fluttering amongst the blackberries.

Moth numbers have declined with the cooler nights with just 9 species recorded: Frosted Orange, Hedge Rustic, Large Yellow Underwing, Small Wainscot, Rosy Rustic, Flounced Rustic, Square-spot Rustic, Setaceous Hebrew Character and Brown-spot Pinion.

Frosted Orange. Photo Credit: R.Flavelle

Excitement occurred last Saturday as two Otter cubs tumbled and rolled across the entrance road. Our diligent visitors carefully manoeuvred around the game as the cubs were having far too much fun to pay attention to their surroundings. It is great news that we can confirm otter as a successful breeding species on the reserve. Two Barn owls soared out of the machinery shed at twilight on Wednesday. We know that our pair of barn owls successfully fledged 3 young this summer. The owlets will have dispersed by now to find their own home range in which to hunt and roost. There is some evidence that lingering young are chased away by the adults but records also exist of young being tolerated for several months after fledging.

Otter cub. Photo Credit: Ben Andrews

Did you know that Mersehead is the only RSPB reserve with self-catering holiday cottages? Barnacle geese from the bedroom window . . tree sparrow on the bird table . . thousands of wintering wildfowl . . a cosy log burner . . . If this sounds like a great winter holiday, find out more about BARNACLE and SHELDUCK as we have limited availability between now and Christmas.

Rowena Flavelle, Mersehead Warden