Mersehead Recent Sightings 27th January - 2nd February
There has been a steady improvement in weather conditions as the week progressed. The weekend was unfortunately unsettled, and there has been a cold wind blowing through the early part of the week, however Thursday & Friday have been quite glorious, with wall to wall sunshine & clear skies.
Visitors may have noticed a drop in water levels on the wetland in front of the Bruiach hide this week. A reason we control the levels of water is to assist the waterfowl and waders feeding. With recent rainfall, levels had risen so much, some areas were becoming too deep for ducks such as pintail & teal to feed out on the water. A maximum depth of water a pintail can feed in is around 50cm and for a teal is around 25cm. Altering the levels of water will also encourage the birds to feed in different areas of the wetlands, and make the most of what food is available.
This also helps the waders too, as the water levels drop and the edges of the wetlands become exposed, a fresh source of invertebrates become accessible for waders, such as Lapwing to feed on. This week we have been watching large flocks of Lapwing, counting over 500 one day, feeding on our wetlands across from the Bruiach hide. Lapwings mainly feed by scanning the ground and listening, before snatching the food in its bill. Lapwing can begin their courtship displays as early as February with the breeding season continuing through until May/June, so it won’t be long before we are seeing the males perform their dramatic acrobatic displays.
Lapwing. Photo Credit: Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com)
Whilst surveying this week out on our Kirkconnel reserve, we spotted 35 pink-footed geese. It is this time of year they make their journey back to their breeding grounds in Iceland & Greenland. Over the last couple of weeks we have been seeing large skeins passing over head. This group were most probably having a few days’ rest, on route from their winter feeding grounds in the south. Amongst others, we also recorded 5 gooseander, 22 goldeneye, 274 curlew & 126 redshank.
Pink-footed geese in flight. Photo Credit: Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
The colourful male Bullfinches have been displaying well in the hedgerows along the track towards the woods and in the trees & bushes around the Sulwath centre. Sparrowhawks have been seen scouting above the visitor centre and also within the Meida hide woods. A kingfisher was spotted dashing along the beck, running parallel with Rainbow Lane on Thursday afternoon. We have also heard our first singing skylark of the year!
Male Bulfinch. Photo Credit: John Bridges (rspb-images.com)
Don’t forget you can join us on Sunday 11th February for our next Duck & Goose guided walk around RSPB Mersehead. Learn more about where they have come from, and what we do to attract them. For more information you can call us on 01387 780579 or email us at mersehead@rspb.org.uk.
Jon Foot Residential Volunteer