RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 30th June – 6th July 2018
With this fantastic dry spell of weather, it’s a perfect time to get out and explore for butterflies and day-flying moths on the reserve. Plenty of small whites, meadow browns and ringlets have been fluttering back and forth along trail verges. “Thousands” (at least, according to one visitor) of six-spot burnet moths, as well as common blue butterflies were also reported along Rainbow Lane, flitting and feeding around common bird's foot trefoil in full bloom on the saltmarsh (or merse).
Photo credit: Six-spot burnet moth on tufted vetch by Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
Not to be confused with the burnets, cinnabar moths are busy too along the trails, especially in areas close to noxious common ragworts (their larval food plant). These very striking black and red moths put out a strong message to avoid being eaten. They are poisonous (both in the adult and caterpillar stages of their life-cycle) and are vividly coloured to warn off any would-be predators of this fact.
Common green grasshoppers are displaying in the sunshine too, though are not so easy to spot. Instead of visual displays, they ‘stridulate’ by rubbing a row of pegs on their hind legs against the edges of the forewings, to attract a potential mate. They can be surprisingly close to the edges of paths, hidden in the grasses, so it's worth stopping on the trails to see how close you might get to discovering one, though they are masters of camouflage in the grasses!
Photo credit: Common green grasshopper by Calum Murray (RSPB Scotland)
Yellowhammers are still singing their delicate ascending song “a-little-bit-of-bread-and-no-cheeeese” from gorse bushes (or whins) and hedgerows. Similarly, whitethroats and sedge warblers continue to be vocal, with less musical and varied calls. Goldfinches continue to sing and turn up at the feeding area by the visitor centre, some with fledged young (lacking red plumage on their faces). The distinctive calls of skylarks also fill the air. The wetlands have diminished with such dry conditions and you would be challenged to see many of the ducks which have been breeding here. There is still a chance to see snipe from Meida Hide, with two being spotted more than once in the last week.
Break-in at the bank!
We discovered another creature hiding away in our donations box last week. You may recall the story of a field mouse snuggled up in the box for shelter, last winter? https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/mersehead/b/mersehead-blog/archive/2017/12/22/festive-robins.aspx#mTAsUgpZd1RvwwBf.99
While collecting cash from the ‘Lapwing Tree’ by the car park, I was taken by surprise when I discovered a wasp nest on the cavity ceiling. I’m afraid I didn’t managed to get a close enough look to identify these social wasps but hope we can find out for you in the next few weeks. I’m pretty sure our donations will be safe from any robbers. Meanwhile, please do be careful if you are looking to contribute any donations at this point.
Photo credit: Wasp nest in 'Lapwing Tree' by Colin Bartholomew (RSPB Scotland)
Make hay, while the sun shines
Eric (reserve farm manager) and Rowena (warden) have been busy in the last week with baling hay. This is usually a task done later in the year but with such hot and dry weather, it was possible to cut earlier. The ideal conditions enable grass to dry out quickly, retaining good nutritional value hay for livestock fodder. In turn, its sale can provide income to help in our nature conservation work on the reserve.
Photo credit: Hay bales in field near Bruaich Hide by Calum Murray (RSPB Scotland)
Celebrate nature with us
Later this month, there will be three events taking place from dusk. ‘On the Night Watch’ 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 or spotted on the night, 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). These events take place on 21 July from 9.30pm and then 9 and 18 August, at the slightly earlier time of 9pm.
As mentioned in our last blog, there are general walks taking place once a fortnight on Thursdays through to December. If you’d like to see how we attract nature throughout the seasons and get to discover some of our wildlife close-up, then get in touch to take part in one of the Mersehead Discovery Walks.
And for anyone looking to visit the reserve with young family, our self-lead Nature Discovery wild challenges are taking place throughout summer. If visiting the reserve with young children ask for a nature discovery pack at the visitor centre, to enhance your family’s visit.
For more details, check online at https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/find-a-reserve/reserves-a-z/events.aspx?reserve=Mersehead
Calum Murray, Community Liaison Officer