Mersehead Recent Sightings 9th-15th November 2019
It was a cold and windy start to the week here at RSPB Mersehead, but the sun was shining brightly on Sunday morning for our monthly beach clean event. Twelve dedicated volunteers came along to assist us in keeping our 3.2-mile stretch of the stunning Solway coast free from plastic waste. One of the volunteers was even lucky enough to spot a Snow bunting feeding along the strandline. Let’s hope it decides to stay around for the winter!
Snow Bunting. Photo credit: Ben Andrew
Another guided ‘Sunset on the Solway’ event took place on Sunday afternoon, undoubtedly the best air show in town! Visitors were treated to a spectacular Barnacle Goose fly-over as well as a fantastic aerial display by an estimated 5,000-plus Starlings flocking to their communal roost site in the reedbed in front of Meida Hide. The hypnotic, swirling aerial dances of these birds at dusk are known as murmur-ations. Listen closely and you might just hear the gentle whir and rustle of thousands of starling wings beating in synchrony as they twist and turn overhead. Sadly, the number of starlings wintering in the UK appears to be in decline (as is the number of breeding birds), so it really is a treat to see so many roosting here at the reserve.
Our next 'Sunset on the Solway' event is taking place on 24th November – see our Facebook page for further details and remember that booking is essential.
Barnacle Geese in flight. Photo credit: James Duncan
Although the reserve was closed during the early part of the week due to flooding along the access road, the bird table at the Visitor Centre was as busy as ever. I like to imagine it as being like the runway at a crowded avian airport where you can witness a dizzying array of criss-crossing take-offs and landings (how do they manage it without air traffic control?!) as dozens of individual buntings, finches and sparrows refuel before their next flights.
Male Yellowhammer. Photo credit: Ben Andrew
Out on the reserve, at least 10 different species were recorded during the weekly wintering passerine survey on Wednesday, with one of our volunteers lucky enough to stumble upon a Jack Snipe (like a smaller, shorter-billed version of the Common Snipe) while doing the count. Do remember to listen out for the musical twittering of Linnets, Greenfinches and Goldfinches feeding in the sunflower meadow adjacent to the path down to the Bruaich Hide and the sharp 'pink pink' calls of Chaffinches. And why not see if you can spot the difference between the Tree Sparrows and House Sparrows in the surrounding hedges. Tree Sparrows are smaller birds, with chestnut-brown (rather than grey) heads and a clear black cheek spot.
Tree Sparrow. Photo credit: Ray Kennedy
Flocks several hundred strong of wintering Fieldfare and Redwing have continued to roam the reserve this week, filling the skies about the berry-laden hedgerows lining the Wetland Trail. Each of these birds can eat hundreds of berries in a single day, the seeds of which will mostly pass through their digestive systems undamaged before being deposited elsewhere on the reserve, thereby helping to sow the hedgerows of the future!
Fieldfare. Photo credit: Ian Francis
There has also been plenty of aerial activity in front of the Bruaich Hide this week, including an impressive flock of over 400 Lapwings on Thursday afternoon. These beautiful, broad-winged birds – also known as peewits in imitation of their wheezy calls – are sadly in serious decline across much of the UK. We are working hard here at RSPB Mersehead to do our bit in trying to reverse these downward trends. However, we can’t take all the credit, since many of the birds seen on the reserve this week will likely have migrated from continental Europe to take advantage of our milder winter climate. A reminder of the importance of working across borders to conserve birds and other wildlife.
Lapwing. Photo credit: Andy Hay
Other sightings from the Bruaich Hide this week have included Little Egrets, Sparrowhawks, Whooper Swans, Marsh Harriers, Kestrels, Buzzards and over 100 graceful Pintails amongst the other wintering wildfowl species. At this time of the year the UK plays host to almost half of the Pintails that winter in northwest Europe, many of which will have flown here from as far away as Russia!
Pintail. Photo credit: Ben Hall
In the sunny weather on Thursday morning, up to three Red Kites were seen soaring above the reserve. The Barnacle Geese appear to be easily spooked by these elegant birds of prey, rising into the air in great noisy gaggles when the kites fly overhead. During the monthly wetland bird survey on Thursday morning we counted a total of over 6,000 Barnacle Geese across the reserve.
Red Kite. Photo credit: Ben Andrew
Down on the beach at high tide, we counted an impressive 681 Oystercatchers, 643 Dunlin, 26 Knot, and 25 Ringed Plovers. 119 Curlew were also recorded across the reserve.
Large numbers of Shelducks can also be seen out on the mudflats where they are feeding on small shellfish. These big colourful ducks are slightly smaller than barnacle geese, with dark green heads and necks, chestnut belly stripes and bright red bills.
As we head into mid-November, the days are very noticeably getting shorter. The last of the leaves are dropping from the trees in the woodland, providing for a colourful crunch and crackle underfoot and revealing branches and twigs intricately decorated with many different species of moss and lichen. Plenty of Long-tailed Tits can be seen feeding in the woodland, as well as other small birds such as Goldcrests and Treecreepers.
Backlit fern. Photo credit: Tom Marshall
Elsewhere on the reserve, visitors have continued to enjoy great views of the resident Roe Deer. Now that the rutting season is over, these deer will form small groups for the winter that can be seen 'stotting' across the open fields when alarmed – a stiff-legged trot that involves leaping off the ground with all four legs held straight – and flashing their prominent white rump-patches.
We hope to see you at RSPB Mersehead next week, there really is so much wildlife to enjoy! And don’t worry, there is no need to bring your passport or go through the hassle of airport security or baggage check-in – entry to the reserve is free for RSPB members and there is just a small car parking charge for non-members.
Donal McCarthy, Mersehead Trainee Warden
great pictures!