Back from a week’s holiday, the first thing I noticed about Mersehead was the presence of some additional wildflowers. In the woodland, the tiny moschatel can be seen all the way along the side of the footpath to Meida hide. Moschatel is also known by the name ‘town-hall clock’ which refers to the neat arrangement of five yellowish-green flowers which all sit together at the top of the stem with four flowers facing outwards and one upwards. Undeservedly, this tiny little flower has the Latin name ‘Adoxa’ which means ‘without glory’. Also in the woodland, the first few pink purslane flowers are appearing. As the name would suggest these flowers are usually pink however at Mersehead, we have the slightly more unusual variety which has white flowers with pretty delicate pink lines across the petals and pink-lilac anthers. Along the back ditch, the first marsh marigold’s are in flower adding a splash of bright yellow to the banks. Also going by the name kingcup, it was traditional in parts of Ulster for the postman to deliver marsh marigold to every house on May Day Eve to ward off evil fairies and witches. A paler shade of yellow, primrose can be seen peeking out from the banks too.
Moschatel by Kevin Priestley (British-wild-flowers)
The first spring migrant arrived at Mersehead this week on Monday when a wheatear was recorded by a visitor out on the merse. On Tuesday morning, there were 3 chiffchaff singing away in the woodland. A great spotted woodpecker can be heard regularly drumming away in the cliffs above the merse whilst in the evening the distant call of tawny owl floats through the air. Collared doves are perched on the telephone wires chantting over and over, un-it-ed...un-it-ed. Out enjoying the rain in the dune slack today are 33 whooper swans.
Whooper swans by Eric Neilson
Collared dove by John Bridges (rspb-images.com)
Wild Weekends
Turn into a nature detective and explore the wildlife that makes Mersehead its home. Get your hands on some weird and wonderful creatures by collecting minibeasts, spotting birds and have the opportunity to check out what moths have been seen fluttering around. Saturday & Sunday 11am-1pm