The warmth and sun of the past weekend didn’t only draw us into the open, but also many of Mersehead’s residents. Our trusty hen harrier was certainly making the most of it, as was an otter.
With its blooming flowers, the Sulwarth Garden is attracting red admiral butterflies, more bumblebees and a great deal of hoverflies. The rooks in the trees are busy rearing their squawking chicks, and the male tawny owl has been hooting lullabies to the volunteers living above the Sulwarth Centre. Patiently waiting for the rooks to leave their nests is a tree sparrow, who will weave its very own chick-rearing facility into these nests.
We’ve been welcoming increasing numbers of migrants back over the week, like swallows, chiffchaff, blackcap and reed bunting, invoking thoughts of summer. During a water rail survey on Thursday morning, we even heard our first sedge warbler in the reedbed.
“A water rail survey, but how?”, I hear you ask. In all of her time here, our warden Rowena, hasn’t yet caught a glimpse of a water rail. We tempt these elusive birds to sing by playing a recording of them, which reveals their whereabouts. The song sounds alarmingly like a squealing pig, so if you happen upon something like that, rest assured that we haven’t got pigs rooting around in the reedbed – you’ve heard a water rail. Our survey found four nestled into the reedbed.
Four little egrets were seen earlier this week, later topped by seven on Thursday morning. In years gone by, only one has resided at Mersehead. Take a wander down to Bruiach Hide and see if you can beat our total.
Lastly (and most excitingly for some of us), the natterjack toads have made an appearance! The sunny weekend lured one particular male out of his burrow, who started calling out to females on Saturday night. Rather than prompting a chorus of other male toads, however, he remained a lonely soloist.
Since then, the night-time temperatures have been chilly, but other males have started their vocal warm-ups. Last night, we went out feeling we’d be extremely lucky to see just one toad, but actually came across about 30. It’s a promising sign! We’re in for a chilly weekend with lows of 0°c, but these hardy amphibians can take it.
Tune in for more next week!
Charlie McMurray, All Nature Intern