RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 14th – 20th December 2019
This is a tough time of year for wildlife, as the days get progressively shorter and noticeably colder. However, as we approach midwinter and the festive period, there are already emerging signs of new life for the seasons ahead.
Hazel catkins. Photo credit: D. McCarthy
Hazel catkins are beginning to appear in the hedgerows, a sure sign that spring is actually much closer than it feels on these dark December days. In fact, it may only be a matter of weeks before these lambs' tails (essentially the male flowers) unfurl and turn golden with pollen, dangling from the branches like festive tinsel. Their wind-borne pollen will float away on the breeze, fertilizing the tiny female flowers (which look like minute crimson sea-anemones) long before the leaves appear (the leaves might otherwise get in the way of pollination). These will eventually develop into hazelnuts in late summer next year!
Hawthorn berries. Photo credit: D. McCarthy
The fluty, melancholoy song of the Mistle Thrush delivered from a high perch is another early sign of spring to listen out for over the festive period, although at this moment in time you are probably more likely to hear their agressive rattling calls as they vigorously protect a chosen food resource (such as a berry-laden holly or yew) from other hungry birds. Several other species of thrush can be seen feasting on berries at this time of year, including visiting Fieldfares, Redwings, and Blackbirds (some resident, some from as far away as Scandinavia)!
Winter stubble, an important food resource for farmland birds. Photo credit: D. McCarthy
Flocks of wintering songbirds continue to feed in the stubble fields across the reserve. Eight different species of wintering passerine were recorded during our fortnightly count on Tuesday, including 2 male Reed Buntings, a pair of Bullfinches, six Skylarks, and twenty-two Linnets. That makes a total of 12 different species since we began recording in October!
This week, the staff and volunteers have been particularly busy undertaking essential fence repairs. The electric fencing around sections of our reserve is an important tool in our efforts to improve the breeding success of declining waders such as Lapwing. However, it requires intensive maintenance works over the winter months to ensure that it is in good condition ready for the next breeding season.
Lapwing sign on the wetland trail. Photo credit: D. McCarthy
We’ve also been busy conducting our final counts of wintering wildfowl and other waterbirds across the reserve. During our December Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) on Monday, a total of 25 different species were recorded, made up of an impressive 4,882 individual birds! This included over 2,000 Barnacle Geese, 790 Oystercatchers, 473 Lapwing, 455 Dunlin, 200 Teal, 126 Wigeon, 113 Curlew, 54 Grey Plovers, 42 Ringed Plovers, 38 Shovelers, 35 Pintails, 4 Redshank, and 3 Little Egrets.
It was a particular treat to see 15 snowy-white Sanderlings feeding along the shore at high tide. These plump, energetic little waders are winter visitors from the Arctic. Later in the week, a lone Whooper Swan (a visitor from Iceland) was reported from Media Hide along with 5 Tufted Ducks and a pair of Gadwall.
Nice weather for counting wetland birds at RSPB Mersehead on Monday. Photo credit: D. McCarthy
These records are sent to the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and combined with data from similar monthly counts undertaken at sites across the UK in order to assess the size of waterbird populations and determine trends in their numbers and distribution. These results are then published in an annual 'Waterbirds in the UK' report, available on the BTO website, and will be used to inform future conservation action.
As is often the case here (aren't we lucky!), plenty of raptors have been seen across the reserve this week. This has included sightings of Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Buzzard, Peregrine and Marsh Harrier. Your best chance of spotting many of these birds is from the visitor centre viewing area or from the hides along the wetland trail. On clear evenings, the Starlings have continued to put on an impressive aerial display as thousands fly in to roost in the reedbed.
A sky filled with Starlings. Photo credit: D. McCarthy
This is our final weekly sightings blog of 2019, but don't worry we will be back online with our first blog of 2020 on Friday 10th January. I'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year on behalf of the staff and volunteers here at RSPB Mersehead. Many thanks to all of our readers and supporters during 2019 and we look forward to your continued support in the year ahead.
If you’ve not been to Mersehead before, why not make visiting us one of your New Year’s resolutions! And, if you’ve not finished your Christmas shopping yet (I haven't!), why not consider giving the gift of RSPB membership to a loved one. This comes with a welcome pack, a free gift, free parking and entry to over 170 stunning nature reserves across the UK, and a subscription to our fantastic quarterly Nature’s Home magazine. If you’re interested, do drop into the visitor centre this Sunday and discuss it with a member of staff.
Christmas display in the visitor centre. Photo credit: D. McCarthy
Please note that the reserve remains open from dawn to dusk every day over the festive period except Christmas Day. The visitor centre will be open from 10am till 4pm every day except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, although there may be occasions when the centre is unstaffed meaning that refreshments will not be available.
If you would like to get a closer look at some of Mersehead's special wildlife over the break, why not join us for a guided walk around the reserve on Boxing Day between 11am and 1pm. However, please remember that it is essential to make a booking for this event before Christmas Eve (call us on 01387 780579) and that it will only go ahead if sufficient numbers are booked in advance.
Last but not least, today is our Assistant Warden Lana’s last day with us here at RSPB Mersehead. Thank you for all your hard work Lana and we wish you all the very best for the future!
Donal McCarthy, Mersehead Trainee Warden