RSPB Mersehead Blog 6th – 12th April 2024
It’s been a very wet start to April with heavy rain and wind combined with high tides. But this has led to some spectacular sights at the Mersehead and Kirkconnell reserves.
View along Rainbow Lane, Mersehead. Photo credit: R Chambers
Usually, Rainbow Lane is part of our Coastal Trail but here is the view along the track on Sunday. The water was higher than the team here at Mersehead have seen in a long time. However, this tidal movement does make the merse (saltmarsh) a unique and very special habitat for a wide range of species, in addition to providing benefits such as flood management and effective carbon storage.
In last week’s blog we mentioned that we were repairing damage to the livestock fences at the Kirkconnell Reserve following the 9m high tides in March. Below is a photo of the merse taken on Tuesday following the combination of weather conditions and high tides. Can you spot the fence posts? We will be back next week to walk the fence to assess any damage in readiness for the cattle coming on to the land to graze. Fingers crossed our previous repairs have survived!
High tide at Kirkconnell. Photo credit: R Chambers
Natterjack Spawn Strings
Having had our first sighting of Natterjack Toads two weeks ago, this week we reached another milestone with our first sightings of spawn strings.
Natterjack spawn is laid in strings with a single row of eggs, unlike common toads which lay strings with a double row of eggs. The spawn is also finer than the common toad. When first laid the spawn can look like a double row as strings sometimes stick together, but after a few days they separate.
Natterjack Toad spawn strings sighted at Mersehead. Photo credit: C Glass
Peak breeding takes place during April and May so we will continue to monitor progress with twice weekly surveys.
The natterjack toad is a European Protected Species therefore a licence is required to go looking for the toads. Join our Natterjack Night Guided Walks on Friday 19th & Friday 26th April when you will be able to accompany an experienced member of the Mersehead team to visit the breeding pools and hopefully see these rare amphibians as dusk descends over the reserve.
Spring Bird Activity
Lapwing monitoring is now fully underway at Mersehead with twice weekly surveys to identify mating activity and nests. This week we were excited to find another 5 nests and see nest scraping displays between males and females, which should indicate that more nests are to follow. We also spotted 4 lapwings giving a gull short shrift as it flew near to the nest sites.
While monitoring the lapwings we were delighted to see 130 Golden Plover sharing the fields with the lapwings and barnacle geese. Wintering in the lowlands, these birds will be moving to the uplands of Scotland for the breeding season.
Carol-Ann Glass, Trainee Warden
At Mersehead you will find the RSPB’s only self-catering holiday cottages - Barnacle and Shelduck. Available summer dates are currently going quickly, follow the links to book your next holiday.
Upcoming events: For more information on individual events and to book a place, please go to our website: https://events.rspb.org.uk/mersehead
Natterjack Night: Guided Walk; Booking Essential
19th April
Natterjack Night: Guided Walk Booking; Essential
26th April
Lapwings and Larks: Guided Walk; Booking Essential
4th May
*Flooding - Please note that Mersehead nature reserve is prone to flooding during periods of high rainfall and/or strong winds and tidal surges. To avoid disappointment at these times, please contact the reserve in advance of your visit by email in the first instance at mersehead@rspb.org.uk or check the RSPB Dumfries and Galloway Facebook Page for daily updates.