With this having been the warmest week in May, temperatures reached the dizzying heights of 19oC, it is no surprise that we have seen a flurry of Natterjack toad activity. Sunday night saw us out completing the third adult population survey. During this survey we count and measure the toads to gain an understanding of the population dynamics. Young toads are of course smaller, measuring around 40mm long, whereas older toads can be as large as 65mm. The great news is that we recorded a good percentage of smaller adult toads which tells us that the breeding success of the colony is good as new young toads are entering the population. A over enthusiastic juvenile measuring just 25mm was found swimming around in the centre of the pool. It will be another couple of years before this individual will join the breeding population.
The majority of the adults recorded will be males as they are generally out and about at the pools each night declaring their availability! Male Natterjacks have a distinctive blue bruising to the throat whereas the female Natterjack has a brilliant white throat scattered with darker dots. The percentage of females recorded in an individual night is always lower as they will only approach the pools when they are ready to spawn.
Yesterday saw us find our 60th spawn string! The warm weather and light rainfall has led to a flurry of activity with 27 of these strings being laid this week. Some of the older spawn strings were developing slowly in what was relatively cold water temperatures of 14oC. The water temperature in the pools has dramatically increased to 23-26oC this week and we have estimated around 3,300 tadpoles have hatched. We will be continuing to monitor these tadpoles as they grow and develop as we need to see toadlet emergence before we can say that the toads have had a successful year.
RSPB Kirkconnell Merse is one of the largest expanses of saltmarsh in Southern Scotland. After a low-pressure system forced the tide right across the merse a few weeks ago there were concerns that some nests may have been washed away. A dawn survey yesterday found the merse alive with singing Skylark and Meadow Pipit. Initially results found 5 Curlew territories and at least 10 pairs of Oystercatcher. We have another three surveys to complete before we can gain a clearer picture of the success of breeding waders at Kirkconnell Merse this year.
Skylark Nest. Photo credit: R.Flavelle
The minimum air temperature overnight has been slowly dropping this week from 10oC on Monday evening to 5oC last night. Although the moth catch was low it was great to see two new species for the year, Buff-tip and Pebble Prominent. The first Small Copper of the year was spotted whilst out completing the Natterjack toad spawn survey with the weekly butterfly count recording Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Orange-tip and Green Veined White. Speckled Wood has also been seen on the footpath to Meida Hide.
Small Copper. Photo credit: Patrick Cashman (rspb-images.com)
Just a reminder that more of our facilities are now accessible: hides are now open for limited numbers in keeping with social distancing rules, and the festival hut will be open with a staff member/volunteer on hand to welcome you to the reserve, point you in the right direction and answer all those questions! Please note that the car park charge of £3/car for non-RSPB members has returned to help the RSPB to continue to protect the wonderful wildlife at Mersehead. Come and chat to us at the festival hut if you are interested in becoming an RSPB member.
Although the Visitor Centre will remain closed, the toilet will be available from 10am-4pm.
Would you like to be here to see the Barnacle geese return to the Solway? There are just a couple of weeks left vacant at Shelduck Holiday Cottage in October. Barnacle Holiday Cottage is fully booked!
Rowena Flavelle, Warden