RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 18th January – 24th January 2020
With weather settling in the last week, the reserve has been open for visitors, with some great wildlife to showcase. Starlings are still putting on a great display with their murmuration at dusk over the reedbed and raptors aren’t missing out on the spectacle, with peregrine, sparrowhawk, marsh and hen harrier all close by. It’s definitely worth coming down to the site at day’s end, to see this mesmerising display. Otter was even spotted from the Meida hide by a visitor coming to see the starling show. But with improved weather, some of the sunsets have been spectacular also.
Sunset on the Solway, last Sunday. Photo credit: David Lewis
Barnacle geese have been more dispersed locally over the last week and yet several thousand were seen erupting from grass fields to the east, at Preston Merse, yesterday. They can be quite flighty but some smaller flocks have been edging near fence lines and trails on the reserve, so visitors can get surprisingly close views. It’s always worth bringing the camera along, just in case.
The wetland has been filled with many of our usual birds. As with last week, teals, pintails and lapwings are all present in good numbers. With such a prevalence (or rather, ‘a spring’) of teals, their uttering of ringing whistles by males interspersed with the beautiful, though slightly eerie (almost distressed) call of curlews has added to the ambience around the site. Shovelers and wigeons are also present in good numbers. Small numbers of snipes were also seen from Bruaich Hide, while seven redshanks and a grey heron were spotted by the pool at the visitor centre.
On the Coastal Trail, skylarks and the odd stonechat have been seen from the trail alongside the merse, with little egret also spotted on the meandering Southwick Water’s banks (plus other sites around reserve). There have been a number of sightings of twites and linnets both on the merse and also near the woodland strip, so it’s worth looking out for these less colourful finches on this walk.
Little egret. Photo credit: Calum Murray
A red-breasted merganser flew over the mouth of this river (on the reserve’s western boundary) from offshore. A small flock of rock pipits have been seen on a few occasions along the shoreline. These birds are quite common further along the coast on rocky shores but not usually on the sands here. On the coastal flats, with the retreating tide, shelducks are often seen foraging for invertebrates, like laver spire shells (mudsnails).
Shelducks on the coastal flats. Photo credit: Calum Murray
Despite the wintry feel still in the air, spring is edging its way in. Listen out for great tits and blue tits now singing and a chaffinch was heard, partially singing its display call. These birds are often early heralds of spring as they begin to set out territories. Breeding season underway – blue tit, great tit now singing “teacher-teacher”. A song thrush and bullfinch were both seen close to the Sulwath Centre.
And of course, there is plenty of activity going on at the bird feeding station outside our visitor centre, with common sightings of house sparrows, chaffinches, green finches, goldfinches, starlings, yellowhammers and tree sparrows, with the odd visit from titmice, rooks and collared doves, as well as pheasants (from neighbouring estates. If looking for a bit of practice for the #BigGardenBirdwatch, then pop in and have a go at counting them. You may even see a brief glimpse of a sparrowhawk or a kestrel at the centre. Many of these birds can also been seen literally in the hand next month (Sunday, 16 February), with our Bird Trapping & Ringing Demonstration as members of the North Solway Ringing Group catch and ring some of the songbirds.
Time should be taken in the woodland strip, stretching from the coast to Meida Hide. On damper, grey days it can be quite striking just how vivid the reds, browns and greens become along this stretch. Textures are also varied on a few of the lichens and mosses encrusting tree trunks and branches. Look extra closely and you may find some lichens with fruiting bodies (like small drips of red paint at the ends of these grey-green structures). All too often, these can be missed as folks wander to the hide or shore. Beech trees are still holding onto their orange-copper leaves unlike most broadleaved trees. Time to observe these may give you a chance of spotting goldcrests or treecreepers as they ascend tree trunks and branches. Great spotted woodpeckers (though not always that easy to spot in the trees) often make “kick kick” calls (I heard two) in the wood. You may also befriend a close robin on the path too.
Lichen with fruiting bodies, in woodland walk to Meida Hide. Photo credit: Calum Murray
Staff and volunteers have been busy too, making this reserve anything but a tranquil place (though you do get some great views and scenery to yourself for much of the time).
Our area team were out on Tuesday, to collect beach litter following last week’s Storm Brendan. This was a great way to unwind after a constructive morning about how we move forward with some exciting developments for the area, while helping to save nature.
RSPB’s Scottish Lowlands & Southern Uplands Team out on a beach clean. Photo credit: Calum Murray
Meanwhile, a small team of the regular volunteers were out clearing willows from ditches, to open views from the Bruaich Hide and prevent willow from overgrowing on the banks. Much as trees can be beneficial to wildlife, it is important for the reserve to be carefully managed for special habitats and species. As with gardening, we have to weed out some vegetation, where it is not wanted or may change the habitat structure.
Regular volunteers removing willow from ditches. Photo credit: Dave Jackson
In the woodland, on the trail leading to Meida Hide, clearance work was completed last week and path work has already begun to widen the path. Eric (our former farm manager, whom many of you will recall) has been out on his mini-digger to scrape and lay surfacing on the path, with help from our wardens.
Eric and our trainee warden improving the trail to Meida Hide. Photo credit: Calum Murray
Discover more of these sightings for yourself as you visit the reserve in the next few weeks. Why not join us on one of our walks with a knowledgeable guide, to learn more? Book onto one of our upcoming guided Winter Discovery Walks (on 6 and 20 February) or a Sunset on the Solway event (on Sundays, 26 January and 9 February). And for that close up extra special, experience our nocturnal nature at the Badger Banquet in the evening on 22 February (book early to get a space), as they’re filling fast).
Forthcoming event posters
There’s two great ways to immerse yourself in this wildlife haven. Either: become a volunteer (we’re looking for help with our ‘Guide in the Hide’ trials as well as in assisting with events, or; take time at a leisurely pace and stay onsite in one of our two holiday cottages, Shelduck or Barnacle.
And finally! Yes, it’s that time of year – Big Garden Birdwatch! The biggest UK bird survey is about to begin again this year (25-27 January). If you’ve been inspired by reading about our sightings on the reserve, then have a bash and record some of your own from your own home or park. More details can be found at rspb.org.uk/birdwatch.
Big Garden Birdwatch
I’m sure many of you already do, so best of luck over the weekend and happy counting!
Calum Murray, Assistant Warden