Osprey Overhead

Mersehead Recent Sightings 24^th – 30^th March

Spring migrants have been arriving at Mersehead this week with our first singing Chiffchaff of the year recorded on Rainbow Lane yesterday. Sand Martin has also been reported to the Visitor Centre. There was excitement last Saturday as an Osprey was sighted over the wetlands. This bird will have been almost at the end of a journey averaging 4000 miles, migrating from the wintering grounds in Africa. Ospreys travel by day, using thermals to gain height over land. They migrate more slowly than many birds, stopping off at favourite feeding sites along the way – sometimes for as long as a week. Each bird travels alone and follows its own route. The 5-year mean arrival date for Osprey’s in Dumfries and Galloway is currently 27^th/28^th March. The first sighting of Osprey last year was 25^th March, so this bird was right on time.

Osprey: Photo Credit: Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com)

Another bird of prey, the Red Kite, has been soaring over the reserve. This is a species we are seeing more often over Mersehead as their range gradually expands from the original reintroduction site. Meida Hide has been the place to be this week, with an Otter sighted swimming through the wetlands on Monday evening. The Kingfisher has been giving a spectacular display as it speeds over the water, perches on the log to the left of the hide and then zooms off again round the reeds. The bright sapphire colouring of this bird makes it surprisingly easy to spot for its tiny size. A reminder that winter has not long past, the sight of 22 Whooper Swans taking a break on their migration back to Iceland.

Whooper Swans: Photo Credit: Eric Neilson

The Garden Moth Scheme monitors the numbers of common moths in gardens across the United Kingdom and Ireland to provide a long-term database for research into their conservation. The survey runs from March to November covering a total of 36 weeks. To take part in the survey you need to run a moth trap at the same location in your garden once a week for at least 27 weeks. The scheme is not attempting to find out who's found the rarest moths, or who's got the best garden – all sites are useful, however many species you record, the aim is to try to find out what’s happening to our common garden moths. This is a scheme which we have just enrolled Mersehead into as we have a large farmhouse garden. Until this week, we have not caught anything as it has been too cold – remember negative records are just as important (though not as exciting)! However, this week we found 2 Small Quaker, a Hebrew Character, a Mottled Grey and an Oak Beauty.

Oak Beauty: Photo Credit: Lana Blakely

The soundtrack to Mersehead at the moment is the Lapwing display with birds tumbling in all directions. Up to 6 Redshank have been present in front of the Visitor Centre, fingers crossed that these birds will decide to breed. Oystercatcher have been displaying near Bruiach Hide and Little Egret numbers have remained at 6. The first Peacock Butterfly of the year has been seen and an Early Bumblebee has been busy feeding along the car park flowerbed.

Rowena Flavelle, Warden

Spring Departures and Arrivals
Its all change! Some of our winter wildlife is leaving but summer visitors are on their way! With a new emergence of flowers, leaves, insects and amphibians, as well as arrivals of birds from Africa, join us to celebrate this changing season with a guided walk. There's also a Wild Challenge activity for any children taking part in this walk, with a chance to win a small prize! Thursday 12^th April 11am – 1pm.

BOOKING ESSENTIAL
Cost: Adults £4 (RSPB members £3), children half price. Car parking charges apply for non members. To book, please call our Visitor centre on 01387 780579 or email mersehead@rspb.org.uk.

Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)