RSPB Mersehead Blog 18th - 24th March 2023
The weather has proved both a help and a hinderance to residents of all sorts here at Mersehead R.S.P.B. this week. The wintry conditions seemed to be abating, with temperatures generally rising and signs of spring in abundance. But, in swept a significant amount of rain and wind, couple this with a high spring tide mid-week and that’s a recipe for a spot of flooding.
The popular Rainbow Lane route to the beach under water. Photo credit: Claire Farrell
A recent feature of the dampness has been the amount of common toads seen on the tracks around the reserve. Having made it back to the breeding areas, the toads mate quickly and spawn is often found both in and near their favourite pools/ditches.
Mating Common Toads. Photo credit: Claire Farrell
Newts are also heading back to their breeding ponds, the one pictured was particularly intrepid, scaling the sluice down near Meida Hide.
Newt on sluice. Photo credit: Claire Farrell
Plenty is afoot throughout the night on the reserve. While we’re all snoozing, the wildlife is going about its nightly business. A crow was caught spearing an unsuspecting toad in a small pool, and later in the night a rat came along to hoover up the morsels that remained.
Crow catching toad.
And the reedbed is alive with badgers, roe deer, hares and the particularly sneaky otters. As you walk around the reserve you may find their tell-tale semi-circular ‘passageways’ through the tall grass, normally near a beck or ditch that the otter is using for its nocturnal forays.
All the signs are there… Photo credit: Claire Farrell
After some concerted effort and a little bit of luck, the otters were captured on camera.
Smile please!
Wednesday’s high Spring tide, in excess of 9m, flooded Rainbow Lane, and the merse channels joined together, mingling the salty and fresh water. The sea battered the path onto the beach at the end of the woodland, and the classic walk along the beautiful Mersehead beach was impossible for a while.
It’s not often that the beach is inaccessible. Photo credit: Claire Farrell
The reserve was closed to although non-tractor drivers. Photo credit: Claire Farrell
Maybe this will be winter’s last ‘Hurrah!’ and, with the clocks springing forward this weekend we’ll have seen the last of the wild weather. Despite all this, the breeding season is very much underway for the Lapwings, with adults back on their breeding grounds, plenty of display activity and nest scraping on the rise. Exciting times!!
Another sign of the end of winter is our final count of wintering birds before we get into regular dawn starts for breeding bird surveys. Both Mersehead and Kirkconnell counts were conducted on Friday, with the results tabulated below. The highlight has to be a female Ring-necked Duck. One has been spotted on several occasions over the winter, but this was the first time it has appeared during a survey.
Mersehead reserve count: Friday 24/03/2023
Kirkconnell Merse Reserve count 24/03/2023
Unfortunately, they only stayed briefly on Tuesday, but it was exciting to see 49 Whooper Swans drop into one of the fields behind the visitor centre. Adam was able to capture them from the roost before they took off - possibly to continue their long journey back from Caerlaverock to Iceland.
Whooper swans taking off after a brief stop at Mersehead. Photo credit: Adam Sutton
Another sign of spring has been the return of some of our early migrant visitors: Wheater and Chiffchaff have been spotted this week amongst other notable sightings which include Red Kite, Reed Bunting, Goldcrest, Bullfinch and Greenshank.
Lastly, after two weeks with an empty trap, we finally got a moth for our weekly Garden Moth Scheme. Just the one - a Common Quaker.
Claire Farrell, Residential volunteer
Mersehead events
A new programme of events for the Easter period have been organised, including Easter Egg Trails, a Folklore and Wellbeing walk and Natterjack Toad evenings. Follow this link to find out more: Mersehead (rspb.org.uk)
Mersehead holiday cottages
At Mersehead you will find the RSPB’s only self-catering holiday cottages- Barnacle and Shelduck. Available dates are currently going quickly, follow the links to book your next holiday.