RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 7th – 13th December 2019
As the second week of December draws to an end it has become really noticeable how stark and bright the reserve is in the winter sunlight. All the leaves have fallen from the trees and hedgerows making it much easier to spot the tiny Goldcrest flitting from branch to branch. Fieldfare can be seen feeding on the bright red berries whilst Long-tailed tit follow each other from tree to tree. These tiny tits move in noisy sociable groups during the winter, huddling together in a tight ball to keep warm during the night. Bullfinch were seen this morning moving along the hedgerow by the Visitor Centre. Glossy emerald leaves provide colour as Ivy snakes its way up tree trucks providing a roosting site for bats, birds and a home for hibernating insects. Ivy's evergreen nature made it an especially powerful symbol during the dark winter months of times past with sprigs of Ivy brought into the house to keep evil spirits at bay.
Winter trees. Photo credit: R.Flavelle
Ivy. Photo credit: R.Flavelle
Winter habitat work has focused on ensuring conditions are right for our colony of Natterjack toads which are currently hibernating deep in the sand dunes. These fussy toads prefer to breed in shallow clear pools, so we have drained the pools and gently scrapped the encroaching vegetation away. Actively hunting its prey, the Natterjack toad thrives in short “bowling-green” grass where it can easily pursue fleeing prey and keep a sharp look-out for predators. Each winter, we mow the grass around the pools to keep vegetation growth down. The UK’s rarest amphibian will wake up from its winter slumber when night-time temperatures reach a constant 7oC. The pools are currently being used by both Grey Heron and Little Egret as they hunt for food. We have seen up to 6 Little Egret on the reserve this week.
Little Egret. Photo credit:
On Sunday, we tackled the furthest stretch of our 3.2-mile coastline when 8 enthusiastic volunteers joined us for the December Beach Clean. This is an area not previously cleaned and it was soon clear that a large amount of plastic rubbish was lurking in the sand dunes caught and tangled in the marram grass. The most shocking thing was the amount of single use plastic bottles which had become trapped at the base of the sand dunes before being buried. The sicking crunch of plastic underfoot would reveal the presence of one bottle and before long there were as many as twenty discovered within a 1x1 metre area.
Beach Clean rubbish. Photo credit: R.Flavelle
Out from Bruiach Hide the water levels have lowered with a large number of wildfowl ducking and diving for food. It was fantastic to count 560 Pintail just in this one area – a peak count for the winter so far! In addition, there were 180 Teal, 70 Wigeon and 44 Shoveler just out from the hide. Large flocks of Lapwing and Curlew have been feeding across the damp grassland this week, keep a look-out for them in the fields to the left of the entrance road. Roe deer typically form larger groups during the winter and this week we have seen a group of 9 which is the largest group we have seen at Mersehead.
Pintail. Photo credit: Calum Murray
The Robin is one of the few birds in the UK which sings all year round. The winter song starts after they moult with a more subdued and melancholy tone in contrast to the powerful and confident spring song. Robins are adapted to life in poor light and are often active in the half-light when few other birds are about. They tend to be among the earliest birds to start the dawn chorus and one of the last to stop in the evening. Join us on Boxing Day for a Guided Walk around Mersehead between 11am-1pm; walk off the Christmas dinner and discovery the winter wildlife – Booking Esstential – call 01387 780298.
Planning a winter holiday in the New Year? Discover the breath-taking scenery, wildlife, cultural and history of Dumfries & Galloway whilst staying in a cosy semi-detached cottage located in the heart of RSPB Mersehead Nature Reserve. Find out more about BARNACLE and SHELDUCK and enjoy a 10% discount throughout January and February.
Rowena Flavelle, Mersehead Warden