Mersehead Recent Sightings 14th – 20th April
Wednesday saw us out completing the first Natterjack Toad adult population survey of the year. Natterjack toads are nocturnal so as dusk approached we headed down to the sand dunes and waited for the light to fade and the distinctive call of the male toads to begin. At each pool, we scanned the water and the surrounding area with a torch looking for the tiny glint of a pair of eyes. Each toad is measured – this allows us to assess population dynamics. The largest and therefore oldest toad recorded was 70mm (so around 5 years old) whereas juvenile toads measure less than 40mm. Male natterjack toads typically live for around 8 years whereas females can reach 10 years. The survey was record breaking for Mersehead with 302 Natterjack Toads counted. The peak count last year was 240. Whilst completing the survey we also noted a number of Common Frogs, 2 Palmate Newt and 1 Common Toad.
Twice a week, we search the natterjack breeding pools for spawn strings. This provides a good estimate of the female natterjack population because each female will only approach the breeding pools once a year. This also explains why the female count on a night survey is always so much lower than the male count. On the evening survey this week, we recorded 256 males compared to just 46 females. So far we have found 40 spawn strings which is a great start to the breeding season.
Natterjack Toad Photo Credit: R.Flavelle
Monday saw the last Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) count of the season. As expected, figures were much lower with the departure of many of the wintering wildfowl but we still managed to count 3,708 wetland birds. The high tide roost has also significantly dropped over the last few weeks with just 260 Oystercatcher, 118 Curlew, 39 Dunlin, 26 Lapwing, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Golden Plover and 5 Sanderling remaining. A fantastic number of Ringed Plover were counted with the total reaching 212. With the peak count in the last 5 years being just 88 birds, this count was significantly higher than normal and will have been increased by birds on passage. The gull count found 19 Herring Gull, 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 6 Great Black-backed Gull. Spring passage was also evident as 54 Black-tailed Godwit dropped in front of Bruiach Hide earlier this week.
Ringed Plover. Photo Credit: Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
New spring migrants have been recorded on the reserve this week with Swallow, Blackcap and Willow Warbler all making an appearance. The woodland footpath to Media Hide is a fantastic place to be in the early morning with the dawn chorus in full swing. Great Spotted Woodpecker can be heard drumming away and the distinctive call of Chiffchaff and Song Thrush can be easily identified. Spring flowers are starting to bloom with Wood Sorrel leading the way. This small plant has bright green trefoil leaves and white petals with delicate pink stripes, it is often seen growing from the moss on fallen logs. The first Pink Purslane flowers are appearing and Wood Anemone continues the white petal theme.
Wood Sorrel. Photo Credit: R.Flavelle
Four species of moth were recorded in this week’s Garden Moth Scheme; 10 Common Quaker, 4 Small Quaker, 11 Hebrew Character and 1 Clouded Drab. We have just installed a thermometer to record the minimum air temperature overnight. On last night’s survey the air temperature dropped to just 7.4oC. Recording minimum air temperature is not a compulsory part of the survey but it is useful when evaluating the results.
Rowena Flavelle, Warden