RSPB Mersehead Blog 10th – 16th June 2023
Like the rest of the UK, Mersehead is still in the middle of a heat wave, with temperatures peaking at close to 30oC. Every now and again the breeze has picked up, making conditions more bearable, but in the main it’s been a case of trying to get things done whilst move as slowly as possible (whilst wearing a hat and plenty of factor 50).
Taking a slow stroll through the meadows. Photo credit: P. Radford
Another way in which visitors to Mersehead can now recover from the heat, is with an ice cream. Here is Calum, our Visitor Experience Assistant Warden to explain more about the exciting developments in the Visitor Centre:
Take a break... ...some refreshing news!
When visiting the reserve, it's always worth returning to our visitor centre. As well as the Belties grazing in the field behind, there's a chance to see various songbirds too (though we've stopped feeding them at present, to move on rats from the feeding station outside).
And now after a three year wait, we can offer refreshments and snacks again. We opened the Cafe Lite service in our visitor centre on Monday and the ice creams are already proving very popular. With hot drinks available and crisps, flapjacks and chocolate brownies too, you can recharge or cool down in the shade of the centre and find out what's been going on from our staff and volunteers.
Our food and drink is sourced ethically with low impact packaging for the environment. Using the RSPB's own brand filter coffees, Teapigs tea bags (including decaf for both drinks) and locally sourced Finlay's ice creams and gluten-free sorbet (from Cream o' Galloway, Rainton Farm), the flavour and quality is well worth tasting. Please note, this is a self-service arrangement and at present we can ONLY ACCEPT CASH payment for food and drink.
Our service will be open from 10am to 4pm on days when we are able to staff the visitor centre. So it's worth getting in touch about volunteering also, to help us keep this service open as much as possible for everyone visiting. And if you like speaking to people, you could always refresh them on latest findings and news about the reserve too.
We look forward to seeing you here.
Many species (including butterflies, bees and amphibians) rely on the Sun’s warmth to provide them with the energy to function, and therefore it’s been a good week for observing and surveying these.
The weekly butterfly survey resulted in 49 individuals from 8 species being identified: Meadow Brown, Ringlet, Small Heath, Large Skipper, Small Copper, Common Blue, Speckled Wood and Small White. An interesting observation was made during the survey, with a Speckled Wood butterfly laying an egg on the leaf of a small Blackthorn tree. Butterflies lay their eggs on the plant that is the preferred food source for the newly hatched caterpillars. For Speckled Wood these plants are grasses including false broom and cock’s-foot. Hopefully this caterpillar won’t go hungry when it emerges.
Speckled Wood Butterfly. Photo credit: P. Radford
Can you spot the Speckled Wood butterfly egg? Photo credit: P. Radford
Simultaneously, it was possible to complete the monthly BeeWalk survey. There are a lot of worker bees on the wing now, and Buff/White Tail, Red Tail, Common Carder and Tree Bumblebee were all recorded.
Tree bumblebee worker. Photo credit: P. Radford
With only a third of the average rainfall in May, and just 6mm falling in the first half of June (in one brief downpour) most of the reserve is bone dry, with the only refuge for young Lapwing families being the ditch which holds water for our breeding natterjack toads. This has also been one of the best spots for Damselflies and Dragonflies, with species seen including Golden-ringed and Four-spotted Chaser. A Banded Demoiselle damselfly was also spotted just past the woodland on the exit to the beach.
Banded Demoiselle. Photo credit: Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)
Visitors wouldn’t have had to venture far onto the reserve for a wildlife spectacle on Tuesday, with a Common Lizard popping in to enjoy the view.
Common Lizard hitching a ride. Photo credit: CJE Farrell
Whilst there has been very little grass growing, there has been some vegetation cut along the path to the Bruaich Hide, as we look to clear the non-native invasive Japanese Rose. We are, as always, indebted to our dedicated team of volunteers for their help with this work. This includes the Saturday group who have been busy clearing Ragwort from one of the grazing fields.
Dedicated volunteers clearing Japanese Rose. Photo credit: P. Radford
Those who have looked to visit the reserve once the temperatures have dropped may have been lucky enough to see at least one of the Barn Owls, hunting over the fields close to the farm. Well done to Adam for getting this shot:
Barn Owl. Photo credit: Adam Sutton
Adam also captured one of two Ringed Plover chick he spotted down on the beach earlier in the week. We are not sure if this is is related to the bird seen nesting on the foreshore, so we would continue to ask visitors to be mindful of the disturbance risk.
Ringed Plover chick: Photo credit: A.Sutton
The warm nights made for a bumper haul of around 80 moths this weeks. Unfortunately, with it being so warm they want to leap out of the trap as soon as the lid comes off. However, we did manage to identify and count the majority, even if it wasn't possible to get many photos. Highlights included the first Drinker, Large Yellow Underwing and Map Winged Swift (Male) of the year.
Counting the moths. Photo credit: P. Radford
Male Map winged swift. Photo credit: P. Radford
Paul Radford, Assistant Warden
Forest school dates at Mersehead
All dates Saturday 1:30pm-3:30pm, £5 per child.
Email george.hemstock@rspb.org.uk to book or for further information.
24 June
29 July
26 August
30 September
28 October
25 November
16 December
RSPB 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.