Sorry if I'm Bore'ing You

RSPB Mersehead Blog 7^th – 13^th January 2023

It’s been a wet and windy week at Mersehead , and with the water table so high, and the road once again flooded, the Wetlands were bucking the trend at the start of the week by looking surprisingly dry.  Whilst this meant the ducks were huddled far away at the back of the field, it illustrates the amount of control we have over the water levels on the wetlands, even at times of such heavy rain.  Although it was unintentional on this occasion (sluice boards had been dislodged during the flooding), the temporary exposure of mud and grassy islands would have been a welcome sight for waders and shallow feeding waterfowl, such as Lapwing and Wigeon, who would have been less enamoured by the deep water than their diving counterparts.

Wetlands looking a bit drained. Photo credit: P. Radford

It may still feel very wintery, but the focus of our habitat work now shifts to preparing for warmer times, when Natterjack Toads emerge from their winter slumber and head to the breeding pools.  These pools are located on an area of the reserve that once acted as a shelter belt for the farm and, to stop it reverting to this, young Willow saplings are removed both with machinery and by hand.  We are also thinning and clearing areas of dense willow both north and south of the pools.  This work will have many benefits beyond helping keep a clear pathway for the toads from the dunes to the pools.  Currently, the willow could be described as a monoculture, with many trees of a similar age and height.  They also create a dense canopy which blocks light from the field layer.  By creating a mosaic of heights and ages, as well as some open glades, we can let light in and improve the plant and invertebrate diversity, whilst still retaining a buffer from the predominant south westerly wind.  The cut willow can also be recycled as a dead hedge or habitat pile, which could benefit a host of small mammals and insects as well as the toads.

Coppiced area with the willow laid as a dead hedge. Photo credit: P. Radford

Thinning out the willow. Photo credit: P. Radford

On Monday we headed to Glencaple to monitor the assemblage of wintering birds making use of the merse and mud at Kirkconnell.  Although it was a little windy, light conditions were perfect for admiring the plumage of a variety of waterfowl and waders including Teal, Wigeon, Redshank and Goldeneye.  A full breakdown of the count can be found in the table below.

Intrepid explorers returning with tales of Redshank and Wigeon.  Photo credit: P. Radford

Kirkconnell reserve count: Monday 9th January 2023

One thing that was noticeable by its absence on Monday was the sight of the tidal bore roaring up the River Nith, which usually arrives around two hours before high tide.   This tells us that we need to get a move on, as the river level will quickly rise and cover the mud (and possible the path as well).  However, with the river already being very high due to high rainfall, and it not being a particularly high tide (around 8m), I assume the impact of the incoming tide was not as dramatic as it can be.  I was fascinated to discover that there are only perhaps around 60 rivers in the world where you can see a tidal bore, with the Nith being one of 11 in the UK!

River Nith tidal bore surfer September 2022. Video credit: P. Radford

With visitor numbers being low this week due to flooding and the weather, there aren’t many new sightings to report beyond those summarised in last week’s blog.   Flocks of around 20 Curlew have been regularly seen feeding amongst the Barnacle Geese, and an impressive count of 500 Lapwing was made from the Bruaich Hide.  You also may have also seen the short video of two Woodcock captured on one of our trail cameras.  A personal highlight was seeing a Barn Owl fly out from one of the sheds in the work yard at dusk, which was a regular sight back in the summer when they had a nest here.

Barn Owls in Mersehead barn. Photo credit: C. Farrell

To learn more about these and other birds, check out the RSPB wildlife guide: Birds A- Z | Bird Guides - The RSPB

Big Garden Birdwatch is fun, free and for everyone. And you don’t need a garden to take part! Counting birds from your balcony, or your local park will play a vital role in helping us understand how UK birds are doing. Sign up for your free guide and let's look out for birds together on 27-29 January.

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