Spooktacular

RSPB Mersehead Blog 22nd - 28th October 2022

Our Tuesday Volunteer group have been kept busy nutrient stripping the wildflower meadows this week. Once a year, the meadows are cut after the flowers have set seed. The vegetation then needs to be removed so that the nutrients do not return to the soil as wildflowers thrive in nutrient poor soils.

Autumn is the time to look for Waxcaps. Known as “waxcap grassland fungi” this is a group of fungi for which the UK, particularly Wales and Scotland, is globally important. Lawns and cemeteries are great locations to look for waxcaps as the grass needs to be kept short through regular mowing. It is important that all cuttings are removed as these fungi also need nutrient poor conditions to survive. Waxcaps are found in a variety of colours and often start domed before becoming flatter with age.

It is the last weekend to take part in our Big Wild Halloween, so bring the kids and set yourself up for a spooky weekend. Ask about our kids trail at the Information Centre.

Also, this weekend:

The Barnacle goose count recorded 7,854 including one leucistic. Population counts across the Solway have estimated 28,400 birds have currently returned from the breeding grounds in Svalbard. With the recent increase in rainfall, water levels have been rising across the reserve with fantastic views from Bruiach hide of all the wildfowl including over 1000 Teal. A highlight of the week was 2 immature female Marsh Harrier. It's been an exceptional autumn for the movement of Redwing and Fieldfare in the UK, with hundreds of thousands being seen. Across our region there have been large flocks moving with a constant stream over the reserve at the start of the week.

Other sightings at Mersehead this week include:

• Kingfisher
• Marsh harrier
• Barn owl
• Merlin
• Sparrowhawk
• Brambling
• Tree sparrow
• Yellowhammer
• Gadwall
• Wigeon
• Pintail
• Teal
• Shoveler
• Whooper Swan
• Little Egret

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

We have been over at Kirkconnell Merse completing a count of the waterbirds along the River Nith today.  There were good numbers of teal and wigeon. Great to see a Peregrine hunting over the merse.

*Holiday Cottages - Discover the breath-taking scenery, wildlife, cultural and history of Dumfries & Galloway whilst staying in one of the Mersehead cosy semi-detached holiday cottages – Barnacle and Shelduck – located in the heart of reserve.

*Flooding - Please note that Mersehead nature reserve is prone to flooding during periods of high rainfall and/or strong winds and tidal surges. To avoid disappointment at these times, please contact the reserve in advance of your visit by email in the first instance at mersehead@rspb.org.uk or check the RSPB Dumfries and Galloway Facebook Page for daily updates.

Rowena Chambers, Warden