Recent Sightings 24th February - 2nd March
This week has been the polar opposite (or rather Siberian) to the week before. Although we humans were forewarned by the meteorologists, we can’t imagine the shock the birds & mammals have experienced as the promise of spring became unsprung with temperatures suddenly plummeting and the country transformed into a deep freeze.
Photo Credit: Jon Foot
Here at RSPB Mersehead, although we have escaped the worst of the snow, only experiencing a few inches on the ground, the wetlands have become completely frozen, over the course of the week.
Frozen Wetlands. Photo Credit: Jon Foot
Whilst you are out and about in the snow, keep a look out for different animal tracks and see if you can identify what’s been foraging around.
Badger Tracks. Photo Credit: Jon Foot
Before the cold snap arrived we have been enjoying watching at least three separate little egrets around the reserve. One of which has been feeding daily on the wetland in front of our visitor centre, fascinating to watch as they shuffle their feet to vibrate the mud and flush out their prey.
Photo Credit: Calum Murray
It’s hard to believe what we are experiencing now when only last week we were basking in clear blue skies, and watching the beautiful colours of the ducks, such as the pintail, wigeon & teal, gleaming in the sunlight.
This last week we have completed our beached bird survey for the Mersehead reserve. The UK Beached Bird Survey is part of an international survey to monitor oil pollution at sea. The annual survey, conducted in late February, aims to cover as much of the UK’s non-rocky coastline as possible, and to count the number of birds which have been washed ashore and the proportion oiled. The results are used both nationally and internationally to promote measures and reduce oil pollution.
On the 25th of February a red kite was spotted gliding over the saltmarsh, it is not often the kites head down our way, but of course we know they are never too far away.
We hope you can all stay warm from these winds & Siberian temperatures, and if you can, look after the wildlife in your gardens too. A good supply of food, unfrozen water and shelter. If your usual bird baths or ponds are frozen solid or covered in snow, then maybe provide a temporary water carrier, like a large plastic bowl, something you can move easily to defrost and replenish.
Jon Foot (Residential Volunteer)