RSPB Mersehead Blog 5th – 11th February 2022
Out on the wetlands this week, the Teal have been showing off their head flicking and tail waggling courtship display. Rather than singing like garden birds, wildfowl incorporate some vocalisation with dance. Species recognition places an important role in the complicated courtship of wildfowl as distinctive species-specific displays help to avoid hybridisation.
Displaying Teal at Mersehead. Photo credit: R.Flavelle
With a sudden drop in temperature to -4oC this morning, the wetlands were covered in a layer if ice. A total of seven wildfowl species were spotted snoozing and diving in the limited open water; Shoveler, Pintail, Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall and Tufted Duck. Up to 17 Gadwall have been present, a good number for a species which is uncommon in the county. The Lapwing flock in particular has been consistent with 600+ birds present from Bruiach hide.
Gadwall. Photo credit: Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com)
The starling murmuration has been putting on some spectacular displays this week. Throughout past winters at Mersehead, the starling murmuration has been at its best during November/December, generally moving to a new roost in the new year. This year, although birds were present before Christmas, it has not been until the new year that the breath-taking murmuration started.
Photo credit: G.Chambers
This year, the Svalbard Barnacle goose population has been devastated by the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). A recent coordinated count of these birds on the Solway Estuary revealed a total remaining population of ~27,000 individuals, 38% down in the same population counted last winter (2020/21). This is a huge and sudden decline for any species and is unprecedented in the UK as an impact of bird flu on a wild bird. Thankfully the reserve is no longer seeing high numbers of dead geese on the reserve with just one individual recorded over the past two weeks. For more information on the avian influenza outbreak follow this link.
Barnacle Geese Photo credit: Dave Jackson
It won’t be long until the UK’s rarest amphibian, the Natterjack toad is waking up from its winter slumber. The Natterjack is a fussy toad preferring shallow, warm clear pools to spawn with a surrounding “bowling-green” sward enabling the toads to actively hunt their prey and keep a sharp look-out for approaching predators. This week saw the completion of all our habitat work in preparation for their return with the water control structures put back in place to allow the pools to start filling with water.
The Natterjack toad is a European protected species and as such a licence is required to disturb them. We hope to run our popular Natterjack Night guided walks again this May and if the weather is right, we should hopefully see these charismatic toads and hear their amazing chorus.
Natterjack Toad. Photo credit: R.Flavelle
Spot the difference! High tide photographs taken from the Southwick Cliffs looking down onto Mersehead.
Planning your 2022 holidays? Discover the breath-taking scenery, wildlife, cultural and history of Dumfries & Galloway whilst staying in one of the Mersehead cosy semi-detached holiday cottages located in the heart of reserve BARNACLE and SHELDUCK.
Rowena Flavelle, Warden
Covid Advice
Please follow our advice on Covid restrictions and updates on our website: https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/rspb-news/news/stories/coronavirus/reserve-reboot/