The Wildflower Trailer

RSPB Mersehead blog 30^th September – 6^th October 2023

We began the annual task of autumn cutting and nutrient stripping our wildflower meadows this week. It is important to remove the cut vegetation to ensure the soil remains nutrient poor which helps keep grasses at bay and allows wildflowers to thrive.

We were joined by a herd of spectators from the adjoining field who helpfully formed a work party to help clear the cut vegetation. The Belted Galloway’s which were grazing the field in front of the Visitor Centre have returned home this week. Sluice boards are now in place which will start to bring water levels up. We will be saying farewell to the remaining Belted Galloway’s on Saturday and look forward to their return next summer.

The wetlands out from Bruiach and Meida hide are full of water with increasing numbers of returning wintering wildfowl including:

• Teal
• Wigeon
• Shoveler
• Mallard
• Pintail
• Lapwing

Lapwing in flight by Dave Jackson.

Teal by Dave Jackson.

Pintail by Dave Jackson.

Teal by Dave Jackson.

The first full survey of the reserve for Barnacle Geese recorded 1,499 after the geese started returning to the Solway last week.The goose count of the reserve and local area was part of a wider survey of the entire wintering ground were a total of 8,800 Barnacle geese were recorded. This represents around 25% of the current known World population so we will see the number of geese on the reserve increase rapidly over the next few weeks.

Barnacle geese by Dave Jackson

RSPB Mersehead is running a full and varied Events Program. We are looking for Volunteers who can help with all our Visitor Engagement Activities, from welcoming people on arrival, to leading events and activities. In a nutshell, we are looking for volunteers who can provide a great visitor experience here on the reserve. If you love nature and working with people as much as we do, then we’d like you to join our team! Please get in touch with us here.

Join us for another one of our popular Forest School events on Saturday 28^th October. This event will be goose related to co-inside with the Wild Goose Festival taking place across Dumfries and Galloway 19th-29th October. Limited places are available for primary aged school children. Each workshop costs £5 per child. Parents and guardians are welcome to stay but not necessary. Suitable clothing and footwear for outside play are essential. Please email mersehead@rspb.org.uk to reserve a space or for further information. Forest school involves learning that is in tune with nature and the great outdoors. Its aim is to promote new skills, confidence, self-esteem, and team building while participants take part in fun outdoor activities.

Rowena Chambers - Warden

*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.