They’re here – the Barnies have landed!

RSPB Mersehead Blog 23^rd – 29^th September 2023

It’s been a wet and wild week, in more ways than one! Storm Agnes blew in with a mighty force, leaving a noticeable mark on the shoreline. Our public access road flooded a couple of times due to heavy rainfall and run-off from the hills.

Shoreline after Storm Agnes. Photo Credit: A. Hallatt

We sincerely apologise if the flood road closures affected your ability to visit the reserve this week, but we are hoping that everyone kept safe and will plan to come on a drier day because the Barnacle Geese (“Barnies”) are finally here, as well as many other wetland birds, like the Pink-footed Goose (“Pinkies”), Canada Geese, Greenshank and Wigeon.

A lone Greenshank among the Wigeon. Photo credit: C. Farrell

From Svalbard to Solway

Despite the weather and winds, the first sign of Barnacle Geese on the reserve was reported on 23^rd September, when 14 were seen on the wetland. This rose to about 500 Barnacle Geese by mid-week, which we counted whilst we were out conducting our regular Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS). Given the reports of large groups of Barnacle Geese in other parts of Britain, we can attribute these geese to the overwintering population that comes from Svalbard, Norway. You can get clear views of the Barnies from the Bruaich and Meida Hides and along the beach on the Coastal Trail. See the tables at the end of this post for this month’s complete WeBS results.

The Barnies have landed. Photo credit: C. Farrell

Barnies chilling in the field. Photo credit: C. Farrell

Beach clean – look what we’re haulin’

On 24^th September, a band of volunteers (some from as far as Carlisle) came out for the Great British Clean. Armed with litter pickers and bin bags, this enthusiastic group scoured the beach and, though there was remarkably little rubbish that day, they did pick up a few “usual suspects” along the sand dunes and tideline: small bits of plastic, shards of glass, yards of rope, inhalers, and cotton buds. Some surprising finds: a hazmat suit, stray buoy, used nappy, rusty horseshoe and, as one volunteer put it, “a bag of I-don’t-want-to-know.” A huge round of applause to all who joined us on a windy morning and for their efforts to keep our beach clean and safe for our visitors and wildlife.

Found: one rusty, but lucky, horseshoe! Photo credit: C. Farrell

Beach Clean volunteers wasted no time getting down to business. Photo credit: F. Gilgunn

The Volunteers in the Willows

Our regular Tuesday volunteer work party also braved the elements to assist the warden team with rotational ditch management. The crew removed coppicing Goat Willow from the banks along the visitor centre field. This activity is done on a rotational basis to allow us to stabilise the ditch banks, protect the watercourse, and enhance connectivity of the reserve’s hydrology.

Volunteers hard at work among the wind and the willows. Photo credit: F. Gilgunn

Kirkconnel Merse

The week ended on a high note, with a sunny Friday to conduct our WeBS survey of Kirkconnel Merse and a chance at catching a view of a tidal bore, which pushed its way up the opening of the Nith with great force against the current.

RSPB staff conducted WeBS survey of Kirkconnel Merse. Photo credit: F. Gilgunn

September WeBS Survey results 

Other sightings this week

Alicia, a residential volunteer, came across a Palmate Newt, the UK’s smallest newt, on rainbow lane. One of our camera traps snapped a wily fox scooting along a track. Our weekly moth survey was a little light, capturing only two moths: Red-Lined Quaker and Setaceous Hebrew Character.

Palmate newt. Photo Credit: A. Hallatt

Fox strutting around the reserve. Photo credit: RSPB camera

Red-lined Quaker from this week’s moth survey. Photo credit: F. Gilgunn

Notices

RSPB Mersehead is running a full and varied Events Program, including events that are part of the family-friendly #WildGooseFestival2023.

For more information on individual events and to book a place please go to our website: https://events.rspb.org.uk/mersehead. Visit the Wild Goose website here: https://wildgoosefestival.scot/.