RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 8th – 14th September 2018
What an exciting time of year! Summer is just gripping on and yet change is happening. It’s one of the reasons I love this reserve so much, as it is never quiet but bustling with wildlife (you just need to know where to look).
The first arrivals of geese have begun, though no barnacle geese yet. The next couple of weeks could see the first of these arriving for winter, so it’s worth coming down to the reserve. You may be the first to spot one! Our Wetland Birds (WeBS) Count found: 23 pink-footed and 45 greylag geese as well as over 100 Canada geese on the wetlands. Twenty-five mallards, 22 shovelers and just under 200 teal have also been recorded. Very small numbers of male wigeons in summer plumage and a single (female) pintail were also seen on the same day (13th September).
Pink-footed geese. Photo credit: Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
From Meida Hide, a single dabchick (or little grebe) was spotted, as was a single female ruff and ‘whisp’ of 6 snipe from Bruaich Hide. At least 80 lapwing (or pee-wits) were reported in the last few days too, though a ‘deceit’ of over 200 were seen flying over the reedbed, on a guided walk two weeks ago.
On the sands, over 250 curlews (or whaups) and 100 oystercatchers were recorded and a variety of gulls, feasting on shellfish and other invertebrates with the turning tide as it recedes. Almost 30 (not so common these days) common gulls, 120+ black-headed gulls and 170 herring gulls were recorded on the sands and a smaller number of great black-backed gulls, with 16 of these larger gulls present.
A few green-veined white butterflies are still around, as are red admirals and small tortoiseshells, though nectar sources are now becoming harder to find, with less flowers around.
Buff-tailed bumble bees feeding on sunflower. Photo credit: Jenny Tweedie (rspb-images.com)
Resident songbirds are now much quieter, taking advantage of grass seeds and insects in our fields and margins. If you haven’t yet seen our glorious sunflowers stretched across some of the field margins (or bird cover), then you are running out of time. It won’t be too long before the sunflower heads turn to seed, providing a change in the larder, from nectar for pollinating insects to a bounty of high energy food for seed loving songbirds, voles and mice. Both house and tree sparrows will relish millet grown in these bird cover areas too, while smaller goldfinches and linnets make use of seeds in thistle heads. At least 3 bullfinches have been seen along the main farm road on hedges, tapping into various berries and rose hips. Many of the usual suspects have been busy feeding just outside the visitor centre, with good numbers of goldfinches, greenfinches, house sparrows and odd great tits and blue tits. An impressive male sparrowhawk was witnessed sitting on the bird table, clearly interested in the bird feeding frenzy, though the songbirds did manage to avoid its talons on this occasion.
Stonechats and few sightings of wheatear have been reported along the Coastal Trail around the merse (saltmarsh). The chats will stay around through winter (opting for the slightly milder conditions on our coast, rather than staying inland) but with migration underway, the wheatears are making a short stop to ready themselves for movements south.
There’s not a lot o’ water
Of those visiting over the last few weeks, many have commented on the lack of open water on our wetlands. This habitat is important as an attraction for wetland birds but we must also ensure that conservation work is complete before the area is re-flooded. The good news is, there’s plenty of water but this is currently being held back with our sluice systems until the last bales of late silage are removed from nearby fields and vegetation management is completed in places normally too damp to access. Once this is done levels will be restored, so that views from our hides provide a more familiar wet wonderland scene, in time for wintering waterfowl.
Low water levels from Meida Hide. Photo credit - Calum Murray (RSPB Scotland)
Your help needed!
As mentioned in our last blog, the Great British Beach Clean takes place this weekend. On Sunday (16th September) a beach clean will take place here at Mersehead, starting at 11am. The aim is to clean up as much of the plastic litter on our shorelines as possible and this can only be achieved by support and involvement from you. Plastic is drastic and sadly is affecting seabirds and marine life. There is no need to book but if you wish to come along, please bring your own gloves (leather or garden gloves) for your own safety and a packed lunch, if staying for the whole event (finishing at 3pm). D&G Eco Warriors will be here too, to help with the clean and to raise awareness on how you can get involved in more beach clean events.
Beach clean at Mersehead. Photo credit: RSPB Scotland (rspb-images.com)
See parts of the reserve others can’t reach
There are general walks taking place once a fortnight on Thursdays through to December. If you’d like to see how we attract nature throughout the seasons and get to discover some of our wildlife close-up, then get in touch to take part in one of the Mersehead Discovery Walks.
For the more adventurous, we will be running to special events in the next couple of months. The Reserve’s Last Piece in the Jigsaw guided walks will offer the chance to experience Preston Merse (the new part of this reserve that now links Mersehead with West Preston). This recent acquisition has raised interest by a number of visitors and now, you can join in the walk to see it first hand and learn about its story and how work is being done to develop it into an important part of the reserve. This walk is for the physically fit, as ill be quite strenuous. The event will take place on 16th October and again on 17th November, from 10am to approximately 3pm. Booking is essential and there will be limited spaces for those wishing to take part.
For more details, check online at https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/find-a-reserve/reserves-a-z/events.aspx?reserve=Mersehead
Calum Murray, Community Liaison Officer