Watch Out for Woolly Bears!

RSPB Mersehead Blog 13th - 19th May 2023

Another amazing week here on the reserve has been packed with wildlife wonders. My particular favourite, in the last few days, has been watching the Lapwing chicks growing larger and branching out across the fields, much to the consternation of their parents.

Lapwing chicks. Photo credit: CJE Farrell

A primary school group was lucky enough to witness the wonderful scene for themselves as the young birds fed in a field close to the main track. Binoculars, monoculars and a telescope were all in action as the whole group had marvellous views of the youngsters feeding in the wetter ground. It’s always a worry when the families leave the protected, predator-fenced areas to search for wetter ground, the chicks are incredibly small to be making such an epic trek across the huge reserve fields. One group we were watching must have ventured across the main track, crossing two water-filled ditches to reach a large pool… nail-biting times!

North Solway Ringing Group in action. Photo credit: CJE Farrell

Research into the reedbed birds is taking place regularly, the North Solway Ringing Group carrying out what is called a ‘Constant Effort Site’ survey at the weekends throughout the Spring and Summer. After being carefully caught in nets, the birds are weighed, measured and ringed. Everything is meticulously recorded and the birds gently released, all the information feeding into a database that tells us about population changes and migratory patterns amongst many other things. It’s always fascinating to be involved.

Sedge Warbler returning to the reedbed. Photo credit: A Sutton

Whenever I get the chance, I pop the moth trap out in the garden and see what’s flying about under the cover of darkness. This week’s little treasure was a Great Prominent moth which sat beautifully for me while I took some snaps.  Locally common in South West Scotland, it doesn’t have the humps of lots of the other ‘prominent’ moths and feeds on oak, so if you’ve oak trees in your local vicinity keep your eyes open, you just never know.

Great Prominent moth. Photo credit: CJE Farrell

Sticking to the mothy theme, we’ve noticed there are lots of Garden Tiger Moth caterpillars around. The sand dunes are a known habitat for this species and two of the main food plants are nettle and dock, that’s three ticks for R.S.P.B. Mersehead. This caterpillar is also known as a ‘woolly bear’, I wonder why…

Garden Tiger moth caterpillar. Photo credit: CJE Farrell

Lots of visitors recently have commented on the beautiful scene created by the Common Stork’s-bill, the tiny flowers painting a magnificent swathe of colour across the field next to the main track. I am lucky enough to be able to enjoy it on a daily basis, and it takes my breath away each time I see it. Come and see it for yourselves if you can, and if you’re lucky you’ll see Lapwings and their chicks amongst the blooms!

Common Stork's-bill. Photo credit: CJE Farrell

Often, whilst you are carrying out a survey concerning one particular species or group e.g. butterflies, you’ll find some other wildlife spectacle that makes you stop and stare. Today it was this female Stonechat, perched on a fence near the sand dunes, and she was soon joined by her partner and a juvenile, probably from the first brood of the year. The adults will quickly start a new brood and possibly even a third before the warmer months are out. So, if you hear a loud ‘clacking’ sound as you walk along the beach, a noise that sounds as though two pebbles are hitting each other, look up at the higher grass in the dunes and you may just see this little beauty. Good luck.

Female Stonechat. Photo credit: CJE Farrell

And finally, during one of the early morning surveys this week, we spotted a purple bloom that hadn’t been seen since last year : a Marsh Orchid. Another splash of colour to add joy to any walk through the damper areas of the reserve.

Marsh Orchid. Photo credit: CJE Farrell

Claire Farrell, Long term volunteer

RSPB Mersehead holiday cottages:

At Mersehead you will find the RSPB’s only self-catering holiday cottages- Barnacle and Shelduck. Available dates are currently going quickly, follow the links to book your next holiday.