Mersehead Recent Sightings 27th August – 2nd September
At the start of the week the majority of the swallows at Mersehead departed for the long journey to Africa. We have now reached the transitional period between the summer migrants departing and the winter migrants arriving. At the Visitor Centre, the male yellowhammer continues to be the star attraction with some visitors spending considerable amounts of time watching the feeders hoping to catch a glimpse of him. The goldfinch and chaffinch remain the most frequent visitors to the feeders, with greenfinch, great tit, blue tit and dunnock also arriving regularly. Less frequent visitors to the feeders include willow warbler, chiffchaff, robin, blackbird and house sparrow.
Photo credit: J. McDougall
Our holiday cottage tenants spotted a marsh harrier flying over the reserve; sparrowhawks have also been seen flying low near the hedgerows next to the Visitor Centre. A stoat has also been spotted multiple times skulking around the garden at the Visitor Centre, the feeders and the Sulwath Centre Garden.
Topping has been completed at the pool system by the hides and the sluice gates have been closed allowing the water level to gradually rise in order to accommodate the wildfowl that will arrive at the reserve during autumn.
Photo credit: E. Neilson
At the Meida Hide reed bunting, reed warbler, sedge warbler, chiffchaff, rook and greenfinch have been sighted. A grey heron was also spotted feeding in the pond. The bird ringers made their final visit of the year to Mersehead on Thursday morning and had a memorable end as they caught their smallest ever bird recorded: a juvenile goldcrest weighing only 5.6 grams. A greater variety of woodland birds were caught and ringed than in previous visits such as blackcap.
On the beach two of our members set up scopes and spotted an arctic skua flying over the Solway Firth. Skylark, sand martin, wheatear, stonechat, jackdaw, carrion crow, common darter and rook have been spotted by visitors walking the coastal trail. Visitors walking the trails to the Bruaich hide have sighted the few remaining house martins and swallows. Robins, wrens, willow warblers and chiffchaffs have been regular sightings on the trail to the Meida hide.
The weather has taken a more autumnal feel to it this week with strong winds and rain hitting the reserve from Wednesday onward. These meant conditions this week were not ideal flying conditions for the butterflies and moths: a dotted rustic and a small wainscot were the only moths caught during this week’s moth survey. The butterfly survey fared a bit better with an initial good run in the farmland meadows with 17 green veined white, 1 large white, 1 red admiral and 1 painted lady sighted. Strong winds and rain (which wasn’t predicted to hit the reserve for another four hours) occurred during the walk down the coastal trail, preventing the butterflies from flying.
On Monday evening Alan spotted a badger near the Sulwath Garden. Other mammals spotted on the trails include roe deer and brown hare.
Jonathan Taylor, Residential Volunteer