RSPB Mersehead blog 16th October - 22th October 2021
The unsettled weather this week has enabled water levels to continue to rise with the most noticeable difference being the field outside of the visitor centre. This change has led to Barnacle Geese congregating which can be admired from the visitor centres viewing area.
Barnies flying over the pond dipping area. Photo credit: Amy Blachford
Also benefiting from the increase in water are Whooper Swans with 50 being sighted on the wetlands. When compared to the Mute Swan they are slightly smaller in size and have a black bill with pointed ‘v’ shaped patches of yellow on both sides. This contrasts with the orange bill of the Mute Swan with a black base. The Bewick’s Swan has a relatively similar appearance to the Whooper Swan also having a black and yellow bill although they have more rounded yellow patches on both sides of the bill. Bewick’s Swans are also the smallest out of the three in size. This particular species is not seen on the reserve, rarely are there more than 100 individuals sighted in Scotland during the winter. Whooper swans breed on the tundra in Iceland and Scandinavia and are also known to nest in northern Russia and Asia. The majority of Icelandic birds winter in Britain and Ireland whereas Scandinavian birds tend to settle in Europe.
Not only did Thursday serve up blue skies, that day a Sparrowhawk was present which was visible around the bird feeders outside of the visitor centre, staying for a couple of hours. The individual was most likely there to find an easy meal with the likes of Chaffinches and Great Tits gathered around the feeder. However, it wasn’t too successful in catching a meal and seemed to be more interested in preening itself.
Smile for your close up. Photo credit: Luke Jones
Sunrise on Thursday morning. Photo credit: Amy Blachford
Quite a different scene on Tuesday. Photo credit: Amy Blachford
There has also been another sighting of Brent Geese. These geese have two races, the first is the dark-bellied race which breeds in Siberia and Northern Russia which then winters mainly in England and France. The second is the pale-bellied race with the majority breeding in Canada and Greenland wintering mainly in Ireland. The ones sighted on the reserve were actually of the pale-bellied race, so they have drifted marginally off course. Brent Geese favour coasts and estuaries for their winter-feeding grounds where there are mudflats and inter-tidal zones. They have been seen more recently moving onto neighbouring farmland to feed also.
One species that have slightly extended their stay this year are Swallows with several juveniles being seen around the farm buildings. They normally begin migrating south in September with nearly all having left Scotland by early October. Since their diet almost solely consists of flying insects, swallows don’t need to eat in excess before the make their 6 week-long trip as they can feed whilst flying.
Perched Swallows. Photo credit: Luke Jones
Starling numbers are starting to build across the reserve with them giving glimpses of mini murmurations. At around dusk the starlings fly to their communal roost with their generally being thousands of birds all swooping and diving in unison. There are many reasons as to why starlings may exhibit this behaviour. One reasoning is that it reduces the risk of predation as with thousands of birds all within close proximity it’s hard for predators to pinpoint just one individual. Other reasons are that it provides an easy way for the birds to exchange information and also being a method of keeping warm.
One massive duck or several thousand starlings? Photo credit: Luke Jones
The Mersehead reserve count was undertaken this week with the most abundant species being Barnacle Geese (6824), Canada Geese (128), Wigeon (178), Teal (531), Oystercatcher (400), Lapwing (310) and Curlew (300).
Amy Blachford, Trainee Warden.