RSPB Mersehead Recent Sightings 9th – 15th January 2021
There has been a noticeable change in the weather this week. The bright, crisp, dry winter days that we have been spoilt with so far this month were replaced with wet, cloud covered skies. Official sources inform me that Thursday was the wettest day, with 22mm of rain falling, and Tuesday was definitely the best day for capturing the brilliant big blue sky over the Solway, which was combined with stunning (Cirrus?) cloud formations.
Big sky over the Solway at Mersehead. Photo Credit: D. Jackson
With the weather being unfavourable, and lots of tractor work planned, I was concerned that I wouldn’t have many opportunities to go out and find what was about on the reserve this week. However, I shouldn’t have worried as the wildlife seemed to make a habit of coming to me as I went about my work.
No sooner had I left the cottage to start the working day, than a distinctive laughing chatter caused me to look skyward, where my gaze was met by large (over 300 in some cases) skeins of Pink-footed Geese. These birds have been consistently heading north throughout the week, which had me scratching my head. I know things aren’t great here at the moment, but surely they weren’t heading back to Iceland and Greenland already? An interesting article in Bird Study by A. D. Fox et al provided an answer to this conundrum, with it being shown that birds that spend the early months of the wintering season further south, start migrating northward in January across the Solway. They then gradually make their way through east-central Scotland, reaching the Moray Firth by mid-March. They congregate here before heading back to their Nordic breeding grounds in April.
Skein of Pink-footed Geese. Photo credit: P. Radford
It is through research like this that new discoveries about the lives and movements of migratory birds are still being made today. This research not only informs conservation efforts, but also raises awareness within local communities through providing an insight into the fascinating and incredible journeys that migratory birds make. One such project is the Galloway Glens Greenland White Fronted Geese project, which is being run in partnership with the RSPB. There are just two wintering flocks in southern mainland Scotland, with the one at Loch Ken showing a decline to under 200 birds from a stead population of 350 in the late 80’s. Through tagging, targeted habitat work and a program of education outreach work the project is creating a connection between local people and these incredible birds. If you would like to learn more about the project, and the geese, you could sign up for a free online talk on 20th January by follow this link: Goose News!
Greenland White Fronted Goose. Photo source: https://gallowayglens.org/projects/greenland-white-fronted-geese/
The first job of the day has become replenishing the bird feeders at the woodland and visitor centre. The winter is a particularly important time for providing additional food for woodland and farmland birds, especially when the ground is frozen, and the trees have given up all they have to offer. It is also a great way to bring the birds to you, with regular visitors becoming like old friends. The stardom that Terence the male Pheasant has already received on these pages seems to have gone to his head, as he nonchalantly walked right to my feet. I assume he was hoping I might drop some seed rather than wanting to offer me an autograph.
Terence the Holywood Pheasant. Photo credit: P. Radford
Watching the array of tits, finches and thrushes enjoy breakfast reminded me to sign up for the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch taking place on the weekend of 29-31 January. As well as being a truly immersive and therapeutic to spend an hour, the survey – which has been running since 1979 – provides an invaluable insight into the state of our garden birds. Although a red listed (meaning severely declining) species, the House Sparrow maintained its top spot in 2020. Could the Starling or Blue Tit knock it off its perch this year?
Get signed up for the Big Garden Birdwatch. Image source: https://www.rspb.org.uk/
The next job of the day was to check footage from our trail cameras, which often capture activity and the presence of some species who aren’t as forthright as Terence! This week’s picks included a Woodcock and a Grey Wagtail. Woodcock are a highly secretive and hard to spot bird, who spend the daylight hours hidden in woodland but will venture to feed in open fields under the cover of darkness.
Woodcock captured on Mersehead trail camera
Grey Wagtail captured on Mersehead trail camera
If you have ever spotted a broken snail shell whilst out on a walk, and wondered what fate befell this unfortunate gastropod, then watch this video of an industrious and determined Song Thrush.
Industrious Song Thrush captured on Mersehead trail camera
Next for the main task of the day, topping unwanted rush in one of the fields towards the eastern end of the reserve. As I opened one of the gates on the way out, my eye was drawn to one of the iconic winter sights; hazel catkins. However, I was a little surprised that these ones were purple. It turns out this is because this is a variety called Corlyus maxima ‘Purpurea’. Look out for the purple leaves of this hazel tree when spring arrives, both in the woodland and at the far end of the farm track.
Corlyus maxima ‘Purpurea’ catkins. Photo credit: P. Radford
As I hopped back in the tractor, I could see around a dozen Fieldfare feeding, where their name would suggest you would find them. Now that the berries are all gone, fieldfare will drop into fields from nearby woodland to feast on larvae, worms and other invertebrates. They are often hard to observe when perching high up in the woodland canopy, so I had to get my binoculars out to take advantage of this opportunity to fully appreciate their distinctive grey head and rump, and chestnut brown back and wings.
Fieldfare. Image credit: Mike Langman (rspb-images.com)
With topping now underway, most of my companions for the day seemed appreciative of my work. A large flock of Barnacle Geese – which included Lou the Leucisitc Goose – seemed to find the grass much more palatable with the rush no longer obscuring their view. Also, around a dozen Black Headed Gull, a Herring Gull,three Common Gull (one adult and two immature) and a small number of Lapwing quite literally followed in my tracks, feeding in the disturbed ground. A male Stonechat was slightly less amused with having to repeatedly shift to a new stalk of vegetation for its vantage point. A lone Jack Snipe also characteristically left it to the last minute to let its presence be known, waiting until the tractor was within a few metres to reluctantly move a little further away.
Barnacle Geese flock. Photo credit: P. Radford
With the light fading, I headed back to the farm to clean and put the tractor away. Just as I was about to head for the cottage, five grey swans flew low overhead towards the wetland. With the colour confusing me, I had to investigate further. They turned out to be juvenile Mute Swans. They may have only recently left the territory of the adult birds, as they will stay with their parents for 4-5 months after hatching, and will now be looking for, or already be part of, a winter flock.
Juvenile mute swans. Photo credit: P. Radford
As this day proves, you don’t have to go far to find the wildlife at Mersehead. In fact, if you give it time it will probably find you.
Please note that Mersehead is open to visitors but all indoor facilities are closed under Tier-4 rules, this includes the bird hides, Visitor Centre and toilets with our trails and car park remaining open at present. We will keep you updated on any changes.
Paul Radford, Assistant Warden