Get outdoors and get involved with the ‘Boots and Barnacles’ sponsored walk.

Walk 5km or 10km to raise money for work supporting vulnerable wildlife such as lapwings and barnacle geese on the reserve. Taking part in this fun and interactive walk will be a great way to find out more about the wildlife on the reserve, explore the stunning landscape of the Solway coast and get the whole family outdoors!
We’re aiming…

Hi RSPB Mersehead community,

It certainly feels like spring is on the way as more and more birds start singing and warmth reappearing in the sunshine.

A regular visitor to the holiday cottages saw the Richardson's canada goose amongst the barnacle geese on Saturday afternoon near to the Meida hide. There are quite a lot of barnacle geese on the reserve at the moment so it might take some patience to find it! This goose…

Hi RSPB Mersehead community,

I'm pleased to say that the flooding has receded and we are open today, and what a lovely sunny day it is!

A few signs that the reserve is starting to stir from a winter slumber have been around in the past week or so, snowdrops are out and the gorse bushes are flowering. Upon investigating a curious tapping sound I found a song thrush smashing a snail against the ground near the visitor…

The access lane is flooded after another combination of heavy rain yesterday, snowmelt and a hide tide so the reserve is closed today. 

Hopefully we'll be back to normal tomorrow.

Liz

Morning all,

The lane to the reserve is flooded after heavy rain overnight, snowmelt and a hide tide so the reserve is closed today.

It was a busy day at the visitor centre feeding station yesterday, a brambling appeared to join the regulars and a male hen harrier was flying low over the field. The teal were returning to the pool as the ice thawed. 

We'll keep you informed about the opening of the reserve.

Bye…

Hi RSPB Mersehead community,

We're getting very excited about the Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend on the reserve! In this cold weather the birds are devouring the bird food outside the visitor centre, and what a good excuse to spend an hour (or two) watching them and their antics. Regulars on the bird feeders are coal tits, blue tits, greenfinches, tree sparrows and the occasional goldfinch and yellowhammer.

Good morning,

The lane is clear to the reserve and it's a beautiful day.

Morning all,

After heavy rainfall yesterday the reserve is closed due to flooding.

We will keep you updated.

Liz

Hi RSPB community!

Well it's been a busy start to the year on the reserve. Here are the latest sightings:

04/01: tree sparrow, buzzard, teal, pintail, goldfinch, yellowhammer

Weekend 05/01 and 06/01. Visitor centre: tree sparrow, 33 teal, 200 barnacle geese, 11 canada geese, yellowhammer, 4 whooper swans flew over.
Beach: 7 ringed plover, oystercatcher, golden plover. Bruaich hide: gadwall, pintail, reed bunting…

It's definitely the day for a walk to blow away the cobwebs of Christmas or 2012!

Visitor Centre opening times for New Year week:
Monday 31st: 10-4
New Year's Day: 11-3
Wednesday 2nd: 11-3
Thursday 3rd: 10-4
Friday 4th: 10-4
Saturday 5th: 10-4
Sunday 6th: 10-4

There is a lot of rain forecast overnight (Sunday) so do check here, on the facebook page or by calling the visitor centre before you travel on Monday.

Bye for…

It is with regret we have had to close the reserve today due to flooding, the entrance lane may clear later this afternoon, however the visitor centre will remain closed until Fri 28th Dec.

kind regards Colin 

Good morning!

If you are thinking of visiting today the lane is clear to the reserve but with heavy rain forecast all day I will be keeping an eye on the water levels. 

Liz

The reserve is closed today due to flooding. We will keep you updated.

Dear all

Yet again due to heavy rainfall and an approaching high tide the reserve will close today at 12.30 pm. 

kind regards Colin  

Hi all

The Richardsons Canada Goose is still visible at Mersehead this morning currently from the Bruaich Hide.

Colin    

Hi RSPB Mersehead community!

We're certainly feeling festive on the reserve, especially after a mince pie (or three) at the volunteer get together this afternoon.

There have been some exciting sightings recently on the reserve. A rare visitor from North America, a Richardson's canada goose, has been seen amongst the barnacle geese over the weekend. Can you spot it in the photo below? 

Thanks to Colin Bushell, who was…

Good morning! Mersehead is closed today after heavy rain overnight which has caused the lane to flood. We'll keep you updated.

Liz

The flooding has receded and we are open for our optics day with Lochwinnoch. We also have Christmas cards and gifts for sale. Hope to see you!

Hi Folks

After yesterdays appalling weather - we have had to close Mersehead today due to flooding. We still aim to be open over the weekend and hope you can join us then. Don't forget our optics weekend!

Kind regards Colin  

Hi folks, after some flooding on Monday we're now open as normal, and here's a quick reminder about our brilliant Optics event this weekend; some great deals to be had on binoculars and scopes, ideal Christmas presents for bird-watching friends and family. We'll have people on hand to talk you through the different types and choose the one that suits you best. That's this Saturday and Sunday from 10 till 4. Hope…

The reserve is closed for the rest of the day due to flooding. We will keep you updated.

Liz

Hi RSPB Mersehead community,

As well as the distinctive sound of thousands of barnacle geese on the reserve there are a few other arrivals telling us that winter has arrived; bramblings and waxwings. As well as recent sightings of a male hen harrier and tree sparrows it's a good time to get the binoculars out and visit Mersehead! If you're considering a new pair of binoculars or a new 'scope the annual optics event is happening…