Birders head to Mersehead

Oct 24 2008 by Julie Simpson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

THE JOINT October field trip of RSPB Central Ayrshire Local Group and SOC Ayrshire is on Saturday, October 25, to RSPB Mersehead nature reserve.

Mersehead is a working farm on the Solway and managed with conservation in mind.

The reserve is grazed to keep the vegetation suitable for wildlife, especially breeding wading birds. Water levels for wetland birds are controlled throughout the year.

Arable fields, wild bird cover crops and hedgerows are maintained in a wildlife-friendly way, so that they support larks, sparrows, finches and buntings. The drier grass fields benefit wintering barnacle geese.

Around 14,000 barnacle geese from arctic Svalbard use the reserve in winter – this is 60% of the world population! The spectacle of seeing large flocks of these black and white geese is a highlight of a visit to Mersehead.

The reserve is internationally important for wintering teals and pintails.

Leader is Jim Thomson. Meet at the reserve car park at 11am. Please bring picnic lunch; drinks are available at the small visitor centre. Finish around 4pm. Visitors are welcome.