Mersehead RSPB Reserve

Our holiday in Dumfries and Galloway continued with a visit to the Mersehead RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) reserve. It's a working farm that is managed with wildlife in mind. Livestock include this fine herd of Belted Galloway cattle

It's always a beautiful reserve to visit. The visitor is greeted by a beautiful array of flowers that should offer a banquet for pollinating insects, though there weren't very many pollinating insects the day we visited

There are paths all around the reserve, offering lovely views of the surrounding countryside

and the coastline 

 

There are lots of bird hides around the reserve, allowing great views of the flocks of geese that gather here in winter.

and decorated with beautiful artworks showing some of the species you can see here 

Summer lacks the magnificent large flocks of wintering birds but there's still plenty to see! We were entertained by this Rook family at their nest

We also saw Linnets, Goldfinches, Stonechats and Tree Sparrows and heard lots of Skylarks.  

We were delighted to see this Emperor Dragonfly, 

 and entertained by these Rabbits who seemed to be racing across the grass

The reserve also has a wildlife garden that includes demonstrations of ideas for how to help nature in your own garden, including this Rubble Retreat, which is full of cosy little hideaways for insects, reptiles and amphibians

and this Bug Hotel

Mersehead is a lovely place to visit at any time of year. Though it is particularly spectacular in winter when the large flocks of geese come in.