All in due Gorse…

Now that our busy summer season is over we Rangers can finally catch up with practical management tasks. Recently we have been carrying out Gorse removal on some of our SSSI Grassland.

Most people who visit St Abb’s Head will know that we have an extensive area of Gorse. In May/June, and to a lesser extent in late autumn, it’s at its most spectacular. The headland transforms into a vibrant yellow forest. Walking the paths around the Mire Loch you are hit with the sweet coconut scent of the blooms. As well as being visually spectacular it can also support a wide range of species, providing excellent ground cover for many mammals and birds.

So why remove Gorse…

Gorse is a strong plant and a prolific invader. If left unchecked it can quickly form a monoculture and take over large areas of open grassland. More sensitive species such as grasses and wildflowers find it impossible to grow as the Gorse forms a dense layer of needles and masks out the light.
During the summer our grasslands are abundant with wildflowers including Thrift, Wild Thyme, Common Rock-rose and rarer species such as Purple Milk-vetch and Spring Sandwort. This carpet of colour in turn provides food plants and nectar for a range of interesting butterflies and moths.
Our aim is not to remove Gorse completely but to prevent the plant from invading our Grasslands.

How do we remove Gorse…

Gorse can be removed relatively easily using a number of techniques. Our chosen method is to cut the Gorse at ground level, using loppers and bow saws, and to then treat the cut stumps with an approved herbicide. This method has the least impact on surrounding vegetation or on any archaeological features. We only carry out Gorse removal outside of the bird breeding season to avoid disturbing nests.

The photos below show before and after a busy morning of Gorse clearing. Thanks to our hard working volunteers... Cheers guys.
JI

Spring into action...

Jack here; having arrived back a couple of weeks ago I thought I would keep you all updated on what’s about on the reserve at the moment.

It’s finally beginning to feel a little bit like spring here today. It’s been a tough winter for many of our seabird species, birds such as Guillemots and Razorbills spend the entire winter out on the open sea. Imagine that... 7 months on the open sea! They arrive back in early spring to breed. Our Auks (Guillemots, Razorbills and one or two Puffins) will come and go at this time of year, checking out old nest sites and enjoying the novelty of being on dry land.

The affect of unseasonal weather has meant that many of our seabirds have been slow getting started. Guillemots and Razorbills have just about become a permanent feature on our cliffs and Shags have begun building some impressive nests. The cliffs are a noisy place, with bird’s pair bonding and disputing territories. Keep a look out for the first eggs. Last year the first Guillemots were seen on eggs on the 14th April.

During the spring many migrant birds pass through the reserve on their journey north to breeding grounds. St. Abb’s Head provides the perfect stop-off point as it is a prominent headland. This year many of our migrant birds have been later than usual due to the strong north east wind (who wants to fly into that). In the last week we have been graced by Chiffchaff, Wheatear and White Wagtail and this morning provided the first records of Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Swallow.

A few signs of spring on the reserve...

Frogspawn

Peacock Butterfly (first of the year)

 

Mute swan courtship display

Hare (keep an eye out for boxing)