RSPB Scotland Loch Leven's Writer in Residence Anita John brings us the latest sightings from the reserve and is helping to gather stories as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations. Anita writes:
The annual arrival of ospreys has caused a ripple of excitement to stir through RSPB Scotland Loch Leven in recent weeks as these majestic birds of prey make their annual migration south to West Africa from their breeding sites in northern Scotland and Scandanavia.
Photo credit: Alex Gilfillan
We were lucky enough to see three of these breath-taking fishing birds cruising high above the waters of the loch. While we had our binoculars focused on one osprey, we missed another dive from a great height into the water and come up successfully with a huge fish - probably a pike or perch. We did see it eating its prey on the fence post, the silver scales of the fish glinting in the sunlight.
The highlight of the afternoon was when one of these large birds passed directly in front of the Carden hide, a fish in its claws, its huge wings beating their way towards Benarty Hill. As always, it was a fleeting but beautiful glimpse of wildlife in action - a sight to make the heart beat faster.
It's well worth a visit to RSPB Scotland Loch Leven to see these glorious birds for yourself between now and the end of September.This year, the first arrival was spotted on 21st July (17th July last year) and their numbers will likely peak around mid-September. In 2016, according to our sightings list, a total of twelve birds were seen on the 14th September and the last sighting was recorded as late as the 25th September. Even better come along to our Osprey Walk on Sunday 27th August. See here. For further information on the ospreys breeding at RSPB Loch Garten see here.
Over the summer months many families and children have visited the reserve and we were very impressed by this photo of a heron taken by 12 year old Stuart Dallas through a telescope set up in the Carden Hide. It's Stuart's first wildlife photo - may it be the first of many! Thank you Stuart!
Photo credit: Stuart Dallas
During the afternoon we watched this heron skulk carefully forward as it fished, placing each foot down as tentatively as a cat stalking its prey! The silver grey neck of a second heron was to be seen poking out from the long grasses, as still and silent as a fence post.
Fishing lessons seemed to be the order of the day and there were still many youngsters to be seen out on the water. Recent sightings have included seven moorhen chicks, six mute swan cygnets, several dabchick chicks and a number of juvenile great crested grebes, with their distinctive black and white striped markings. We watched a small flock of adult great crested grebes fishing and bringing back tasty treats for their youngsters. The length of time they spent underwater seemed endless (I counted between 20 and 40 seconds, sometimes longer). As one visitor commented, "they seem to spend more time underwater than on top!" Oh, the joys and toils of parenthood!
From the Carden Hide there was also a new sighting for me: a water rail! This distinctive but reclusive bird, with its grey-blue breast, buff back and orangey red beak preened itself for a good long time among the rushes at the edge of the water. One of its Scots names is Scarragrise (scared-in-the-grass) which explains, perhaps, why I haven't sighted it before!
It's been several weeks since I've visited the reserve and it's striking how, in just four weeks, the season has moved on markedly. The rowan trees are now full of berries and the vegetation along the Heritage Trail is dense with undergrowth: ferns, wild raspberries, tall nettles, ragwort and cow parsley, among other plants - ideal for butterflies! Today on the reserve all the following were sighted: green-veined whites, peacocks, small coppers, meadow browns and red admirals. Summer is definitely moving towards its close!
Photo credit: Anita John