The signs of spring

Although the weather still feels like winter the signs of spring can be noticed around the reserve. On the warmer days bumble bees and butterflies are now on the wing. Around the hedgerows lesser celandine is coming into flower and out on the merse the first flowers are showing with a display of white from the scurvy grass. On the few warmer evening the first moth survey has begun for the year, adding Red Sword-grass to the reserves list.

Red Sword-grass

The reserve is filled with bird song from the displaying Meadow Pipits and Skylark to the familiar calls of lapwing and Redshank. Many of the waders are now nesting with young hatching as I write this.

Lapwing and nest located through our nest monitoring scheme by trained wardens

The familiar summer residents are slowly replacing the wintering birds as they move northwards, and the sky is filled with Swallows and Sand Martins rather than Geese and Swans. The familiar tones of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff replace the chatter of winter thrushes along the hedgerows. Spring is the time when not only the regular summer visitors arrive but the chance of something more unusual passing through the reserve northwards. Last week a Spoonbill was present around the reserve bringing a more southern Europe feel. Also, a superb male Whinchat was briefly present before moving onwards maybe to breed somewhere in the Galloway Hills.

Spoonbill

Whinchat (this was taken at another site)

The majority of the duck have moved on to their breeding grounds, but a few pairs of Teal and Shoveler are still visible around the reserve, the locals were joined for a couple of days by a Garganey fresh from further south.

Garganey (this was taken at another site)