A great start to our 50th anniversary year with lots of excitement on the reserve this week. We've had a mix of stunning crisp sunny days and misty mornings which lift in time for the afternoon. We've had flocks of curlew calling over the wetlands settling in the bumblebee meadow and then back to the pools, the biggest group was sixty but they have also been in groups of fifteen or so.
On the main loch today there have been big groups of ducks, lots of goldeneyes and four smew (two male and two female). Three hundred and fifty seven wigeon and over sixty teal were next to the Carden hide on Tuesday and we've since had a water rail, gadwalls, goosanders and shovelers. On Wednesday there were thirty seven whooper swans.
The little egret is still around and can often be spotted from the screens on the wetland trail.
There have been daily sightings of goldcrests this week, outside the cafe window and at the entrance to the Wetland trail where this friendly robin normally hangs out. Many folk have been lucky with kingfisher sightings this week at the river leven sluice gates and a dipper has also been seen.
Up at the visitor centre we've had a few long tailed tits and a large bird of prey was troubling the crows on St.Serfs, could have been a white tailed eagle but we'll keep you posted. Two ravens and a peregrine were up the hill today.
All photos taken at RSPB Loch Leven: Paul Ashcroft (rspb-images.com)