The loch still has some ice on it, though it has definitely been a lot milder today. When I arrived this morning the birds were calling loudly and the feeders where as busy as ever, there were also a few blue tits beginning to investigate our array of nest boxes. On the loch there are loads of pochard, tufted duck and goldeneye feeding, it won't be long now until the goldeneye begin perform there magnificent display dance. There are huge numbers of cormorants perched on St Serfs island, many of the juveniles still show there white chest, much like a penguin. In Vane bay a single dunlin was probing in the water, there are also a few curlew dotted over the reserve. There have also been many pink-footed and greylag geese on the loch and in the surrounding fields. The sea eagles have been seen during the week though unfortunately they have not been seen today, though the fog did not help.
Near the gliding club, in a field, there is a flock of around six bewick swans mixed in with a flock of whooper swans and in the same field there is a whitefronted goose. If you are in the area it is well worth scanning through the flocks of whooper swans to look for the bewick's, which have more black on the bill, a rounded head and are smaller.
That is all for this week, check the blog next weekend for all of the reserves up to date information.
Dunlin David Osborn (rspb-images.com)