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Uwe
What a great day! We were lucky enough to have a marsh harrier on the reserve today, which was seen in flight and feeding regularly throughout the day. There are also osprey, buzzards and a single kestrel on the reserve. The herons on the reserve have been showing well today as they attack the marsh harrier in flight. On the loch there is a large and varied flock of ducks, including gadwall, teal, mallard and some shoveler. There is also a large flock of mute swans that are moulting on the loch where they are safe from predators during this flightless stage of their year. The gulls of St Serfs island have began to disperse with now only a few gulls occupying the large island. The swallows in the underpass have fledged and it won't be long now until they make the huge flight to Africa along with the ospreys, which are now frequent on the reserve.

  • Wow, I'm so delighted to hear that there are nests around, that is just fabulous.  I am sure I will be visiting our friends again next year, so will pop in again to say hello and to look for ospreys!

    So many juveniles are now in the air and heading south.  Alba, LG's youngest female, made a daring flight over the Bay of Biscay - horribly close to the route Deshar stared taking.  Thankfully she has made northern Spain.  I wonder whether she will be a Beatrice and stay there rather than face the Sahara!

    Birdie's DU Summaries 2018   https://www.imagicat.com/

  • Hi Sheila, we don't have any plans for nesting platforms here, partly because of a lack of suitable habitat on the reserve itself (open wetland with no trees for shelter/ perching).

    There are at least a couple of nests in the wider Loch Leven area, so there is no shortage of suitable habitat round about. So while we don't have a nest on the reserve, we do get to see them most days throughout the summer!

  • I am a confessed ospreyholic and am delighted to read that ospreys have been around the reserve during the summer.  Are there any plans to erect artificial nests at Vane Farm (sorry, Loch Leven!) in the hope of enticing them to stay and breed?

    Birdie's DU Summaries 2018   https://www.imagicat.com/