The icy chill and snowfall of the last 48 hours has seen most of the pools on the reserve freeze over and a white blanket cover the ground. Not ideal conditions but great for seeing birds.
Yesterdays highlights include the return of a previous winter visitor - an east-coast reintroduction white-tailed eagle (turquoise H). The eagle was seen early this morning to the west of the reserve and has since been spotted standing in fields on the reserve and at the back of the flood, in front of the third hide. There were excellent views as it spread its huge wings and flew over the snowy reserve, stopping regularly to feed and watch the world go by. A nearby buzzard took particular exception to the eagle and swooped towards it several times, but getting very little reaction. Hopefully H will stay in the area for a while and become a regular sight as it was last winter. H was still around this morning - feeding and defending its meal against crows.
Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com)
Keep an eye out for a big birdy with turquoise wing tags (H)
Meanwhile, on the WeBS count, a male smew was spotted, looking majestic in the sunshine, near Findatie, as were 66 goosander as they sailed past St Serfs. The whoopers have claimed what little open water there is left on the reserve, with 132 wading and swimming on the flood yesterday afternoon.
Great photo
shhhhhh it will fly away
Great to have H visit ... hope the other regulars return over the winter too :-)
~ Karen ~Pet & Widlife Artist living in southern Perthshire. A self confessed White-Tailed Eagle-holic!