Another bright and beautiful day at RSPB Scotland Loch Leven with much activity on the loch beginning with the 'ung-unk' of pink-footed geese flying low across the water.
There were flocks of wildfowl enjoying the first warmth of the sun with many species moving around in pairs. I watched a pair of goldeneyes in courtship: the male intermittently stretching his neck and bill towards the sky, the female following closely behind, her neck outstretched along the water. The pair displayed within a feather's breadth of a feeding mute swan but neither species paid the other any mind.
The highlight of the morning was heralded by the evocative, melancholic cry of curlews. A large flock had arrived to feed close to the Carden Hide. Occasionally they would take to the air, their silver grey wings shivering, then gliding against the blue haze of sky. Nearby, a flock of around 100 black-headed gulls settled on the water, their black ear-spots clearly visible through a scope. At times the air was full of the silver flight of both curlews and gulls - a special sight indeed!
From the Carden Hide I was entertained by the comical antics of mallards as the males tipped their predominantly black bottoms into the air while paddling furiously with their orange legs to ensure they stayed upside-down long enough to feed satisfactorily.
As well as mallards there were groups of potchards, tufted ducks, wigeons, teals and several pairs of great-crested grebes out on the water. Excitement grew when a male smew was spotted towards St Serfs Island. The male's striking white feathers were described by one visitor as being like 'a snowflake on the water.' Not surprising then, that the purity of its plumage has earned this sawbill the name, 'White Nun.'
Photo credits: Goldeneye - Paul Ashcroft, Black headed gull - Alex Gilfillan, mallards - Paul Ashcroft,