The snowdrops are out, the first leaves have opened and the red squirrels are busy foraging at RSPB Scotland Loch Leven. Today they entertained visitors with their dash and daring, their sudden leaps from one tree to another and their spasmodic movements. Happy enough to scamper two metres in front of me, these resident red squirrels took it in turns to climb to the feeders and pop their heads under the wooden lids to access the peanuts inside. One red squirrel, on sensing my presence, held his paws together and studied me in a scholarly fashion for a few moments before dashing off again at high speed.
Perhaps the red squirrels have tapped into the energy of last weekend's Big Garden Birdwatch at Loch Leven which gave many youngsters and adults the opportunity to get close to nature, some for the very first time. There were bird-ringing activities (see photo below) and nest box woodworking - 12 nest boxes were made in time for this year's nesting season by a group of youngsters, all under twelve years of age. The nest box survey for 2016 shows that the nest boxes are used primarily by great tits, blue tits, tree sparrows, robins, swallows and jackdaws (in descending order).
The woodlands were alive with birdsong this morning! It's interesting how you can hear the birds so clearly - and they sound so close you feel you must be able to see them - but search the tangle of branches and not a single sighting - until they choose to move. And to wait for movement, of course, you need time, something most of us do not have enough of! I was lucky to stand for long enough to see goldfinches, great tits, blue tits, chaffinches, long tail tits and - my favourite - bullfinches! By the picnic area I also spotted the slender shape of a treecreeper. From behind, this tiny bird is as brown as a sparrow but as soon as it turns side-on, its white breast shines out. It's also been described as 'a very small and beautiful bird ... like a little mouse running up the trees for insects...' (Old Statistical Account of Scotland, 1791-1799).
On the loch, the unusual visitors of the week have been a pair of red-breasted mergansers among the large numbers of goosanders. The striking male smew can still be seen, usually towards St Serf's Island, and our little egret seems determined to stay for a while yet. Groups of goldeneyes, tufted ducks and wigeons can be seen on the water, as can large flocks of teals. Today the teals were seen lifting their necks to the sky and shaking their tails, all the while piping their courtship song.
Forthcoming events at the reserve include Stargazing on Tuesday, 7th February with the Dalgety Bay Astronomy Club when there will be a comet demonstration. There are still a few spaces available and this is an event not to be missed!
Photo credits: Alan Brown - Red Squirrels; Vincent Johnston - Great Tit.