The reserve definitely has an autumn look and feel about it now. The breeding season is over and the birds are starting to move south to their wintering grounds. The Swifts have already gone; the Little Ringed Plover from the second brood has fledged (only one confirmed), and both it and the adults have disappeared now. Almost all of the Swallow chicks from the nests around the centre have fledged. Peregrine Falcon chicks have now fledged, and one juvenile and two adult birds have been spotted hunting over the Carden Flood.
Since my last blog, large numbers of Curlew (350+ birds) and Lapwings (300+ birds) have been gathering on the reserve, however these have declined over the past few weeks as the birds move off towards their wintering grounds.
Autumn migrant waders have provided the main highlights over the past few weeks. Adult and juvenile Dunlin continued to be seen, with four on the 24th and two on the 25th of July, and four on the 4th and again on the 6th of August. Black-tailed Godwits were seen on the 28th July (13 birds), the 29th July (5 birds), three on the 4th of August and three again on the 7th. Vicky, our warden, whilst doing a WeBS count on the 5th of August, spotted a juvenile Golden Plover. On the 6th, a Little Egret paid a brief morning visit to the Carden Flood.
European Golden Plover (Image by Quirin Herzog)
Little Egret (Image by Nilfanion)
Ospreys have been occasional visitors to the loch, with sightings on the 5th of August (two birds), the 9th (two birds) and one on the 18th.