Well, the weather has been dreich this week, on the reserve (A combination of dull, overcast, drizzly, cold, misty and miserable weather. At least 4 of the above adjectives must apply before the weather is truly dreich). All the more enjoyable for that, when birds appear through the mist and drizzle.
A treat for participants in last weeks Evening Goosewatch (on the 8th) was the appearance of a Short-eared Owl. On Monday (12th) the Icelandic-breeding Goose Census count gave a respectable figure of 12,881, or thereabouts, Pink-footed geese on Loch Leven. A female Smew, was seen on the loch on the the 11th, with two females present the next day. Thursday's treats included a Black-tailed Godwit on the Carden Flood, and Bullfinches and Waxwings feeding in the Rowan trees just across the main road from the Visitors Centre.
Goosanders were present on the loch and Carden Flood throughout the week, as were moderate numbers of Mallard, Teal, Widgeon, Pochard, Gadwall, and Tufted ducks, together with Greylag geese As well as the usual finches and tits, Bramblings were regular visitors to the feeders; Tree sparrows also made the occasional appearance. This week, Redwings and Fieldfares finally made it onto our weekly sightings list.
All in all, no' a bad week, as we say here, despite the miserable weather.