Today's wildlife highlight was probably the water rails by the Carden hide. They have been around all week and have been hanging around just outside the hide giving many people the chance to see their first ever water rail, including our Assistant Warden Anna. Also around the wetlands we've had an impressive 182 gooseanders, 32 lapwings, a kestrel, 5 shovelers, 21 curlews, an oystercatcher, herons, wigeons, gadwalls, teals, mallards and pintails.
Another amazing encounter was 55 snipes! They were recorded in a secluded part of the reserve on our raised bog, as part of our wetland bird survey (WeBS).
Today was also our first official goose count which is a coordinated effort between RSPB Scotland Loch Leven and SNH. It involves a very early start and a team of five folk positioned around the loch with clickers. The final count was 8,500 but it was not perfect conditions so numbers could be over 9,000. October is typically the best month for pink footed geese as a few of these will continue further south. From November the counts normally become quite regular until March as these are then our winter resident population.
We are delighted that the red squirrels seem to be doing well and have been seen most days this year. There is a resident family who frequent the woodlands and enjoy the new leafy loop path - worth a look if you have time when you are here.
Photo credits: Water rail - Paul Ashcroft (rspb-images.com), Snipe - Alex Gilfillan (rspb-images.com), Pink footed geese - Alex Gilfillan (rspb-images.com)