Mike Lane (rspb-images.com)

Despite the continuing development work on the reserve, a flock of 400 curlew (pictured) has arrived on the edge of the drained flood. Today's counts also noted 650 greylag and four pink-footed geese, while a Ross's goose remains. Six hundred teal were counted on the main loch.

Osprey, Mark Sisson (rspb-images.com)

Osprey sightings over the loch are increasing as the birds begin their migration south. Among other raptors, peregrine falcons and a marsh harrier have been spotted. Meanwhile, a larger number of herons than usual have congregated around the current drainage works, ever ready to exploit the falling water levels.

The large scale conservation work has begun at vane farm, but the large yellow digger has not put our birds off.

This morning an osprey flew over the reserve and acted like it may be going to catch a fish. Though it didn't, it was still great to see the bird hovering and swooping. It will not be long until the ospreys migrate back to Africa, though August is a great month to see them fishing over the loch and reserve…

Michty me August awready, it’s been a quick year again or is it jist me gettin auld? Aye likely it is. Weather still a bit cheengeable no been awfa great at times really, mibee this month micht be a bitty better? Here’s hopin!

The breedin oan the reserve is ended noo and it’s moult time fur a lotta birds post breedin. Skulkin around hidin or if seen an identification nightmare if yer nae awfa shair whit yer…

Summer migrants are starting to work their way back down through the country to their wintering grounds in Africa. At Vane we've seen an increased number of ospreys over Loch Leven and the reserve within the last few days. At the moment, adult and juvenile ospreys are leaving their nesting areas and heading south. It's a gradual process, they may spend several days or maybe even weeks in some areas on their way over…

For the first time a wee red' yin has been spotted at Vane Farm! A few visitors and staff have seen it this week so keep an eye out on your next visit to Vane. Apparently the picnic area and surrounds are a hot spot...

Today we were lucky enough to have two fishing specialists on the reserve, a pair of ospreys. The first bird dived into one of our scrapes and flew out with a fish, it then ate its well earned dinner on the wall that runs down the wetland. Whilst I was in the wild flower meadow, less than an hour ago, another osprey was flying over the loch towards Kinnross. There was also a buzzard using the same wall as the osprey, along…

The muddy fringes of our wetland pools have really attracted the waders today, with high numbers curlews, lapwings, oystercatchers and some snipe. On the flood we have our usual array of ducks, mainly tufted ducks along with a variety of other dabling ducks. There are also some great crested grebes and little grebes. This morning a buzzard caught a small mammal and spent some time eating it, before catching another piece…

Vane Farm is becoming bigger, flatter, wetter- better... for birds and visitors! From Monday 18th July until 31st August you'll have the rare chance to watch large-scale, real-life conservation work in action as the diggers roll in and set about turning the reserve back into the high quality wetland habitat for waders it once was.

The good news is the Gilman hide (the large, family hide), woodland trail, wildlife garden…

A unique and intimate free folk evening will take place at the reserve this Saturday 16th July at 7pm! Acclaimed contemporary folk singer/songwriter Kate Doubleday will be performing this one-off concert at the reserve, in amongst the birds and wildlife of Loch Leven as she sets up in the picturesque Gillman hide overlooking the loch.

 Dubbed the Hide-away National Tour, Kate and her band, will be performing at RSPB nature…

The morning started off well as I glanced at a large raptor hovering above the loch, the bird was an osprey preparing to dive into the water to catch a fish. Though I never saw the best part (it catching the fish) the sheer sight of the bird managed to brighten up what was a dull morning. Every where you look on the reserve today there are groups of different species of ducks, of all shapes, sizes and colours. On our flood…

Earlier this week the water levels were dropped to create muddy fringes around the side of our pools which create the perfect feeding areas for many birds, especially waders. Today, only a few days after the water drop, our work has been rewarded as a stunning black tailed godwit was feasting on the array of invertabrates in the muddy ground. Though there are high number of waders they are most definetly out numbered…

Richt then here we go.  Apairt fae a pickly odd days it seems summer hiz deserted us a bit recently, hope it’s nae gonnae be a waash oot summer again? Certainly dreich lookin oot the windae the noo ne’er mind the sun will be back at some stage nae doot

The reserve is lookin fair lush at the minute which helps tae provide some guid cover fur awe the wader “n” ducklin broods scootin aboot the place.It’s been…

 A wood sandpiper (pictured) has been identified among the wetland grasses. Visitors to the Waterston Hide are being asked to leave a window open (come rain or gale) to allow the completion of a nest by two very resourceful swallows! The ring-necked duck can still be spotted in the large raft of tufties on the flood and a yellowhammer continues to visit the garden feeders.

                                                  Bob Glover (rspb-images.com)

My name is Iain Malzer, I’ve been a residential volunteer at Vane Farm for the last 8 months and have witnessed the four seasons here on one of Scotland’s most important wetlands. As my work placement draws to an end, I thought it would be a good time to share some of the highlights from my year on the reserve.

I arrived in the autumn with the geese.  The sound of countless pink-footed geese and greylags…

Rain, rain and more rain. Well when we can see through the rather damp windows of the visitor centre there are plenty of birds and other wildlife all over the reserve. On our bird feeders a stunning yellow hammer is making regular trips, to feast on the seeds, there are also plenty of goldfinches, greenfinches, redpoll and a variety of tits. The flood has a huge number of tufted ducks on it along with smaller groups of

The reserve is now covered in many very protective parents, adult lapwing and oystercatchers. There are a few lapwings with all their young tucked under them. An innocent heron went too close to the chicks and was "dive-bombed" by the angry parents. Though the chicks stole the show, there are plenty more birds on the flood including a huge flock of pochard and tufted ducks, gadwall, teal, wigeon and a few pairs of…

The reserve is covered with small balls of fluff, FLEDGLINGS. Many of the small garden birds chicks have flown from the nest and are now perching near to their parents begging for food by flapping thier wings. As you wander up the path to the visitor centre the young greater spotted woodpecker can be heard, shouting for food from its hole in the tree. Away from the small birds, other larger birds have got chicks including…

  Mark Hamblin (rspb-images.com)

A greenshank (pictured above) is scuttling around the flood edges and newly hatched shelduck chicks can be seen amongst the reeds. Reed bunting and sedge warblers are in abundance on the walks out to the hides.

As I write this blog our numerous pairs of swallows are frantically flying, in search of food, in our main court yard. The birds are adding the final touches to their nests in the tunnel and in the toilets, though the pair in the arc of the visitor centre window have completed their masterpiece of construction! Apart from the swallows there are plenty of birds on the reserve including the rare male ring-necked duck, at…

Two turnstones (above) were spotted on the shore of St Serf's where the Ross's goose can still be seen. There are a dozen ringed plover and six dunlin on the reserve. Lapwing hatchlings, oystercatcher chicks and greylag goslings are scurrying around the wetlands, well in sight of the cafe telescopes.

What a change, last Saturday I was wearing shorts but this Saturday the fleece was back on. Though the wet and windy weather may not be too pleasent for us, the birds don't seem to mind. On the flood the stunning male garganey has made vague though frequent appearances in with one of the small groups of gadwall. Large flocks of tufted duck and pochard are littered across the reserve along with some mallards and a few…

Keep an eye out for the fancy-dancey Bar-headed goose seen this afternoon in amongst some Greylag goose on the far side of the reserve!

 The cafe camera is offering excellent views of a Ross's goose on St Serf's Island. An elusive garganey (pictured) can be seen from the Carden Hide and the first lapwing chicks have hatched.

Though the rare ring-necked duck has not been seen since the 12th, there are still plenty of other birds on the reserve including the male scaup. The flood is full of ducks with tufted ducks, pochard, wigeon and mallard. There are also little grebes and a pair of great crested grebes on a nest very close to the hide. A fox and two roe deer made an apperance earlier this morning.

The gulls on St Serf have finally laid some…