Today we were very lucky to have two rare ducks on the flood, a scaup and a drake ring-necked duck( two birds I have never seen before). The scaup has been close to the hide all day and the ring-necked duck has shown well on a few occasions. Also on the flood there is gadwall, shoveler, wigoeon, mallard, great crested and little grebe and some very vocal lapwings. The loch is rather quiet with only a raft of four gold…

Blue tit nests in cigarette bin at Vane Farm

 Disgruntled smokers to the reserve are being forced to seek out an alternative bin for their cigarette ends after a blue tit built her nest in the ashtray at the door to the Visitor Centre.

 The blue tit, with its cheerful blue, green, yellow and white colouration and ninja-like blue-black stripe around the eyes, has reportedly been seen ferrying nesting materials, pillaged…

  Roger Wilmshurst (rspb-images.com)

A couple of more unusual visitors have been recorded at the reserve - a garganey (pictured) and ring-necked duck out on the flood. Our camera-friendly robin chicks have all fledged successfully and have flown out of lens shot!

This week, thankfully, the sun is out along with a variety of very interesting birds. In the car park you are surrounded by the lovely song of willow warblers in an atempt to find a mate. On the flood there are wigeon , mallard, two pairs of shellduck, shoveler, gadwall, tufted ducks and a pair little grebes. Though the majority of the pink footed geese have headed further north we still have some pink footed and barnacle…

The Red Breasted goose was back once again on the reserve seen in amongst a flock of pink-foots and 1 barnacle goose. Let's hope he doesn't follow the pinkies North!

A couple of visitors also reported hearing a wood warbler today, close to the reserve car park. Cut and paste this address into your browser to familiarise yourself with it's call: http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/w/woodwarbler…

As I am typing this blog the rain is pouring from the sky, as it has been doing all day. When the flood can be seen through the thick mist there are a few pairs shoveler, some wigeon, a pair of great crested grebes and a large flock of tufted duck with the occasional pochard mixed in. Towards the loch shore a group of around 40 pink footed geese are grazing along with one barnacle goose .On the loch there is very little…

  David Norton (rspb-images.com)

A pair of bullfinches have been visiting the feeding stations this morning. There is a good variety of duck on the flood, including shoveler, pochard, wigeon and tufted. Four young robins have hatched and can be viewed from our cafe webcam.

  Ernie Janes (rspb-images.com)

Reserve visitors were treated to the stunning sight of an osprey scooping a trout from the loch this morning. Large numbers of wigeon and some shelduck are foraging around the scrapes from where a snipe was flushed.

Today was most definetly a duck day, with ducks all over the reserve. On the flood there is a few pairs of gadwall and shoveler along with huge flocks of wigeon, teal and tufted duck. This morning a roe deer also made a brief apperance in the reeds at the back of the flood. Goldeneye and tufted duck are gliding over the very calm water of the loch. The feeders are busier than they have been in recent weeks with goldfinches…

  Jeroen Stel (rspb-images.com)

The first black-tailed godwit of the season (above) has been seen around the flood edges. The red-breasted goose can still be spotted among the remaining pink-footed geese and more swallows are arriving at their usual nesting spots in the centre outbuildings.

  David Kjaer (rspb-images.com)

Willow warblers (above) can be heard and seen around the centre as Spring migrants increase with the improving weather. The flocks of pink-footed geese are being scoured regularly for sightings of the red-breasted goose - and a Ross's goose was seen again this morning.

What a relief, finally we have had some sunshine and warmth here at Vane farm and it has brought some fantastic birds with it. The now almost regular wheatear is on its favourite spot, the dry stone wall, along with a couple of reed buntings. The flood is full of life with gadwall, tufted duck, wigeon, teal and a great crested grebe. A single lonely swallow is also dipping and diving over the reserve searching for insects…

 Ernie Janes (rspb-images.com)

Flocks of sand martins (above) are feeding over the loch and the first swallow of the year was spotted close to the centre yesterday. The much sought-after red-breasted goose moved centre stage today, with excellent views from the cafe and hides.

The red-breasted goose was seen again on the reserve this morning. Robert, a work placement volunteer, spotted it while counting a flock of pink-footed geese through one of our scopes in the cafe.

  Nigel Blake (rspb-images.com)

Lapwing (above) are a key breeding species for Vane Farm and the first nest of the season, containing three eggs, has been discovered. Sightings of the Ross's and red-reasted geese continue on the fringes of the reserve.

A rather wet and windy start to the day, though it brightened up in the afternoon and we were rewarded with some great birds. The flood has shoveler, gadwall, mallard, coots and a large flock of wigeon grazing on the grass. After much searching finally the wheatears were found ( a new bird for me) and three of them are showing well, running along one of the reserves stone walls. The back edge of the reserve, towards the loch…

  Ernie Janes (rspb-images.com)

The first osprey of the Spring (pictured) has been observed wheeling over the loch. Out on the wetlands, skylarks are beginning to soar upwards and a snipe has been spotted close to the growing numbers of redshank.

  Nigel Blake (rspb-images.com)

The first of a growing number of lapwing have begun to display. A large flock of pink-footed geese has gathered across the reserve, with a red-breasted and Ross's goose among their number (but not seen today). A male wheatear (pictured) has been spotted.

An epic battle between fish and feathers! In this case a pike and a heron which Frank from Dunfermline managed to capture Friday past as he watched the pools in front of the second hide.

A fearsome predator against a fearsome fisherman...

Just to note that on Thursday 31st March, the shop will be closing early at 3pm so that Colin, Elaine and the team can get started on the end of year stocktake. Apologies to anyone this might impact upon. Happy to say the cafe and reserve will not be affected!

Jane

Spring has most definetly sprung with a variety of insects and bumble bees around the reserve. Birds are starting to pair with blue tits and great tits taking up residence in our many nest boxes up and around the hill, and singing from all of the trees.

On the flood many different species of ducks and waders can clearly be seen including shoveler, mallard, several pairs of gadwall, teal, wigeon, lapwings and oyster…

  Ernie Janes (rspb-images.com)

Milder weather is heralding the imminent departure of some of our winter visitors, but whooper swans and pink-footed geese are still on the reserve. Teal and shelduck (above) are providing a splash of colour on the flood.

  Steve Round (rspb-images.com)

The feeders in the centre garden have been thronged by siskin (pictured), goldfinches, redpoll, greenfinches and reed bunting. There has been another sighting of a white-tailed eagle, this time soaring over Vane Hill.

  David Osborn (rspb-images.com)

Gale force winds have made the loch waters more akin to open sea, forcing wigeon, gadwall and great-crested grebe into the lee of the flood. Two whooper swans are seeking refuge just outside the Gilman hide, offering unusually close-up views. Redpoll and brambling are still visiting the garden feeders.

  Steve Round (rspb-images.com)

There are close-up views of shoveler (above) from the Carden hide. Teal, wigeon and curlew are also congregating around the flood where whooper swans are displaying distinctly rust-coloured necks.