The familiar 'wink wink' call of the pink-footed goose is with us once again - autumn is well and truly here. Large flocks of geese are moving around Loch Leven and the surrounding fields regularly providing wonderful spectacles throughout the day.

The first NNR goose count took place on Friday morning and, despite the iffy weather, the 5 people stationed around the loch counted a total of 8799 pinkies - slightly…

This post is from Claire, who worked over the summer monitoring the Lapwing breeding.

Over the last 3 months RSPB Loch Leven has provided the scene for drama, excitement and disaster. As the 2014 residential volunteer (lapwing assistant) I have been lucky enough to follow the wardens, Vicky and Tommy, as they monitor the breeding success of the reserves most handsome birds, the lapwings (Vanellus vanellus). 

The season…

A fair bit has happened since the last blog. The modified path at the start of the wetland trail has been completed; given some snow and a tea tray from the cafe, thoughts of the luge......!

The disturbed earth alongside the trail has resulted in an abundance of wild flowers, attract Buff-tailed Bumblebees, and on the subject of bees, the bumblebee meadow has opened, the Lapwing breeding season being over.

Since the…

It's been a busy month for the warden, Vicky, and her delightful assistant, Tommy, as they carried out the annual survey of Lapwing breeding, by monitoring nests and chicks.

Visitors can get a taste of the effort involved, by taking part in the daily Find the Lapwing Chicks competition. No prizes, unfortunately, but lots of feel good factor. Eagle eyes and a lot of patience are required.

             Lapwing Chick    

…

Over the last few days, the glossy ibis has been showing really well from the Gillman Hide and the cafe. We saw it this morning on an island in one of the pools near the Gillman Hide. Here is a picture taken by Nigel Wedge on Wednesday. (See moreof Nigel's photos at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sarniebill/)

Finally, it's here!

The Kinross Glossy Ibis finally made an appearance for our cafe visitors yesterday. Excellent viewing was had by all those lucky enough to drop in for lunch.

** The latest news is that it is back today, in front of the Gilman hide. Good viewing over the Easter weekend has been promised. **

In addition, the extension to the Heritage Trail opens today, completing the circuit around the loch. There…

Lapwings, Lapwings everywhere!. This species continues to hold its number one position as the most noticeable bird on the wetland; pretty much everywhere you look you'll see them. In the number two position this week is the Skylark, due to the constant background song flights of these birds, though those up at the Visitor's Centre may argue for the Great Tit that consistently calls there all day every day.

Little…

Spring migration is hotting up  now, and this week has seen several firsts for the year.

On the 27th March, the first Greenshank was reported, and the first Black-tailed Godwit on the 1st. A probable sighting of Little Ringed Plover on the 28th March, was followed by a definite sighting on the 2nd. First reports for Ringed Plover, Chiffchaff, Swallow and Sand Martin were also obtained on the 2nd.

April is a great time…

The spring equinox!

The first day of spring, astronomically speaking, though the Met Office prefers the 1st of March, based on a temperature system, but I digress.

We've had some fine spring-like days in the past few weeks, bearing in mind that it is Scotland after all. The songs of Skylarks could be heard occasionally above the noise of the wind.  Lapwings have been displaying over the wetland. Out on the loch,

…

It was a dreich WeBS count yesterday - hard to see with my wet bins and steamed up scope, but there were a few birds still visible.

The most unusual sighting was 2 Great Northern Divers bobbing around off the southern edge of St Serfs, they were doing their best at pretending to be Cormorants, but the sheer size and diving style was a give away. Unusually I saw more Red-Breasted Merganser than goosander on the loch, mainly…

The rather soggy weather has continued, and water levels across the reserve remain high. Consequently, the wetland has ceased to be so unique, and just looks pretty much like everywhere else!

Our White-tailed Eagles took themselves off elsewhere for New Year, with no sightings between the 30th December and the 12th of January, However, since the 12th, they have again been regular visitors to the islands on the loch,…

Well it's been about a year and a half since my last blog, so i feel one's about due. My New Year's resolution is to remember to write a regular blog (we'll see how long it lasts). Monday was my first day back after the Christmas break and the site has changed just in the last few weeks - water levels have risen across the reserve (see attached picture for our very full reservoir) and as a consequence the birds have…

Firstly, let me wish all our blog readers a Good New Year.

Well, 2014 has started the way that 2013 has ended, wet, wet, wet! With the amount of rain (plus a smidgen of snow) that we've had over the past few weeks, all the regular pools and scrapes are full, and there are a few unintended new ones as well.

Fortunately, the mild damp weather has not deterred our pair of White-tailed Eagles (2009 release birds male…

Two birds easily visible from the cafe this morning, sitting on a large birch on St Serf's Island. Vicky (our Warden) managed to get a radio signal from one of them: turquoise X. They seem to have found their way back to their 'winter retreat' here at Loch Leven, with regular sightings nearly every day. The photo was taken this morning around 11am with my smart phone held up against one of the telescopes which…

As expected, the colder weather and shorter nights have brought this winter's first sea eagle to Loch Leven. One was spotted yesterday, Thursday 28 November, from the cafe at RSPB Loch Leven. It landed on St Serf's Island. Like the one in the picture, yesterday's bird was wearing a wing tag. We were unable to read it but it looked turquoise. It hasn't been seen again today - at least not so far - but usually, when…

As we approach the end of 2013, geese loom large in our thoughts here at RSPB Loch Leven. Not the staff Christmas dinner, but the massed ranks of Pink-footed Geese (Pink-feeted Geese?) that congregate around Loch Leven at this time of year, before moving on to their wintering grounds. The honking of the Pink-foots as they fly around the area provides an almost constant background accompaniment. Accordingly, October is…

It's been busy on the reserve for the past couple of weeks, mostly involving big yellow machines moving earth around.

All this work is due to the extension of the Loch Leven Heritage Trail, which will run from Vane around the south west side of the loch back to Kinross, to complete the loop. The path will run alongside the B9097 to the west end of the reserve, where a purpose-built viewpoint will provide views back…

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…

For the second year we welcome the Kinross Agricultural Show here at our reserve at RSPB Loch Leven. There's a lot to see and do for all the family, at the show and of course at RSPB Loch Leven. Our visitor centre, cafe, shop, trails and hides are open as normal on show day, Saturday 10 August.  To find out more about the show, visit http://www.kinross-show.co.uk/ 

See you Saturday!

 Hot off the press!

Our Little Ringed Plovers have had a second brood. Three tiny chicks were spotted running around with the two adults today, on the same island where the original nest was located. The adults are fearless little birds, chasing off Curlews, Lapwings and Greylag Geese that got in the way of the scurrying chicks.

As well as the ever present Lapwings, large flocks of Curlews have been gathering on the…

What a awesome June it's been.

Highlights this month include the successful fledging of all four Little Ringed Plover chicks. If that wasn't enough for Little Ringed Plover fans, it looks like the adults may produce a second brood; they appear to be nesting on the small shingle island in front of the Carden Hide, giving visitors fantastic views (sometimes).

Adult Little Ringed Plover

Juvenile Little…

It's official. First breeding record of Little Ringed Plover for Loch Leven.

Last Thursday (30th), four Little Ringed Plover chicks hatched, and by mid-morning the little white blobs could be seen darting about after the adult birds, on the small island at the back of the Carden Flood. A bit of patient watching has been rewarded with good some views of the adults and chicks over the last couple of days, and I'm glad…

This blog comes from our young volunteer reserve guide Richard, 15, who volunteers on a Saturday with his dad Martin.

A glorious sunny June morning the reserve is moving with life, summer has arrived ! Me and my dad went down to the 3 hides to update the white boards because it was the first of June and while we were down there we saw Lapwing, little ringed plover, Shoveler, Mute swan (with 7 Cygnets) and swallows…

Just a quick update to yesterday's blog with some photo's of the recent Little Gull and the Little Ringed Plover from Sunday, 19th; all images courtesy of regular visitor Stuart Gillies.

Little Gull

Little Ringed Plover on Carden Flood

Lapwing                                                                                       Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

With May being Lapwing Month at Loch Leven, it should come as no surprise that this iridescent wader has been prominent, both visually and vocally, all month. So far 36 nests have been identified, of which 19 are still active. The first chicks were seen on the 7^th and, to date, there are a minimum of 25 chicks (minimum since they can be pretty hard to spot sometimes).

Lapwing Nest…