You can tell it's autumn time again here at Kinnordy; fallen leaves litter the paths and any leaves left on the trees have started to turn. It makes a beautiful scene from the hides and along the paths, seeing all those red and golden tones. What's even better is that now some of the willow scrub has been removed from the north end (in front of Gullery hide and continuing along to the left) we get more of a spectacular view of the autumn colours from the hides. You may have even heard the contractors with their chainsaws at the beginning of September. The amount of willow they have been able to remove gives the reserve a more open feel about it and looks so much better - even if the osprey perch is in full view!
Mute swan, mallard and wigeon numbers have been on the increase. There are now around 24 mute swans on the loch at the East end. Also at the east end wigeon numbers are up to 40+. Hanging around in the wigeon groups are a few tufted duck (4). Some teal (4) have even been spotted recently.
Along the paths there is always a flurry of activity with chaffinches, bullfinches, robins, blackbirds, blue tits, great tits and long-tailed tits swoopping from tree to tree. Even the red squirrel has been spotted more frequently - perhaps easier to see with less leaves obscuring the view.
Its almost time for both the ospreys and marsh harriers to migrate. Both species have been seen less frequently around the reserve in the last week. While the ospreys have a gruelling trip all the way to Africa ahead of them, marsh harriers are more likely to be found in down south in England for the winter.
Now it's just a case of waiting for the geese (greylag and pink-footed geese) and whooper swans to return to roost on the loch.