The loch is showing signs of the breeding season being over. As the burr-reed pokes it's leaves up through the surface of the loch, the ducks are gather into larger groups and with most of them now in eclipse plumage (see this link for more information: http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/watchingbirds/identify/eclipse_plumage.aspx) it is more challenging to identify them all, especially to spot a gadwall in amongst the mallards. A large flock of around 60 lapwings was feeding on mud on the north shore of swamp lochan this morning, it won't be long before other flocks of waders start moving through on passage from their breeding areas to winter sites.
The breeding season isn't entirely over though, as there are still a few broods of ducklings around. A brood of small gadwall has been around near the Swamp hide, and a pair of moorhen have a chick around the bogbean islands in front of Gullery hide.
Osprey are now a common sight at the reserve, the parents are still providing food for their youngsters who should now be fledged, and therefore have hearty appetites. It won't be long now before there are juveniles seen at the loch as the male tries to teach them to fish for themselves. Keep your eyes open too for females as they will be feeding up before they start their migration back to Africa in just a couple of weeks.
Over the next few weeks staff and volunteers will be out and about in the loch carrying out annual management work. Unfortunately this does cause the majority of the wildfowl to hide while we are out, I apologise in advance if this does affect you at all. The osprey will still come into fish though, and there are often more wildfowl seen as we flush flocks from time to time.