It's been a very cold and early start today for February Wetland Birds Survey (WeBS count). After the very high count last month we're back down to a more normal mid-winter total of around 15,000 although this does seem to be very variable depending on the weather. Non-goose highlights were a single Scaup on the loch, 115 Curlew on the low ground and an incredibly loud Great Spotted Woodpecker in the Rookery which you could hear all the way to Tower Pool Hide. Over the weekend we managed to squeeze one more bird onto the year list- a Glaucous Gull- bringing our total up to 105.
A fair bit of this week will be spent preparing for our Stargazing Live! evening on Saturday with the Aberdeen Astronomical Society. Last year's Stargazing was the biggest event ever held at Loch of Strathbeg (and possibly ever held by the RSPB in the north east!) and the bookings are looking good again this time round. While we've not got a limit on the number of visitors we can entertain, as some of you will remember from last year, we do have slightly restricted car parking. If you want to park on the reserve then give us a call on 01346 532017 or email strathbeg@rspb.org.uk and book a space. Otherwise you may have to find parking nearby, or walk down to us from Crimond village.
The Stargazing starts at 7pm, there will be telescopes, lots of talks and activities and the inflatable Cosmic Dome planetarium (inflatable because the dome has inflatable ribs instead of tent poles- not because it's a bouncy castle as some people have thought!) so there will be plenty to do even if it is a bit overcast.
Then on Sunday, we're holding a Grand Designs nest box building event to celebrate World Community Arts Day- come along with your family to build and decorate nest boxes and then finish the afternoon by toasting marshmallows round a cosy campfire! The event runs from 1pm-3pm, costs £5 per nestbox and you need to book in advance as well.
You can find more details of both events (as well as lots more upccoming events) on our events page.