Right then – where to begin? Well probably with the 2, that’s right, 2 White-tailed Eagles that are hanging around in the area! They are currently around the south end of the Loch and if you are going to look for them then please do so with respect to the eagles and the landscape. The lay-by next to the cemetery on the road to Rattray seems to be a good vantage point but the one with the ‘A’ on its tag was right in the middle of the Low Ground on Thursday, to the bemusement of the Koniks who were confronted by this large thing on a post. Just for sense of polarity, the other eagle has 'Z' on its tag, so we have 'A' and 'Z'!
(The obligatory grainy photos of 'A' and 'Z' at Rattray yesterday.)
Besides the flying barn doors, wader passage has carried on at a pace with 4 Ruff appearing yesterday, 7 Ringed Plover (found by a visitor from Bristol with a very understanding if not birding wife), Redshank and increasing numbers of Lapwing. The Greater Yellowlegs is still here doing its disappearing act in the surprisingly undulating Low Ground.
Our Grebe numbers are also increasing with pairs of Great-crested Grebe appearing on the Loch and I had a lovely sighting of a Little Grebe in front of Fen Hide as it worked its way slowly around the edge of the reeds.
Little Grebe in front of Fen Hide. (Alas, the quality of the photo doesn't really do justice to this charming bird).
The Bittern is still being seem intermittently mainly from Fen/Bay hides but it was seen yesterday by Diana and Emma when they went in search of the Eagles when it was flushed from the eastern bank of the Loch with a few Grey Herons.
A Green-winged Teal, the 3rd for the year at Strathbeg, was seen from the Visitors Centre yesterday but wasn’t relocated today, as was an Iceland Gull and the 1st Sandwich Terns of the year seen from the Centre during the week. Also nice to see yesterday were a pair of Pochard which were on the pond right underneath the Centre and for all Stoat fans, it was also seen yesterday.
The Pochards in front of the Visitors Centre.
Away from wetland birds, the Brambling is still here around Starnafin as is the young male Blackbird which is still attacking the windows. On that point, if anyone notices funny things in the windows such as cardboard, that’s what it’s there for! In other thrush news, I was surprised during the week to see a flock of 30 Fieldfare flying over the woods behind Fen Hide.
Breeding signs are becoming more obvious all over the reserve and none more so that this woodpecker hole which we hope is going to get deeper than it is now!
The Hen Harriers are still here as are the Short-eared Owls. The freakishly early Swallow hasn’t been seen since March 23rd so maybe the next one will be at the more ‘usual’ time of arrival.
I think that’s all but there was so much this week it’s hard to remember it all!
Here is an attempted list of things seen over the past week: White-tailed Eagle 2, Bittern 1, Greater Yellowlegs 1, Ruff 4, Green-winged Teal 1, Hen Harrier 2, Pink-footed Goose 15,000, Great-crested Grebe 7 (at least), Little Grebe 1, Ringed Plover 7 (at least), Lapwing 9+, Brambling 1, Tree Sparrow, Pochard 2, Wigeon, Teal, Goldeneye, Tufted Duck, Curlew, Iceland Gull 1, Short-eared Owl 1, Redshank, Sandwich Tern 2.