A relatively quiet week here at Strathbeg, not least because people have either been moving house/on holiday but also 2 residential volunteers have left us.
Ben had been here since the end of January and worked very hard all the time he was here and even got us all out to the pub a few times!
Ian was here for 3 weeks and we wish him all the best of luck for finding a Greater Yellowlegs, as ours left on the weekend he started!
Here are Ben and Ian in search of fish in the lagoon last week.
Birding wise on the reserve this week, when we've been able to see anything there's not been a lot to see!
Ospreys have been around with 2 playing on the Low Ground this morning...just not infront of our super Hidden Strathbeg Camera but we shall persevere!
Waders are on the increase though with c30 Curlew on the Low Ground and a Ringed Plover was there during the week.
A few Black-headed Gulls are back on the island infront of the Visitor Centre despite the otter on Tuesday and a few Common Terns are still here.
There is also a family of Mute Swans on the pond and the 6 cygnets are so far surviving well.
The Lagoon though is attracting first summer Kittiwakes and a few adults, presumably failed breeders. It was a bit odd for me to see Kittiwakes not out to sea but on essentially a calm lake.
The nyger seed feeder in attracting some glowing Siskins and for a southerner like myself seeing Siskins in summer plumage is quite something.
Here are the weeks numbers: Osprey 2, Buzzard, Kestrel, Common Tern, Black-headed Gull, Lapwing, Curlew, Whimbrel 1, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover 1, Greenshank 1, Tree Sparrow, Siskin, Whitethroat, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Swift.