So, at the end of week of comings and goings we are asking ourselves have we seen the Greater Yellowlegs on the reserve for the last time?
It has been here all week but this morning it was seen on the banks of the River Ythan and one does have to ask that seeing that there is already a King Eider down there, what more do they want?
Hopefully it will return and given that there was a week between its first spotting and then returning again at the beginning of March and it has had a few days of not being seen here maybe this is just one off its wanderings. We shall wait and see!
Anyway, we have had more action than just the Yellowlegs with Arctic Terns on the reserve again and Swifts are being more apparent. More and more Common Terns are arriving and Sandwich Terns are around also.
Grasshopper Warblers are reeling again and the Sedge Warbler in front of Tower Pool Hide has been very showy.
Less we forget though, and given they were here for 2 minutes it's easily done, we had 3 Glossy Ibis this week! Diana has already written up that rush and given that my only view of them was when they dissapeared over the farmhouse, I wouldn't mind a better look!
An/The Osprey has been fishing here and me and Ben had a dash through the rookery the other day to try and see where one fish-carrying bird went but without success.
The 4 Short-eared Owls haven't been matched this week but birds have been seen and the female Marsh Harrier was around on Tuesday evening.
A pleasant surprise on the lagoon during the week were 2 White Wagtails.
Waders that are here include 1 Ringed Plover, 4 Black-tailed Godwits and one is a really brilliant deep orange, a Greenshank that was on the pools today and displaying Lapwing have finally arrived! 1 definite pair, although the old adage of three's a crowd was in effect the other day, is on the Low Ground.
Anyway, the week's numbers are: Greater Yellowlegs 1, Black-tailed Godwit 4, Greenshank 1, Ringed Plover 1, White Wagtail 2, Marsh Harrier 1, Osprey 2+, Ringed Plover 1, Arctic Tern, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Swift, Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser, Great-crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Water Rail and more I'm sure!