Loch of Strathbeg sightings 14th to 20th December

On the week before Christmas, it’s not been too bad at Loch of Strathbeg. Pink footed geese are still hovering around the 10,000 mark which is less than we would like but fairly typical for this time of year. While we had a blank year for snow geese in winter 2012/13, this winter has been phenomenal and we are already getting a bit blasé about them. This week 2 “white” snow geese have again been seen nearly every morning roosting with the pink-footed geese on the Low ground in front of Tower Hide. Strangely they seem to favour the same spot each day and this morning they hung around until quarter to nine. So, if you still need a snow goose tick for your 2013 year list head on over. Barnacle geese are still around in small numbers with 45 seen on the dry fields from Tower Hide on the 17th. Greylag numbers this week have been disappointingly low, with just 30 seen today. We had a full reserve wildfowl count this week on Tuesday and totals were as follows. Mute swan 178 Whooper swan 179 Wigeon 2,200 Goldeneye 84 Mallard 648 Tufted duck 120 Teal 550 Shoveler 14 Pintail 16 Scaup 6 Pochard 74 Coot 370 Long tailed duck 1 Water rail 3 Gadwall 12 As is the way, the full count only turned up 1 long tailed duck, but ones and twos have been seen virtually on every other day this week, in different parts of the reserve, including superb views of 2 from Fen Hide on Sunday 15th. A single shelduck has been on the low ground since yesterday. The american wigeon is still around, excellent views of it from Fen Hide on saturday 14th and also yesterday. Curlew flocks have been prominent this week, with 170 on the Low ground on Sunday 15th and a group of 5 redshank were in the lagoon area of the dunes on Tuesday 17th. Other than a flock of 32 lapwing, also on the low ground on Monday, it has been very quiet on the wader front. Our little flock of bearded tits have also been notable by their absence in recent weeks but a single female was seen on Monday 16th at fen hide. The great northern diver was last noted on Tuesday 17th at fen hide and a little grebe was seen from Tower Hide today. The little egret seems to be very settled and is seen daily from the visitor centre and has been seen roosting in the trees next to the visitor centre. Peregrine and sparrowhawk have been seen this week, but for me raptor of the week were buzzards, 3 fighting over carrion on the low ground on Thursday. There have been very few sightings of barn owl recently, but one has been roosting at Fen Hide this week judging by the “white splash” and occasional pellet left there. Mammal highlight of the week: 7 roe deer in front of the visitor centre on Wednesday. Not a lot of news from Rattray this week , other than a pair of stonechat seen on Thursday. Happy Christmas and Hogmany from us all at Loch of Strathbeg