Good news and bad news with regards the Terns: After a rather long time of tern nest failures on Starnafin Island, we are still (finally!) seeing a wonderful result of successful breeding!! A total number is rather hard to come to as the vegetation has grown up so much that a lot of them are hiding in it, but at last rough estimate, there are at least 120 chicks there. So all the hard work by the wardening team last winter has paid off fantastically! However, we’re not sure what’s happened with the rafts that can be seen from Bay hide however, as there were 24 chicks on it but in the space of two days, it went from very busy to nothing, not even the adults still hanging around. We’re wondering now if a predator has managed to gain access.
And on the same note, the Black Headed Gulls are still nesting on the island, but have reduced their breeding pairs by quite a lot – a nice flip of numbers for terns and gulls.
Little Gulls have been regularly seen from the Visitor Centre, over the pools and at Fen Hide from middle to the end of June.
An exciting sighting of a Blue-Winged Teal from the visitor centre was noted down from middle to the end of June and on 25th June at Bay and Fen hides!
The Spoonbills were spotted again on the evening of 11th June on Starnafin Pools, and also seen from Tower Pool Hide on the Lowground on the 12th june.
A Lesser Redpoll was seen at Fen Hide on the 10th of June, and Great Crested Grebes have been seen from Fen and Bay hides throughout June and July, with a confirmation of nesting at the far south end (Starnakeppie area) on a wee island – this can be seen from the Old Kirk car park.
Ospreys and Marsh Harriers have been spotted round the reserve in June, most recent Marsh Harrier was 21st July, and a Sparrowhawk is now defending her nest of 4 chicks at Fen Hide.
Also from Fen Hide, the Bearded Tits have been heard and a Peregrine Falcon was spotted chasing terns.
Lots of Curlew (around 80 at last count) have been seen on the Lowground recently too.
Greenshank have been seen and heard over Mosstown during early July
On the pony front, we now have four foals from this year: Beatrice on the Starnafin Pools who is now of a size rivalling last year’s youngsters, and Brambles joined Bilbo Baggins and Brèagha on the 11th of June on the Lowground. At the beginning of August, we are planning to add five more geldings to the herd onto Mosstown Marsh, which will bring the total number of ponies to 28!
On the events front, keep your eyes peeled on the website for more information on a bat and moth night and Saturday moth mornings, as there are plans afoot for August! This will hopefully mean you could come and see moths up close, maybe do some identifying, and then head out for a wee bat evening with detectors to see what bats we have hunting round the Visitor Centre!
Emma Parker