The spell of good weather has well and truly broken this weekend with a whole day of endless and occasionally torrential rain since I arrived on the reserve this morning.
This means that although there have been birds around, they’ve not always been that easy to see over the past couple of days. The lagoon yesterday was just about typical- heaving with waders, around 50 Dunlin and maybe 20 Ringed Plover- all of which were almost impossible to see in the fog.
Could be whole flocks of Curlew Sandpiper out there...
There are still lots of Dark Green Fritillary and Six Spot Burnet Moths in the dunes though, and they’re happy to come out at even the slightest hint of sun.
Up near the visitor centre it’s been a bit easier to see what’s out and about. The Wood Sandpiper is still around and has been joined by at least 3 Greenshank, 3 Ruff, Golden Plover, a handful of Green Sandpiper, Redshank, hundreds of Curlew and Lapwing and good numbers of Snipe. Two Whimbrel are new arrivals on the low ground as well.
The Bearded Tits which have been around Fen and Bay Hide for a few weeks now are travelling further afield and were heard ‘pinging’ outside Tower Pool Hide on Saturday morning, briefly joined by a snorting Water Rail.
The ducks are still mostly in their all-brown eclipse plumage but a careful scan can find Teal, Wigeon, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Gadwall and a few Pintail scattered across the reserve.
Just a reminder that this week is Gannet Week at Macduff Marine Aquarium and Troup Head. We’ll be up there from Monday to Sunday with a range of guided walks, boat trips with North East Sea Adventures, and an art workshop with professional artist Carn Standing. This week’s Wild Kids will also meet at the aquarium- not at Loch of Strathbeg.
There’s details of all our Gannet Week events at www.rspb.org.uk/trouphead