The recent spot of fine weather has seen the wardening team out and about on the reserve, getting to all the things that need doing in the boggiest places, so it falls to this office-bound administrator to write the latest update!
Tuesday 6th saw a ring ousel on the dry grass fields near the Back Bar, and swifts screaming over the Plantation, a dunlin and a couple of black-tailed godwits. The waders were joined by another dunlin the following day, a lone eider on the loch and a garganey on the pools of the Low Ground. By Friday 9th there were at least two male garganey, along with two common sandpipers seen from the Visitor Centre. Common tern numbers on the refurbished island are increasing, with 52 counted on 9th. My sympathies lie with the pair of oystercatchers trying to nest in the midst of the terns and black-headed gulls, who seem to get the fallout from every disturbance.
On Sunday 11th, the garganey were still out on the Low Ground Pools, and three little gulls (one in summer plumage) were on the pools in front of the Centre. A marsh harrier was briefly seen over the reeds at the north end of the loch. On Tuesday 14th, we were surprised by a spoonbill, feeding enthusiastically and easy to see from the Centre. I was even more surprised by the swallow which flew into the boot-room and needed rescuing; note to self - do not leave the door open!
As part of the Energetica Walking and Wildlife Festival, we're holding a Beach Clean event on Saturday 24 May, from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm, followed by a 3 mile Sand And Seabirds Walk along the shore and through the dunes starting at 3.30 pm. Why not join us? The walk is free if you've helped with the clean-up! Details of these are on our website - booking is required for the walk.
Troup Head has been in the news recently, with appearances on BBC Scotland's ‘Landward’ and on BBC Radio Scotland’s ‘Out of Doors’ programmes. The gannets are back and getting into the swing of the new breeding season. At Fowlsheugh, the ever-popular puffins and other auks are also back, and our series of ‘Pick Out a Puffin’ Walks has started – mostly on Wednesday evenings. Check out the Fowlsheugh Events page on the main RSPB website, and book now to join our team to see them. (Photo by Andy Hay (rspb-images.com))
On a domestic note, there will be more upheaval at Starnafin over the next 5 weeks or so, as we are having a new septic tank installed (oh, the glamour!) and the old one removed. This means there will be machinery operating in the farmyard, and – especially from the 9th June – part of the yard will be dug up. This means that there may be times when access and parking is disrupted or limited; we’re trying to keep disturbance to the wildlife to a minimum, but for us humans it’s another matter! More information when we have it.