Over half way through February and the reserve year list is up to 99 and ticking along nicely and Snowdrops are out in force. The highlight was a drake Ring-necked duck, which was first found on the silt trap to the left of Tower Pool hide on the 10th but is still showing well as I write. Pink-footed geese numbers roosting on the reserve is currently at 11,494 along with up to 5 European White-fronted geese and a single Tundra bean goose. Other Notable totals from the WeBS count undertaken on the 16th include:
Scaup – 3
Goldeneye – 76
Goosander – 3
Red breasted Merganser – 12
Long tailed Duck – 2
Water Rail – 3
Little Egret – 1
Golden Plover 68
Lapwing – 171
Pintail- 15
Shoveler 20
The low ground continues to be the busiest area on the reserve with the majority of the wildfowl seen from Tower Pool hide and high numbers of geese on the fields at the back for most of the day. Although a Great crested grebe (first for 2014) was seen from Fen hide on the 11th and 2 Goosander were seen from the south end of the Loch. To view the goose spectacular involves an early start before 7am and best viewed from Tower Hide. Farmland birds have been showing well recently as well with 20 Corn buntings and 11 Yellowhammers on the wires along the path to Tower pool on the 11th. Corn Bunting numbers peaked at 31 in along this path on 16th . Otters have been seen twice this month so far, the first was on the 10th from Bay hide and the second was from the south end of the Loch on the 17th.
Rattray has seem some good birds this week with the team noting the following during two visits on the 14th and 16th: The two white morph Snow geese remain as well as 4 pale-bellied Brent geese and 28 Barnacle geese. Other Rattray sightings include at 8 Grey partridge, 40 Twite, 25 Corn Bunting, 4 Great northern divers, 2 Red throated divers, 6 Sanderling, 1 Ringed Plover and 4 Common scoter. A badger was also seen during the day just before the old chapel on the 14th.