The North wind doth blow...

And we didn't quite have snow, but the day did start with sleety showers. By the afternoon the sun was at least shining, but the wind kept the temperature down - and possibly a few of the birds sheltering as well.

There was no sign of the Temminck's Stints or the Yellow Wagtail today, but the Great White Egret was back patrolling the edge of the Loch (and still being chased by the local Grey Herons who seem to be jealous of all the attention the egret is getting from our visitors!) - last night's high flight must just have been a chance to check the local area out.

The Snow Goose was also still around and the remaining selection of wintering duck (we've still got most of the common species around the reserve in small numbers) were complimented by a fine drake Garganey, which chose to spend quite a bit of time out in the open (check the back left of the Visitor Centre pools - just in front of the brown hut).

There were few other sightings of note reported (although two Long-tailed Tits in the office garden were unusual) - but some of the keener birders who were visiting today were last seen heading up to the North End to look for Dotterel, so I await news from them with anticipation!

Mammal watchers have been rewarded in recent days with regular sightings of Roe Deer and Fox, whilst Stoats have been popping up in the Wildlife Garden, by the Visitor Centre and in the dunes. The presence of Otters was shown by the finding of a large Pike head by the Savoch Burn (although we are averaging one sighting every two months so far this year of this super-elusive resident) and bats are in flight in the evenings. Once I work out how to use our Bat Detector, I'll let you know what species they are!