Just to let you know that we're holding an RSPB staff training day on the reserve on Thursday and the Visitor Centre will be closed until just after midday. We may be walking out on the marsh and low ground in the afternoon as well, so there may be a bit of disturbance from the Visitor Centre/Tower Pool Hide.
If you've already planned a visit for Thursday, all the hides are open as normal, or why not head to Rattray or St Combs in the morning and have a walk along the beach? We've had really good close-up sightings of seals on the beach near St Combs and large flocks of Red-Throated Divers from Rattray Head.
Most of our regular winter visitors are still around on the reserve. We've definitely identified at least two different Hen Harriers along with the two different Short-eared Owls one of which flew about a foot past the office window on Monday (I think the lady I was on the phone to at the time was almost as startled by my reaction as I was by the owl!). The ermine stoat that live in the visitor centre is still coming out regularly as well, the rabbit hole just to the right of the gallery seems to be the best place to wait for it to put in an appearance.
We are starting to see a few waders as well, a flock of at least a 100 lapwing were calling over the low ground today and a pair of oystercatcher have moved from the coast and were displaying to each other on the low ground, so spring might be on its way after all!