We are now fully into the winter months at the RSPB Lochwinnoch reserve which is evident by the sudden drop in temperature. The cold has not put off the wildlife however with lots of winter visitors being spotted around the reserve. There has been an abundance of waterfowl around the reserve this month, with large numbers of goldeneye, tufted duck, wigeon and teal spotted on both the Aird meadow loch and the Barr Loch. Great crested grebe and pochard have also been spotted on the Barr Loch. Male pochards are especially distinctive in the winter months, with their bright reddish-brown head and black breast and tail. The UK is an important winter destination for pochards with 48,000 birds visiting UK wetlands and coasts every year. There was around 30 goosander coming to roost at the tower pool making for a wonderful sight. The goosander is a stunning bird and an impressive fisher with its long-serrated bill. Excitingly a little grebe was also spotted on the reserve this month. These little birds are fantastic divers, and their feet are placed towards the back of their body to help them swim underwater which makes them rather clumsy when they come ashore.
Goosander eating a fish, photo by Len McDonald
There have been plenty of inland birds to see as well on the trails this month. There have been lots of dunnocks on the Aird meadow trail. Goldcrest have also been spotted around the reserve. The goldcrest is the UK's smallest bird species. They are distinctive birds with a yellow stripe on their head, they also have a thin beak which allows them to pick out insects from between pinecones. Goldcrest numbers increase significantly over the winter months as they are joined by migrants from Scandinavia. Bullfinches and siskin have also been spotted along the trails this month. There has been large numbers of redwings and fieldfare around the reserve having arrived in the UK for winter. Fieldfare are large colourful thrushes, they are very social birds spending their winters in large flocks making for some wonderful winter sightings.
Goldcrest photographed on the reserve, photo by Len McDonald
The scrape and surrounding channels have also continued to attract plenty of visitors with over 60 snipe counted on the channels. A redshank was also spotted enjoying the scrape. Redshank can be easily spotted by their bright red legs, they have a long bill which they use to probe into soil and mud to hunt for insects, earthworms, and crustaceans.
Redshank on the scrape
Other sightings this month have included the great white egret making an appearance and delighting visitors. There have been over 60 mute swans counted on both the Aird meadow Loch and the Barr Loch. 93 pink footed geese were sighted flying over the reserve. The kingfisher has also made a few appearances this month. A female sparrowhawk was also spotted on the reserve. Sparrowhawks are small birds of prey, and they are adapted to hunt in tight spaces such as dense woodland. The sparrowhawk has faced many threats in the past but are now widespread throughout the UK.
Female sparrow hawk, photo by Richard Bennet