April highlights
April saw the arrival of some interesting summer visitors, as well as sightings of some elusive resident species.
The first appearance this year of a grasshopper warbler was recorded on April 23rd. Grasshopper warblers are less common in Scotland than the rest of the UK, and due to recent dramatic declines in their populations they are now a red list species. Large flocks of up to 300 sand martins were recorded on the reserve throughout the month, and an osprey was seen fishing over the lochs on several occasions.
Grasshopper warbler - RSPB
There were also several sightings of water rail and kingfisher during the month. Both can be difficult birds to spot as they can be very shy - water rails in particular are often heard rather than seen.
Osprey over Aird Meadow by Claire Martin
In addition to these sightings, the other bird species recorded on the reserve during April were:
Little Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Cormorant
Grey Heron
Mute Swan
Whooper Swan
Pink-footed Goose
Greylag Goose
Canada Goose
Wigeon
Gadwall
Teal
Mallard
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Goldeneye
Goosander
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Osprey
Kestrel
Water Rail
Moorhen
Coot
Oystercatcher
Lapwing
Snipe
Curlew
Common Sandpiper
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Kingfisher
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Sand Martin
Swallow
House Martin
Meadow Pipit
Grey Wagtail
Pied/White Wagtail
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush
Grasshopper Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Goldcrest
Long-tailed Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Nuthatch
Treecreeper
Magpie
Jackdaw
Rook
Carrion Crow
Starling
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin
Lesser Redpoll
Bullfinch
Reed Bunting