It has been an extremely exciting year at the RSPB Lochwinnoch for wildlife with the total bird species count coming to a whopping 127. Let's celebrate by taking a look at some of the highlights this year. In February a Black-tailed Godwit was using the scrape. These large wading birds are very distinctive with their long beaks and legs and their black and white stripes on their wings. They are a schedule 1 species meaning they are fully protected in the UK from any disturbance. They have suffered from dramatic declines in the UK and are considered a rare sight. However, conservation efforts in recent years has allowed their breeding population numbers to increase.
Black-tailed godwit on the scrape, Photo by Robert Conn
As spring arrived at the reserve in March, all the bird species were gathering their nesting materials in preparation for the breeding season. The Great Crested Grebes started courting on the loch, this display is truly spectacular and includes elaborate movements that looks like dancing. To add to the excitement of having a single Black-tailed Godwit on the reserve in February, in March there were five seen on the scrape. Another wonderful sighting in March was that of the first Osprey of the year flying over the reserve. These magnificent birds of prey migrate to the UK during spring and summer time in order to breed.
Osprey flying over the reserve, photograph taken by Richard Bennett in August 2021
Spring fully arrives and by May the reserve is full of chicks from all different species as many birds successfully breed and rear their young on the reserve. The first Lapwing chicks were spotted on the scrape, Lapwing chicks are covered in down when they hatch and are speckled brown and cream which helps to camouflage them from predators. The chicks are also able to walk and feed within hours of hatching and parents will lead them to areas where they can feed. Another highlight of May was the Spotted Flycatchers, often seen along the Aird Meadow trail, these songbirds will migrate to the UK during the spring to breed after spending their wintering months in Africa.
Lapwing chicks, Photo by John Stevenson
June was a very exciting month for sightings on the reserve. It was a very successful breeding season for the Black-headed Gulls with many chicks fledging. This was the first time this century that there has been breeding pairs in double figures on the reserve. Other species highlights in June were that of two Little Ringed Plover chicks on the scrape as well as a Common Sandpiper chick. This was particularly exciting as Common Sandpiper haven't been seen breeding on the reserve in 10 years. Common Sandpiper numbers have declined steadily in recent years and the reasons for this are unfortunately still unclear.
Black headed gull chicks, Photo by Ally Dowd.
A very surprising and fantastic sighting in June was that of a Common Tern flying over the scrape. These graceful seabirds have been nicknamed "sea-swallow" due to their long tails. They are the tern species that is most likely to be found inland.
Common tern seen flying over the scrape. Photo by Robert Conn
As autumn arrived there were many fantastic bird sightings on the reserve. A Great White Egret landed on the scrape, this tall white heron was once a rare sight in the UK but their numbers have been increasing over the last few decades with several pairs now breeding in the UK. September was a great month for spotting Osprey flying over, as the reserve lies on the flight path to their wintering ground in Senegal, Northwest Africa. A surprising highlight of September was fantastic views of a Tawny Owl, these stunning predators are nocturnal so are more often heard than seen.
Tawny Owl spotted on the reserve. Photo by Robert Conn
As the days became colder and Shorter in October a Slavonian Grebe was spotted on the Bar Loch. These beautiful diving waterbirds are one of the UK's rarest nesting birds, they can be spotted on only a few lochs in Scotland and at sea the rest of the year making us very fortunate to have one visit the reserve.
Slavonian Grebe, Photo by Ally Dowd
November brought a lot of excitement among visitors to the reserve when Twite were spotted in the carpark which is a first for the reserve. These small brown finches have been red listed in the UK since 1996 due to a reduction in their breeding population.
Twite in the carpark, Photograph by Ally Dowd.
Written by Rachel Reid - Volunteer