Written by Rachel Reid - volunteer
The last couple of months have been very exciting for wildlife, with plenty of recorded sightings throughout January and February. Large numbers of wildfowl have been counted, including Tufted Ducks, Teals, and Goldeneyes. A whopping 320 Goldeneyes were seen from the boardwalk on the 20th of February. As we move nearer to spring, duck species are more likely to be seen engaging in courtship behaviours. Goldeneye males in particular put on a dramatic display where they stretch their necks and flick their heads back against their bodies, making for a spectacular sight.
Female Goldeneye, Photo by Ken Ramsey.
A female Lesser Scaup was also found among the Tufted Ducks on the Aird Meadow Loch on the 22nd of February. Lesser Scaup are diving birds that closely resemble Tufted Ducks. They are the UK's rarest breeding duck, with only a small number nesting here each year.
Female Lesser Scaup on the Aird Meadow Loch, Photo by Rick Bolton.
It has been an amazing couple of months for geese, with huge numbers roosting on the scrape. A total of 800 were counted on the 21st of February, including a Pale-bellied Brent Goose. On the 18th of January, six different species were on the scrape, including a Snow Goose, a Barnacle Goose, 2 Pink-footed Geese, Canada Geese and a Pale-Bellied Brent Goose along with Greylag Geese. The UK hosts several species of geese that breed in far northern countries and migrate here in autumn to spend the winter. The Brent Goose is the smallest of the UK's geese, only slightly larger than a Mallard. There are two main populations of Brent Goose that winter in the UK: the birds that nest in northern Russia and Siberia have darker bellies and spend the winter around the coasts of East Anglia and southern England. The birds that nest in Svalbard and Greenland have paler bellies and mostly winter around Northeast England and Ireland.
Snow Goose with Greylag Geese, Photo by Rick Bolton.
Large flocks of Lapwings have been making good use of the Scrape. These birds get their scientific name Vanellus vanellus (meaning little fan) from their distinctive, wavering flight. Their rounded wings are beautifully displayed when they take off in massive flocks. They are also known as "peewits" due to their unmistakable display calls. Sadly, Lapwing populations have declined significantly recently, and they are now a red-listed species. Oystercatchers have been using the artificial islands on the Aird Meadow Loch. The Oystercatcher is very distinctive with their orange-red bill and reddish pink legs. Oystercatcher breed on almost all UK coasts, however they have increasingly started nesting inland over the last 50 years.
Lapwings flying over the reserve, Photo by Les Wood
There has also been plenty to see along the trails, with several sightings of a Water Rail throughout February. These small relatives of the Moorhen and Coot are highly secretive birds that live in the reedbeds and freshwater wetlands. They are more often heard than seen with their unmistakable call which sounds like a piglet squealing.
Water Rail spotted on the trails, Photo by Mark Turnbull.
There have been frequent sightings of Long-tailed Tits along the trails. These sociable and excitable birds are easy to recognise with their blush, black and white colouring and their long tails which are longer than their bodies. Nuthatches have also been regularly seen using the feeders on the Aird Meadow Trail.
Long-tailed Tit on the reserve, Photo by Ken Ramsay which was featured in the Herald
We certainly can't let the birds take all the glory, and very excitingly three Otters were seen on the Barr Loch on the 31st of January. These elusive carnivores are well-adapted to both land and water, they mostly feed on fish such however they will also eat amphibians, waterbirds and small mammals. Otters are mostly solitary, except during breeding. They will mate all year round, but most cubs are born between May and August. The mother raises the cubs without help from the male until they are around a year old.
Otters on the Barr Loch
Other sightings this month include migrating flocks of Curlews stopping off at the scrape in increasing numbers as birds start to move for the breeding season.. A Drake Scaup was seen on the Aird Meadow Loch on the 9th of February. There have been several sightings of a Great White Egret over February on both the Barr Loch and the Aird Meadow Loch. A Sand Martin was spotted for the first time this year on the 23rd of February.
Great White Egret by Aird Meadow Loch