We are fully into Spring here at RSPB Lochwinnoch with some very busy birds nest building and getting ready to introduce new generations into the world. There has been a wide range of wildlife spotted on the reserve during April with the scrape being particularly popular amongst bird life. Little Ringed Plovers have been spotted using the scrape throughout the month, these small birds have a distinctive black and white head pattern and have a yellow eye-ring. The Little Ringed plover first bred in the UK in 1938, but have only recently begun to breed in Scotland.
Little Ringed Plover on the scrape.
Blacked-tailed Godwits have also been seen using the scrape this month with a whopping 36 counted on the 20th of April. These large wading birds have bright orangey-brown chest and bellies in the summer and have distinctive long beaks and legs, the females are bigger and heavier than the males with a longer beak which helps stop the sexes competing with each other for food. Redshanks have also been seen on the scrape. The Redshank get their name due to their distinctive red legs, they are a noisy wading bird and will mostly breed in wet grassland sites. Pairs will nest close together as it allows them to benefit from communal territorial defence.
Black-tailed Godwits on the scrape, Photo by Rick Bolton.
The lochs have been busy with a variety of species this month, with 30 Whimbrels seen on the Barr Loch on 30th of April. These large wading birds have a long bill which curves at the end. In the UK Whimbrels only breed in North Scotland with the Shetland and Orkney breeding population slowly increasing. They will usually pass through other parts of the UK on their way to breeding grounds from their wintering areas in Africa. Large numbers of Great Crested Grebes have been sighted on the Barr Loch with 16 counted on the 30th of April. These stunning waterbirds are famous for their courtship dance during the spring months where they will flick beaks full of water weed at each other while chest to chest.
Great Crested Grebe pair, Photo by Len McDonald
The trails have also been teaming with wildlife and the sound of birdsong truly is in the air. Reminding us that it's definitely spring, a wide variety of warbler species have been seen and heard around the reserve including at the boardwalk, Dubbs trail and Aird Meadow trail with species including Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap. It's looking to be a good year for Willow Warblers as 53 were counted around the reserve on the 23rd of April during the breeding bird survey. Many other songbirds can be heard singing as though their lives depend on it, with male birds belting out their classic tunes to attract females and to defend their territory including Chaffinches, Great Tits, Blue Tits and Robins.
Robin singing on the reserve, Photo by John Stevenson.
Other highlights this month include a Water Rail showing nicely on the scrape on the 30th of April. A female Long-tailed Duck has been seen several times over the month on both the Aird Meadow Loch and the Barr Loch. Common Sandpipers have been spotted on the Barr Loch with 3 seen on the 22nd of April. An Osprey was seen flying over the reserve on the 30th of April. House Martins, Swallows and Sand Martins have started to arrive and have been spotted flying around the Aird Meadow loch and there has also been a few Swifts arrive. The first Mallard ducklings of the year were spotted on the 23rd of April on the Barr Loch with many more certain to follow in the coming weeks.
Mallard Ducklings, Photo by Rick Bolton
Written by Rachel Reid - Volunteer