We are fully into spring here at RSPB Lochwinnoch - it's my favourite time of year as all the birds build their nests and prepare for their chicks. The scrape has been particularly busy as black-tailed godwits, curlew, whimbrel and other waders, wildfowl and gulls continue to make use of it. We have had sightings of both ringed plover and the very similar little ringed plover. Both have a distinctive black and white head pattern but the main difference between the two plovers is, however, in the name, with the little ringed plover being smaller in size as well as having a noticeable golden ring around the eye without any orange on the bill. The little ringed plover is also known for being much louder and will chase rivals away in the spring with loud, harsh vocalisations. The ringed plover in comparison has a much softer vocalisation.
Little ringed plover and ringed plover, photo by John Stevenson
Redshank and greenshank have been two other waders with similarities on the scrape this month. Greenshank are a slim wading bird with long green legs, as the name suggests, and a slightly upturned bill. During the summer months greenshank can be found on moors and bogs where they breed in Scotland. Redshank, as you’ve probably guessed, have red legs – their main distinguishing feature.
Another exciting visitor to the scrape was whimbrel, with a few of these large wading birds roosting in small groups or hanging about with our regular spring curlew flock. Whimbrel are a species we only really see on migration on mainland UK, and while very similar to curlew they are smaller in size with a central crown stripe on the head and a shorter, usually more hooked-looking bill.
Greenshank on the scrape, Photo by Rob Conn
There have been plenty of wetland birds on the lochs this month. 7 great crested grebes have been seen displaying with one pair actively building a nest near to the new boardwalk, so fingers crossed for some chicks over the next couple of months. There have been some fantastic sightings of the drake smew, most lately on Aird Meadow Loch. Oystercatchers have regularly been on the main raft on the Aird Meadow Loch, where they bred last year. These large black and white wading birds with a long orange-red bill, breed on almost all UK coasts but during the last 50 years an increasing number of these birds have started to breed inland. They specialise in eating shellfish which they will prise open with their strong bills. They are sharing the raft with several pairs of black-headed gulls which we’re hoping will also breed this year, after our first chick in years successfully fledged in 2022.
Oystercatcher photographed on the reserve, Photograph by Ally Dowd.
Spring was officially announced with the first sightings of swallows on 10th April. These delightful visitors usually arrive in April and leave in October to return to their wintering grounds in Africa. They are very distinctive with their long forked tail and glossy dark blue back. They are very agile flyers and will feed on insects while in flight. Sand martins have also been around the Aird Meadow Loch - these are the smallest of the European martins and swallows and are common summer visitors to the UK. Willow warbler and chiffchaff, other species which visit us for the summer, have been busy singing along the trails.
A male marsh harrier led to great excitement on the reserve on the 6th of April. This stunning raptor unfortunately suffered steep declines during the 19th and 20th centuries in the UK. Despite this, their numbers are higher now than at any other time in the last century after successful conservation efforts and improved breeding success has led to a partial recovery. The species can most often be seen in Scotland from April till October after which wandering birds return south to their breeding grounds in the UK or further abroad.
Male marsh harrier, Photo by Richard Bennett
Other wildfowl sightings this month include wigeon, goldeneye, tufted duck and teal, with rarities including a female lesser scaup and a drake garganey.
It hasn’t all been bird sightings though, with an otter delighting visitors in the Channel Hide. Insect life has increased with the emergence of different species including peacock, orange tip, small tortoiseshell and green-veined white butterflies, and small red damselfly on the trail. All the spring flowers are coming out, with lesser celandine, bluebells and wood anemone visible along the trail and pollinating insects becoming much more active as a result – also taking advantage of all the nectar produced by our many willow species. What the next month holds we don’t know, but we’ll update you when the time comes!
Garganey, Photo by Rob Conn
Written by Rachel Reid - volunteer