Activity on and around the cliffs is slowly building with numbers of kittiwake, razorbill and guillemot increasing day by day. Fulmar and gannet are frequently spotted soaring over the water and shags have been busy gathering material to construct their nests, some already sitting on eggs.
Photo credit: Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)
Shags are the earliest of the seabirds at the Mull of Galloway to lay eggs, with most clutches containing 3 eggs laid on average over 3 to 5 days. The eggs are incubated by both parents for around 30 days with each of the chicks then hatching a day or two apart. They are fed by both parents on a diet of regurgitated fish and usually fly at around 7 weeks old.
There is also plenty of activity on the heathland with rock pipit and meadow pipit displaying with their characteristic aerial talents, slowly parachuting down to the ground whilst singing constantly in efforts to defend territories and attract a mate. Stonechat, wheatear, pied wagtail and linnet are also common sightings around the reserve.
Photo credit: Tom Marshall (rspb-images.com)
A few wildflowers are beginning to emerge, adding colour to the heathland and cliffs. Lesser celandine, coltsfoot, sea campion and dog violets are among the first to blossom. Thrift, spring squill and common scurygrass will soon be joining these, increasing the variety of colour and attracting early butterflies, bees and hoverflies.
With wildflowers starting to bloom, displaying pipits and nesting shags, spring definitely feels like it has arrived!