As expected the festive period tends to a quiet period for sightings as people prepare to celebrate. However a few brave individuals still get out and report back. The two ruddy shelduck and 3 long tailed ducks are now becoming part of the furniture for this winter as they continue to frequent the Reserve, many a birder hoping they will stay for a few more days so they can be added to next year's list. Out on the sea there are still regular reports of black throated divers, eider, red breasted merganser and the odd guillemot. This week also saw the return of the five goosanders reported a couple of weeks ago.
In and around the bushes small flocks of Tits gather and patrol in hope of finding some nice morsel and a diligent perusal of this flocks can also turn up other more unusual visitors such as a Treecreeper or Firecrest.
One of the highlight of the week was the return of the wintering Avocet with 23 in the centre channel. Good numbers of waders are now in the harbour with at 600 Knot, 1500-2000 Lapwing, 1800 Dunlin and 700 Golden Plover. Within the flock of the Golden Plover one individual stood out as it was in almost full summer plumage, which invoked the interest of a few birders. On further observation the bird seemed to have darker under wings than expected from golden plover and shorter tail, it was also having a bit of a hard time from the other plovers. Unfortunately, after the flock was disturbed a few times the bird disappeared. So it would be worth checking out the golden plover flock to see if it is more than a European golden plover.
The Warden, RSPB Crook of Baldoon