Loch of Kinnordy

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Recent sightings

• 29 April 2011

  A time not to be missed!

  What a wonderful day at Kinnordy yesterday. Even after the otter has been about there are still reasonable numbers of black headed gulls in front of Gullery hide, and they continue to let us know when any prospective predators are about. This certainly helped us to know when the Marsh harriers were up and about, and when the Ospreys were coming in to fish.

  Spectacles yesterday morning involved both these species, with the pair of Marsh harriers carrying nest material into what seems to be a new location, now to the left of Gullery hide. The female was seen performing a beautiful tumbling display in the same area too, an amazing thing to witness.

  A little after that we saw an Osprey take a fish just to the east of Gullery hide, as it took to the air again it swung south and enticed another Osprey out of the trees. Both then came over the hide, giving us outstanding views.

  The four Mallard ducklings were out and about too, and a family of eight coot chicks was also seen from Swamp hide. Lets hope for many more of these groups to be seen over the next few weeks. Lapwings are still displaying in front of the hides, redhank and water rail are heard frequently too.

  The woodland is alive with the sound of willow warblers & blackcaps, treecreepers have been seen and of course the nest boxes are now in use too.  Sedge warblers are outside the hides displaying and calling loudly, with sand martins and swallows around too, this should be all the migrant species back for the summer.

  Yesterday was a busy day for us too, as we made the first cut of the path edges. Thanks to hard work of volunteers the visitor areas are getting a bit of a facelift this year.

  It was a special day for me too, as it was my last day on the reserve as Site Manager, before I move down to Gloucestershire next week. I have now handed over to Kim Ross, who has already been blogging in the last few weeks, and she will continue now to keep us all up-to-date with what is going on. I will miss the reserve as it has been an amazing place to work over the last 4 and a half years, but I take with me fond memories!

  Regards,

  Hannah 

  Posted by Hannah Morton

• 13 April 2011

  The Sounds of Spring

  I think we can finally admit it is truely spring here at the reserve.

  Lots of paired up birds with hidden nests in the reeds. There is a coot's nest and a mute swan nest directly opposite Gullery hide, and a further couple of possible mute swan nests over by the East end of the reserve. Plenty of pairs of mallard, teal, wigeon, gadwall (last count was 4 pairs), shoveler (with 3 pairs now) seen on a daily basis.

  The osprey has been seen, daily, fishing over the loch. Today the female marsh harrier was back again. Still hopeful she might pair up with a male but in the mean time we just have to cross our fingers. Water rail pairs are becoming more frequently heard, especially at Swamp and East hides. Lapwing are giving impressing displays and are even causing mischief with some of the rooks. And yesterday an otter was causing havoc amongst the black-headed gull colony - the only time the colony seems to stay relatively quiet!

  New sightings this week include: two shelduck (yesterday), a medium size group of swallow and sand martins swooping infront of Gullery and East hides, and plenty of reed bunting seen flitting between the reed beds next to all three hides. A few willow warbler have been seen in the trees along the path.

   

  Posted by Kim

• 8 April 2011

  Spring!

  I know I have been harping on about it for ages, but it really does feel like spring is here now.

  We carried out a water rail survey this morning and found 11 pairs, plus there are a few males hanging about which might yet get a female. Part way round we spotted the osprey fishing, and saw the female marsh harrier - fantastic.

  With lapwing displaying, redshank calling and snipe chipping it really is a wonderful place to be.

  The black headed gulls are settling down to, with 11 nests counted yesterday, but another 80 birds today is making the colony look a little more substantial.

  Shoveler can be seen frequently, as can gadwall, and there are definitely more male mallards hanging about than females, so it is reasonable to think that the females are tucked away on nests.

  Other than the gulls there are a few other nests visible from the hides, including coot and mute swan from gullery hide, and of course the rooks.

  There is plenty of activity along the path to Kirriemuir too: a couple of pairs of bullfinches are looking splendid, and it seems the first person to the reserve in the mornings gets a good look at the red squirrels as they dart up the tree by the feeders! There have been several reports of otters being seen as well.

  Posted by Hannah Morton

• 5 April 2011

  Marsh Harriers!

  I've just heard there is a pair of marsh harriers at the reserve today.

  I believe the male has a green wing tag on the right wing, which may indicate it is the same male which was present at the reserve last August, at which time I had a report that the pair present then were seen displaying. A possible new breeding species for the reserve? We'll keep you posted.

  Posted by Hannah Morton

• 1 April 2011

  31st March 2011

  A cold and wet start to the day allowed the feeling of spring to escape us for a while. While a few of the birds braved the elements, the reletively low numbers of some species suggests many were seeking shelter elsewhere.

  Whooper swan numbers seem much lower again, suggesting that the latest group decided to beat the weather and head off north, leaving just a hanful behind at the reserve. There were only around 18 black headed gulls about, but as there is no ploughing happening close to the reserve at the moment, that is perhaps not surprising.

  Mallard were conspicuous by their absence, and there were only a couple of pairs of Gadwall about. The shoveler however were in fine form, with 6 males competing for 3 females they were oblivious to the weather. The coot also didn't seem to care as 8 or so of them quarrelled over territory at the swamp lochan.

  There was plenty of squealing from several water rail as they made it clear to each other who's territory is who's. Just as I finished saying that you don't really see them at this time of year, it is later in the summer that they become brave and show themselves one decided to fly across in front of Gullery hide between the 2 sections of reed - a beautiful sight.

  Surveys are starting soon, so spring must be here now - not long til we see marsh harrier hopefully!

  Posted by Hannah Morton

• 30 March 2011

  Osprey return 2011!!

  I have had a message to say that an osprey was seen on the reserve yesterday.

  Posted by Hannah Morton

• 24 March 2011

  ...and still waiting...

  ...but as I see so many more people at the reserve at the moment I realise others aren't waiting for spring necessarily, but rather for the return of the osprey! We are keeping our eyes peeled, but no sign so far at Kinnordy. It shouldn't be long now.

  Meanwhile myself and the volunteers are enjoying the early spring sunshine, listening to the redshank as they call over the background noise of the black-headed gulls, watching the lapwings aerial display and the shoveler pairs as they circle each other. I earned myself some laughs yesterday as I got a little over excited by the sound of water rail squealing for the first time this year. It is great to have them back. We also have 4 -5 pairs of gadwall around the loch again too, which looks good for the breeding season.

  Today we have seen the red squirrel lots, shaking peanuts from the feeder first thing, then returning intermittently to retrieve his winnings. The woodpecker has also been busy drumming from various trees. Robins are singing heartily, but other birds seem reluctant to take up the chorus just yet.

  Although some of the lapwing and oystercatchers have paired up and spread out over the reserve there are still a few reminders that I need to calm down a little, and winter isn't yet far enough behind us. There are still whooper swans around, the fluctuating numbers suggest that these are stopping off on their journey from wintering sites further south, when they are suitably fed and the weather conditions are right they will move on.  

  Posted by Hannah Morton

• 17 March 2011

  ...and we're still waiting

  After being so excited about spring being just around the corner I was disappointed to return from sunny Devon last week to find yet more snow. The cold weather does seem to have slowed things down a little, but that is probably no bad thing just at the moment.

  We are starting to be greeted with the sound of black headed gulls now, rather than the call of whoopers. Most of the whooper swans seem to have left, although there was one spotted at the back of the reserve yesterday. The mallards seem to be paired up now, and the greylag geese are behaving suspiciously, as if they may already have nests.

  The numbers of shoveler and gadwall seem to be very small at the moment, so I am hoping we get a few more on the reserve soon. Other wildfowl are hanging about in loose flocks still, with around 15 wigeon, 30 teal and 25 mute swans, although a few of the swans are marking their territory already.

  With 100 or so lapwings around, 50-60 oystercatchers and the first redshank of the year I am glad we put so much work into making the marsh look attractive to these species once again.

  It won't be long now before the ospreys return to the area, along with the warblers, and the reserve will have such an uplifting sound to welcome you all.

  Posted by Hannah Morton

• 21 February 2011

  Spring just round the corner?

  With fresh snow lying on the hills not so far from the reserve, it is a relief to us that the loch is thawing a little more each day. It seems to be a relief to the birds as well, with the site looking busy again now. Spring is definitely on its way, with signs including the return of gadwall, shoveler and tufted duck within the last week. Although there are still plenty of mallard around, many are pairing up now and beginning to see off the other couples. The mute swans are also noteably in pairs, and a few greylags remind me that it won't be long before they are settling onto nests.

  Waders are returning to the area, about 20 oystercatchers have been on the ice in the last few days, and a flock of around 150 lapwing flew over, with a few of them settling for a while.

  Snowdrops popping up around the site and trees coming into bud confirm the arrival of spring, but winter hasn't lost its grip yet though. Around 60 whooper swans now seem to be roosting and feeding on the reserve and taking full advantage of the extremely high water levels and moving freely over the marsh from swamp lochan. The smew is still hanging about, showing nicely in front of the Gullery hide this morning and apparently the bittern was seen again yesterday, although today it was doing a very good job of hiding as usual. Goldeneye and goosander are still about also, with large flocks of teal, and a few wigeon.

  Posted by Hannah Morton