Print pageSeasonal highlights
Each season brings a different experience at our nature reserves. In spring, the air is filled with birdsong as they compete to establish territories and attract a mate. In summer, look out for young birds making their first venture into the outside world. Autumn brings large movements of migrating birds - some heading south to a warmer climate, others seeking refuge in the UK from the cold Arctic winter. In winter, look out for large flocks of birds gathering to feed, or flying at dusk to form large roosts to keep warm.
Spring
The bay becomes quieter as the winter migrants have left for their summer breeding grounds, though up to 10,000 pink footed geese pass through on their return migration. The local Highland-breeding waders such as lapwings, redshanks and oystercatcher may be present quite late into the spring before they return to their inland breeding grounds.
Summer
Gulls waders and ducks follow the tide in and out of the bay. The lucky visitor may see ospreys fishing in the bay at high tide, when they search out flat fish in the shallows. Some small flocks of dunlin pass through in the summer.
Autumn
Winter migrants begin to arrive to take advantage of the rich feeding to be had in the bay. Up to 10,000 wigeons stop off in the bay on their return migration to feed on the beds of eel grass. They are joined by waders, also en route to their wintering grounds. The best time to view them is two hours either side of high tide as the birds are pushed closer to the hide.
Winter
Winter migrants such as wigeons, pink-footed geese, teals, bar-tailed godwits, dunlins and knots, join oystercatchers, lapwings and redshanks to take advantage of the rich feeding to be had in the bay. They are best viewed two hours either side of high tide as the birds are pushed closer to the hide.