Birnie and Gaddon Loch Wildlife Reports.
|
November was one o f the most exciting months for birds we have had for quite a while. Not only were there lots of the usual residents and winter visitors, but the Lochs were visited by some less common birds. The
usual flocks of over wintering ducks were joined by a smew. This is not
the first time one of these attractive diving ducks has dropped in, but
it is the first time there has been a male in adult plumage. Over the
last few winters Gaddon Loch has hosted the occasional red-headed smew,
that’s the name for the female and juvenile male birds as their heads
are a rusty brown colour on top of a grey body. The adult male has a
much more striking white plumage with sharp black markings, notably a
pair of black eye stripes. This contrasting pattern is very obvious and
attractive. Smews are smaller relatives of the goosander, which are
present at the lochs every year in reasonable numbers. They breed in the
north and east of Another
colourful bird that is becoming more common at Birnie Loch is the jay.
These vivid members of the crow family are present in patches throughout
Continuing the theme of striking birds, this month has been the best so far for spotting kingfisher. They have been recorded more times this month than in any previously. Maybe they are now resident on site or perhaps the mild weather and lack of leaves on the trees have made them easier to spot. Whatever the reason watch out for them as they fly from tree to tree low over the water of both lochs. Another bird that is not regularly recorded on either loch is the tawny owl. They are certainly present here all year round, but because they are active at night they are usually overlooked. The bird that was recorded in November was heard as I did an early morning goose count. Finally a word about fishing at the Lochs, recently several trees near the banks have been damaged by fishermen trying to prevent their lines getting tangled. There has also been a marked increase in the amount of litter at these sites on the north side of Birnie Loch. Fishing is not allowed on either loch. If anyone sees a fisherman please phone the Ranger Service or the police as this is classed as poaching. Please do not approach anyone yourself, just get a description and if possible a make, model and registration number of their car. Here are the peak counts for November. Little grebe 2 Kestrel 1 Song thrush 3 Great crested grebe 1 Pheasant 1 Redwing 8 Cormorant 3 Moorhen 22 Goldcrest 4 Grey heron 2 Coot 42 Long-tailed tit 26 Mute Swan 23 Lapwing 35 Coal tit 16 Greylag goose 36 Snipe 24 Blue tit 17 Pink-footed goose 17 Black-headed gull 150 Great tit 13 Wigeon 128 Common gull 15 Jay 2 Teal 5 Herring gull 204 Jackdaw 1 Mallard 69 Wood pigeon 3 Rook 251 Pochard 9 Tawny owl 1 Crow 3 Tufted duck 46 Kingfisher 1 Chaffinch 10 Goldeneye 67 Wren 5 Greenfinch 2 Smew 1 Dunnock 2 Goldfinch 65 Goosander 48 Robin 11 Siskin 18 Sparrowhawk 1 Blackbird 15 Linnet 2 Buzzard 1 Fieldfare 14 Bullfinch 9
|