Woke up to a dull, overcast and breezy Saturday morning so it seemed like fine reason to shoot over the Forth Bridge to the Royal Kingdom and have a wander around the Loch Leven RSPB reserve.
Arriving just past 10am I found the place heaving with photographers competing in a Photo Marathon competition run by the Reserve staff. As long as they are quiet about it.
Straight down to the first hide and set up the old 'scope on the hide clamp and got the binoculars out. First in sight was a couple of Greylag Geese which flew in on the breeze.
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| Greylag Geese |
There was the usual plethora of mixed sex Mallard directly in fron of the hide and a few Tufted Ducks foraging around the margins.Plenty of House Martins swooping around the windows of the hide, always pleasant to watch but I find it hard to get a decent photograph of them unless they sit down for a while.
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| Resting House Martin |
A couple of Lapwing wandered down to the waters edge. I really do like those birds. When the light catches them properly the are a fine specimen and at least have the decency to stay in the one place for more than a second..
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| Lapwing |
Nice sight of some Coot with their chicks dabbling about and the obligatory Moorhens sailing by.
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| Coot and kids |
The undoubted highlight of the day was the sight of a Marsh Harrier sitting serenely at the side of the water. Every now and then it disappeared behind the reeds, usually when the photographers were trying to catch it but they didn't have the patience to wait. As soon as they left the hide the beast took off over the inlet and took a rodent of some sort for its dinner
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| Marsh Harrier |
A proper killing machine in action.
Down to the next hide to watch some Gadwall and Garganey
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| Garganey |
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| Gadwall |
Final decent bird of the hide was some Scaup which were dabbling at the far end of the little bay.
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| Scaup |
Back down towards the cafe and a quick stop off at the feeders brought the sight of feeding Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Siskin.
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| Goldfinch (C) RSPB |
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| Greenfinch (c) RSP |
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| Siskin (c) RSPB |
Into the cafe for a bacon roll and a coffee before heading home. A decent day all round.
Trip Sightings:
Greylag Goose Mallard Tufted Duck Blackheaded Gull
Lapwing Coot & Family Moorhen Oystercatcher
Marsh Harrier Goldfinch Greenfinch Gadwall
Gt. Crested Grebe Grey Heron Teal Crow
Pied Wagtail Sparrow Siskin Tree Sparrow
House Martin Swallow Little Grebe Sparrowhawk
Garganey Scaup Wood Pigeon Magpie
Shoveller Duck
This brings the Year List up to 103 which is not bad for only a handful of trips.
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