So, what is new on the reserve? Well, we’re only a fortnight off the shortest day, the weather has been a bit better (not brilliant, but better than it has been) and the reserve has been dead quiet for wildlife. In many respects, it’s more exciting when it is cold – harsh weather forces creatures to show themselves and you get a fair bit of cold weather movement. But these mild, wet winters can be a bit dull, in every respect. The high water levels on the lochs means low bird counts – they’re all off feeding in flooded reedbeds or fields off the reserve. But we still had 50-odd goldeneye between Davan and Kinord…diving ducks like these still need deeper water to feed.
Reflections on Loch Kinord
Goldeneye stretch
The crossbills are still making their presence felt. They are one of the few birds to sing – and breed – through the winter months. They have an odd, scratchy song, full of disjointed squeaks and chirps but usually, at some point will give away their identity with a classic crossbill ‘chip-chip-chip’ call.
Male crossbill
And we’ve had a few fine days to make them sing, too. There have been a couple of lovely sunrises…and sunsets as well. You don’t even have to get up excessively early to do a dawn goose count these days, which is great – I’m allergic to days with two 5 o’ clocks in them.
A bonny sky on a clear morning
Sunrise from the viewpoint
Tuesday’s sunset
But it’s not been unbroken sunshine. There’s always been a bit of cloud hanging around, threatening rain. It has made for some spectacular views of the birch trees, white and purple-brown, standing stark and striking against a stormy blue-black sky.
Birch trees against the sky
Birch against a rainy-looking sky
It’s not even been cold enough to send the amphibians to bed (well, muddy-bottomed pools) for the winter. I’ve seen a couple of frogs this week – unusual in December – and narrowly avoided treading on the newt on the Burn o Vat path. They stop and freeze so you can’t see them move, which sadly isn’t a great strategy if a) you haven’t seen them in the first place or b) there’s a car bearing down on you. It’s unfortunately commoner to see them squashed than still alive.
Spot the newt?
Palmate newt
Even though it hasn’t been really cold, the nut feeder round the back has been pretty busy with coal, blue and great tits. But they all have to give way to The Boss ….the great-spotted woodpecker always takes precedence at the feeder (unless there’s a squirrel about). They’re much shyer than the tits, though, and take off at the slightest movement on our part. But they don’t go far – have a good look round and you often spot one, high up a tree, peering round the trunk or watching you from 60 feet up. ‘Will you just fill that feeder and get out of the way? Go on, hurry up!’ And you often hear them, pecking for insects or stashing nuts in a tree. Listen out for this – you may even hear them drumming by Christmas if it stays this mild!
Peek-a-boo woodpecker.
Great spotted woodpecker
Muir of Dinnet National Nature Reserve 