Feb 2013

Ranald Strachan: Fife Coast and Countryside Trust: 07985 707593:

bird news

The first month of 2013 fades away and winter arrived up north. Some cold snowy days affected Fife but the reserve was largely snow free and the mild and wet theme has returned. The ground is wet everywhere and there are pools and burns where there never has been. Here is January’s highlights.

Geese numbers are building once more with around 4000-7000 Pinkfooted and some 50-200 Greylag on most nights roosts. These are giving some spectacular morning flights.The geese tend to return to roost after dark, so an early start is recommended to see them. A healthy count of LB Brent were on the estuary all month with 53 recorded on 14th.

Goosepools and Earlshall: Fairly quiet over the north side, 13 Long tailed duck, 2 Slavonian grebe and 1 Velvet scoter offshoreon the 7th, onshore were 3 Jays, a single Goldcrest and 2 Crossbill. A Raven and a Green woodpecker on Earlshall muir on 31st.

Estuary Count (WeBS): Out across the estuary on the 14th and 15th were 222 Wigeon, 241 Shelduck, 28 Pintail, 127 Teal and 61 Mallard. 10 Whooper and 10 RB Merganser too. Better nubers of waders this month with 796 Grey plover, 258 Knot, 456 Bar-tailed godwit, 1033 Dunlin and 8 Greenshank. Black tailed godwit numbers have been slow to pick up with only 74 on 15th, however 200 were present on 31st.

Leuchars Airfield: A single Raven spotted here on 5th, 12 Waxwings on 19th and 32 Fieldfares on 20th, nice to see showing up in the records. A nice disply by 5 Skylarks on 31st gave a hint of things to come.

Outhead: A single Stonechat and 9 Grey partridge on 10th. Lots of Oystercatchers noodling around dog dodging on the grass and a nice Short eared owl hunting on 12th.

Eden Centre: Up at the Centre were 3 Little grebe on 18th, 30 Canada geese on 3rd, 3 LT duck on 26th, these along with up to 20 Goldeneye have been highly visible all month at the centre. 2 White tailed eagle on the posts out in the mudflats on 8th and a Spotted redshank on 5th along with a Raven and a Glaucous gull...nice day. A cracking wee red head Smew dropped in on 14th – 17th always good to see. The feeders have been buzzing with 7 Long tailed tit on 7th, 3 Tree sparrow on 15th and 2 Brambling on 27th along with the usual peanut gobblers!

Thats nae a bad month at all!

Bird of the Month

Smew (Red Head)

This small, compact diving duck is the female or juvenile, with its red head and white cheek compared to the almost all white male. Around 180 birds winter in the UK annually and mainly the South of England, however some birds can show up when there is bad weather around on the continent, it fits with this bird spotted mid month when the weather was indeed wintery. The bird was spotted at other east coast sites and dropped in here 14th-17th Jan. Last turned up 5th-8th Mar 2012.

eden centre

  • Open 9am-4pm
  • Code available on 07985 707593
  • Please record your visit and the birds spotted.
  • Please ensure heaters are off when leaving.

reserve news

  • Volunteers: if you would like to come along and help restore the West Sands dunes, meet at Coach parking at 10am Feb 12th.
  • Eden Brewery: Some good news after all the glum economic stuff. Part of the papermill has been taken over by Eden Brewery a micro brewery specialising in real ale...... Hurrah!!!
  • Guardbridge Inn: The Inn at Guardbridge is open for business again, under new owners and a new momentum....watch this space. You can get a coffee or a pint if desired on your next visit!
  • Mallard Nest Tubes: A small pilot project is being carried out on the Coble Pools. Placing 2 nest tubes for Mallard, this is being led by a local wildfowler/naturalist and if successful will be expanded to support our ‘national’ duck. Please observe and let us know if you see any action, please do not disturb the nests.
  • Coble Track: Due to be upgraded soon....more info to follow when confirmed.

Ranald Strachan: Fife Coast and Countryside Trust: 07985 707593: