Birdwatching

The early months of the year continue to be good for birds. The RSPB’s Insh Marshes reserve, a mile and a half from Kingussie in the Spey valley is one of over 50 of Scotland’s National Nature Reserves. It is also one of the best places to see a variety of birds this winter. Roughly half of the UK’s entire Goldeneye population nests at the marshes during spring time. Snipe, wigeon, redshank and curlew are also in abundance. During the winter months the marshes flood. This attracts whooper swans and greylag geese. This year there are 95 whoopers and up to 400 greylags at the reserve. They arrived in October and will stay until March.

Further north Loch of Strathbeg is also well known for winter birds. “Approximately 60% of the world’s population of pink footed geese will spend time on the reserve between autumn and spring,” explains Duncan Funnel, Reserve Manager for RSPB Strathbeg. Numbers peak at around 60,000 in October, but there are still some 15,000 – 25,000 in attendance until mid-March. “Exact number are very much weather dependent,” he adds. “The colder weather tends to push the geese further south.”

The lapwing, sometimes known as a peewit because of the calling sound, has a very distinctive black crest. It winters on flooded grassland and coastal wetlands. It’s a year round bird in Scotland and eats worms and insects. Lapwing numbers have been in decline in the UK since the middle of the 19th century. However, declines since the 1940’s have occurred because of widespread changes in agriculture. Loch of Strathbeg is one of the better places to see lapwings in Scotland. The bird breeds on the abundant wet grasslands at the reserve. Between 1000 - 1500 spend their winter at Strathbeg, however, the occasional peak count is close on 2000.

RSPB Strathbeg holds a number of events throughout the year. On 12th February, in partnership with the Banff and Buchan Ranger Service, there will be a winter bird watching walk at the Waters of Philorth Local Nature Reserve starting at 1.30pm. Tel: 01261 813299. Booking is essential.

Birds are not the only draw at Strathbeg. There are more than 300 varieties of flower, a wide variety of butterflies and 21 mammal species including otters. “There are otters on the loch and the winter is as good a time as any to see them,” explains Duncan Funnel. “The best bet is Fen or Bay hides which are open between 8am and 4pm every day.” Access to the loch hides is via Crimond Airfield and the airfield barrier is locked outside these times.

Bird watching in Scotland is gaining in popularity. The RSPB estimate that an unprecedented 70,000 people visited Scotland’s RSPB reserves in 2005. The increase in the use of CCTV cameras, the impact of conservation and reintroduction programmes for the hen harrier, red kite and the white tailed sea eagle coupled with the success of television wildlife series like BBC’s Springwatch have all combined to spur this interest.

Interest in urban wildlife can also be satisfied in the early months of the year. Fox courtship can be a very noisy affair at this time of year. It’s far noisier than the squirrels that are also mating at this time. Foxes ‘scream’ during the night to let other foxes know they are available. And time is tight. There are only three days in the mating season when the vixen is receptive. At this time of year foxes also mark out their paths with strong, musky smelling urine. This is particularly noticeable during the January and February.

Scotland’s beaches are abundant with birdlife. But keep an eye out for lesser known wildlife. Take a walk along the beach and you may notice small balls that resemble bubble wrap, but they are not plastic, they are whelk eggs. Whelks are shellfish and lay their eggs in January. If the sea was rough the night before it is not uncommon to see freshly laid eggs washed ashore, littering the tidemark.

There are a number of wildlife events happening in February. The Scottish Wildlife Trust has a series of talks including “Red listed plants in Scotland” by Scottish Natural Heritage’s Lynne Farrell at the Cowane Centre in Stirling on 7th February (Tel: 01786 833409) and Brian Neath’s talk about “Butterflies and Moths” in Portree on Skye on 15th February (Tel: 01471 833325). RSPB Vane Farm will hold a “Migration and Story Telling” family event at the reserve from 2 - 4pm on 19th February. Tel: 01577 862355. Booking is essential.

February is still a good time for badgers. The European badger is Scotland’s largest carnivore and sits at the top of the food chain with no natural predators. Badgers are less common the further north you go in Scotland. Their setts are normally built in sandy soil and, like foxes, badgers can often be found in suburban gardens. Badgers mate throughout the year, but the cubs are only born during February. A litter can consist of up to five cubs. The young ones remain underground for the first two months of their lives. It’s a tough life. Fewer than 50% are thought to survive the first two years. Badgers succumb to disease, cold weather, malnutrition and traffic accidents. However, the UK population is not endangered and is in a very healthy state. The Central Lowlands area has a high number of badgers. Badgers are even known to live quite happily in the centre of Edinburgh.

RSPB Insh Marshes Nature Reserve. Tel: 01540 661518

RSPB Loch of Strathbeg. Tel: 01346 532017

Scottish Wildlife Trust February 2006 events lists
http://www.swt.org.uk/events/Feb06.htm

RSPB Scotland February 2006 events lists
http://www.rspb.org.uk/scotland/events/index.asp