Random Roundup!

So what’s been kicking off at St Abb’s Head…

Time to break it down… 

Birds

Since my last post a Spoonbill flew past north on the 11/06 (a first for the reserve). Other recent highlights have been a drake Mandarin at Millar’s Moss on the 16/06 and a female on the 23/06. A Cuckoo was also briefly seen on the 22/06 at Northfield.

Buzzard with food

The breeders have also been keeping busy. Most of the seabirds now have young and guillemots will be jumping soon.  Meadow pipits, Rock pipits, Carrion crow, Rook, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow warbler, Sedge warbler, Blue tits and Great tits are all fledging and Coots and Mallards have plenty of young on the Mire Loch and at Millar’s Moss. 

2 pairs of Little grebe have been spotted acting very territorial on the Mire Loch so hopes for some little, little grebes soon. Reed warbler has also been singing in the reedbed for a while now… breeding?

Rock pipit first bath!

Time for a rest

Lepidoptera

Plenty of NB Argus around as well as Small Copper, Wall Brown and the first Common Blues have begun to emerge. 

NB Argus

Small Heath (at John Muir Country Park)

Things have also slightly improved on the moth front with Marbled Coronet, Scalloped Hazel, Common and Map-winged Swift, Silver Ground Carpet and Brimstone all being recent additions. The trap is out again tonight, although with a monster of a moon it might not be much of a catch.

Map-winged Swift

Cetaceans

No further sightings of Dolphins but rumours of a Whale spotted off the head are filtering in. A Harbour Porpoise on the 18/06 went south.

Odonata

Hordes of Common Blue and Blue-tailed Damselflies around the dam end of the Mire Loch today, but still awaiting the first dragons.

Common Blue Damselfly

Blue-tailed Damselfly