First surveys of the season!

So, Kate and I have finally recieved our licences from SNH, which allow us to work closely with the Slavonian Grebes, which are a Schedule 1 species. This means that they have the highest level of protection that a species can have, and so it is illegal to disturb them in any way, especially during the breeding season, unless you are granted a licence to do so. Since we are carrying out important research on this rare breeding species, we have been given licences which allow us to photograph them on their nests, and to disturb them (which we will have to do in order to find the nests and set up the cameras). We will be carrying out nest searches next week, so that we can install the nest cameras as soon as possible, so that we can make sure to catch any signs of predators and to research the effects that all this rain and high winds is having on the grebe nests. We already know that a few nests have been washed out on other lochs as the water level rose too high and carried the eggs away. A terrible loss for this species, as every nest is precious due to their low numbers. But hopefully it is early enough in the season for them to re-build, and re-lay. As far as I know, all of the nests at Ruthven are ok, but I guess I'll find out when I go back tomorrow! Finger's crossed!

Last week Kate, Stewie and I completed the first full loch survey of the season! This involves walking around the edge of the entire loch and noting down any species that we see or hear, paying special attention to the Slavonian Grebes and the number of pairs of the grebes. This survey gives us a good idea of the number of pairs using the loch, as well as how many are nesting, and whereabouts they are nesting, which gives us information on their habitat preferences, as well as providing us with knowledge of which other species use the loch for feeding and breeding.

Completing the survey was fun, but pretty hard going! For the first quarter or so we had to trudge through mud by the sedge beds, which I managed to get stuck in! I sank in up to knee level and have to be rescued by Kate! But then we moved onto stony ground which was more slippery, but much easierto walk on, although we did have to wade through a channel waist deep to get there! So I ended up with my waders full of freezing cold loch water, but at least I didn't fall over in the loch! Anyways, the survey showed that we might have 12 pairs of Slavonian Grebe on the loch this year!! A brilliant result, as there were only 6 pairs that bred here last year! However, we are still analysing the maps, so we're not too sure on the number of pairs yet, but I'm hoping that 12 will be correct!

Whilst on the survey, we managed to see and hear some pretty good birds, like a Tawny Owl calling, a Red Grouse calling, a Greylag goose with 7 goslings, Sedge Warblers singing in the reeds, a Spotted Flycatcher, and we even saw a Short-eared Owl hunting over the grassland near to the loch while we were driving back to the office! We still have 2 more of these surveys to complete over the next 2 weeks, as well as having to find nests so that we can install cameras, as well as all of my regular work. In addition to this, we are having a visit from the RSPB Scotland Committee (very important people within the RSPB) this week, so I need to prepare for that! So it looks as if I'm going to become a very busy person in the next few weeks, as the breeding season kicks off at the loch! Wish me luck!

On the home front, everything is going well! I'm getting on well with both of my housemates, and enjoying living in Inverness, although I still don't really know many people. But I've started going to yoga once a week with two of the girls from work, and I'm planning to start up bird ringing again in the next few weeks as well! Also, if I get the time and I'm not too tired I might start volunteering with the SSPCA (like the RSPCA, but Scottish) on the weekends, as they have a re-homing centre close to where I'm living! Would be nice to spend some time playing with cats and dogs (but mostly cats)! I think that's about all that's happening at the moment, I'll update again soon if I get a chance to, so keep checking back!

A few snaps from Inverness



The East end of Loch Ruthven. All of the far shore seen in this photo is owned by the RSPB and part of the reserve.




The West end of the loch. None of this part is owned by the RSPB. Both ends of the loch are used by the Angling Association, who fly-fish from row-boats rather than motor boats to maintain the water quality of the loch.



3 Greylag Geese flying over the loch. They breed on the loch and now have goslings!

The reserve as seen from the car park. In addition to the loch, the RSPB owns an area of woodland and moorland, some of which can be seen here!

A pair of Osprey flying over the loch. The one on the left has a fish (caught by diving into the loch), and the one on the right is chasing it.

The East end of the loch as seen from the beach.

A Slavonian Grebe stretching

A Slavonian Grebe preening it's belly feathers

Slavonian Grebe

A pair of Slavonian Grebes on the loch on a misty morning. The one on the right is the male. You can see he has bigger yellow tufts and is slightly bigger overall.

A male Red-breasted Merganser - seen on the loch quite often!

Blaeberry (also called Bilberry) grows all over the reserve. The berries are edible and look and taste much like small blueberries. They are a favourite of Black Grouse, although there are none on the reserve or the surrounding area.

The woodland part of the reserve. The trees here are all covered in lichens, which indicate the excellent air quality found in the Highlands.

Highland Cattle! Seen quite often on my drive up to the loch

The beach at Loch Ruthven provides the best views of the East end of the loch.

A Wheatear resting on a post at the loch

April - May is lambing season, and there are little lambs everywhere at the moment!

The woodland walk that takes you through the reserve and up to the hide!

More photos will follow soon! Hope you have enjoyed these ones so far!

It's getting busy!

Hi Guys!

Sorry it's taken me so long to write another post! I've just been really busy lately! Everythings starting to happen at the loch so I've been going pretty early, and just too knackered when I get back to bother updating this!! If you want a more regularly updated blog documenting my work life, then visit the RSPB Loch Ruthven blog, which I update weekly!

All is going well at work and at home, and I'm really enjoying my job so far! There are now at least 8 pairs and 3 single Slavonian Grebes on the loch, so we've already improved on last year, when there were only 6 pairs! So let's hope that they all stay to breed! We also have lots of Common Sandpipers, Oystercatchers, Lapwing, Curlew, Common Gulls and Black-headed Gulls attempting to breed, and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers hanging around the loch most days. Add to that all of the small woodland and moorland birds singing and nesting, Cuckoos and Great-spotted Woodpeckers calling and Grasshopper Warblers reeling from the moorland and that's a lot of activity! We completed the first in a series of surveys of the moorland and woodland birds on the site last week, and will be installing the midge and mink traps next week, as well as beginning the full loch surveys to find nests and install nest cameras, so I'm going to be even more busy very soon!!

As for home, I'm really enjoying where I'm living and so glad that I chose this place to stay at! My housemates are so nice, and know how to have a good time! They are determined to show me the nightlife of Inverness and introduce me into their circle of friends :) And my workmates are just as nice! Went out with them today for a walk along a river, before wading through it as we couldn't find the bridge to the other side!! So we all got a bit wet, but it was a good adventure!! And I saw a Dipper! :D Also, I went to visit Jason on Fair Isle last weekend, and had a really brilliant time! Saw loads and loads of birds, including a lot that I hadn't seen before, so I was really happy! Especially since I got to ring a few birds too!! Living in Scotland really is doing a lot for my birding life list!! So many new birds since I've come here, and there are still so many I want to see!! Trip to the Cairngorms anyone?

Photos of all of this to follow shortly, unless you're on Facebook, in which case you can see them all right now, instead of waiting fore me to get around to actually putting them on here! Missing everyone lots, and really looking forward to visits from Jason, Jon and Tahnia soon! (I hope!) xxx