Hi everyone!

These two weeks were very exciting, I have a lot to tell you! Well, we have finished checking all the nest boxes. All together there are probably more than a hundred boxes in the reserve that have to be checked. A lot of them had to be removed and a couple days ago you could have seen the boxes lying on the side of path.

During the nest box checking I got into a few ‘situations’ so to say. One of which, to get to some boxes we needed to cross a swamp-like meadow, and of course I sank up to my knees in the muddy water! I found it rather funny and it made my day 😛

Aside of these situations, we have spotted a lot of wildlife too! We have seen a flock of great tits, a few treecreepers and longtailed tits and a frog near the walled garden. Also, we have seen a raven couple, just at the side of the Peregrine watch site, viewable from the path on the other side. We think they are looking for a nesting place, which is very exciting too! Before spotting the ravens we had to remove two trees that were partly blocking the path, they were snapped and fell over.

And not to forget, the Peregrine watch season is starting soon! Because of the tree felling, me and some regular volunteers, removed some of the branches and leaves (brush) that were in the way of the watch site. To minimize disturbance for the peregrines, we also made diversions in the route and put up signs.

Speaking of the peregrines.. I really hope we will start seeing them soon. No one has seen or heard them yet, there isn’t even signs of them being here. The falcons are quite old already and it could be that perhaps they haven’t survived the winter. If this is the case, it could mean that this place might be taken over by another peregrine couple and that would be BIG news! But lets keep our fingers crossed that our loved couple returns this year!

That’s me for now, I’ll keep you updated!

Susanne Maas – Scottish Wildlife Trust

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