FIFE RANGER SERVICE
Greenkeepers Cottage,
Fairmont,
St Andrews
Tel: (01334) 473047.
BIRNIE/GADDON LOCH NEWS AUGUST 2009
It's been a busy summer so far at the Lochs; plans are afoot for the sheep to return to Gaddon Loch this September following on from the successes of previous year. They will be in approximately the same area as last time, which is the large grassy area on Gaddon Lochs north shore. Once again there will be an electric fence to keep them in place which will be well signposted and set back off the path. We would appreciate all dog owners to keep their dogs on a lead and parents to keep an eye on their children so as not to have any mishaps.
On the subject of incidents there have been reports of fishermen at the lochs in the last few weeks. If anyone does see fishing in progress please call the Police or the Ranger service. There is no fishing allowed here and anyone doing so is poaching. Please do not approach anyone yourself, just report details and any car registration, make and model.
On a happier note the ducks seem to have had their best breeding season for a number of years, there are broods of mallards and tufted duck on both lochs. The swans have lost several of their cygnets but seem to have settled down. We should be trying to ring them sometime in September so we can keep track of their movements once they leave the area. Most swans seem to stay within a fifty-mile radius of Fife, some even return to raise their own families.
Another breeding success has been the great crested grebe, which managed to have a chick again this year. These are birds that are doing particularly well on restored gravel pits, and have taken advantage of the closure of Gaddon Loch over the last few years to breed. There are also little grebes breeding in the reeds at the far end of Gaddon Loch, these are really illusive birds but if you spend the time you should be able to spot them. It's worth the effort as they have beautiful plumage.
An unusual record for the loch was a pair of grey partridge on the path round Gaddon Loch. These are birds of farmland, usually nesting in the long grass round field edges. They have been seen here before but not very often. Look out for them, they look like a cross between a small pigeon and a grouse and will fly off as you approach with a very distinctive fast wing beat.
The sand martins have yet again ignored the nesting barrel we put up for them but are around in their usual high numbers. This time of year sees them feeding up for the long journey south to Africa for the winter so there should be large numbers swooping over the waters of both lochs looking for the annoying midges.
One final point, someone has got into the habit of leaving bags of dog pooh hanging from trees round the loch. Could all dog owners please remember to pick up after their pet and to dispose of the bags in the bins.
Meantime here are the peak count figures for July.
Great crested grebe 2+2 Sand martin 29 Coal tit 3
Mute swan 4+6 Swallow 6 Blue tit 11
Mallard 80 House martin 3 Great tit 9
Tufted duck 8 Wren 2 Jackdaw 2
Buzzard 1 Dunnock 1 Rook 79
Grey partridge 2 Robin 4 Crow 3
Moorhen 1 Blackbird 7 Starling 14
Coot 7 Song thrush 1 Chaffinch 16
Lapwing 24 Sedge warbler 1 Goldfinch 3
Black-headed gull 41 Willow warbler 1 Linnet 2
Herring gull 6 Goldcrest 2 Bullfinch 1
Wood pigeon 8 Long-tailed tit 6 Reed bunting 1
Swift 2
Greenkeepers Cottage,
Fairmont,
St Andrews
Tel: (01334) 473047.
BIRNIE/GADDON LOCH NEWS AUGUST 2009
It's been a busy summer so far at the Lochs; plans are afoot for the sheep to return to Gaddon Loch this September following on from the successes of previous year. They will be in approximately the same area as last time, which is the large grassy area on Gaddon Lochs north shore. Once again there will be an electric fence to keep them in place which will be well signposted and set back off the path. We would appreciate all dog owners to keep their dogs on a lead and parents to keep an eye on their children so as not to have any mishaps.
On the subject of incidents there have been reports of fishermen at the lochs in the last few weeks. If anyone does see fishing in progress please call the Police or the Ranger service. There is no fishing allowed here and anyone doing so is poaching. Please do not approach anyone yourself, just report details and any car registration, make and model.
On a happier note the ducks seem to have had their best breeding season for a number of years, there are broods of mallards and tufted duck on both lochs. The swans have lost several of their cygnets but seem to have settled down. We should be trying to ring them sometime in September so we can keep track of their movements once they leave the area. Most swans seem to stay within a fifty-mile radius of Fife, some even return to raise their own families.
Another breeding success has been the great crested grebe, which managed to have a chick again this year. These are birds that are doing particularly well on restored gravel pits, and have taken advantage of the closure of Gaddon Loch over the last few years to breed. There are also little grebes breeding in the reeds at the far end of Gaddon Loch, these are really illusive birds but if you spend the time you should be able to spot them. It's worth the effort as they have beautiful plumage.
An unusual record for the loch was a pair of grey partridge on the path round Gaddon Loch. These are birds of farmland, usually nesting in the long grass round field edges. They have been seen here before but not very often. Look out for them, they look like a cross between a small pigeon and a grouse and will fly off as you approach with a very distinctive fast wing beat.
The sand martins have yet again ignored the nesting barrel we put up for them but are around in their usual high numbers. This time of year sees them feeding up for the long journey south to Africa for the winter so there should be large numbers swooping over the waters of both lochs looking for the annoying midges.
One final point, someone has got into the habit of leaving bags of dog pooh hanging from trees round the loch. Could all dog owners please remember to pick up after their pet and to dispose of the bags in the bins.
Meantime here are the peak count figures for July.
Great crested grebe 2+2 Sand martin 29 Coal tit 3
Mute swan 4+6 Swallow 6 Blue tit 11
Mallard 80 House martin 3 Great tit 9
Tufted duck 8 Wren 2 Jackdaw 2
Buzzard 1 Dunnock 1 Rook 79
Grey partridge 2 Robin 4 Crow 3
Moorhen 1 Blackbird 7 Starling 14
Coot 7 Song thrush 1 Chaffinch 16
Lapwing 24 Sedge warbler 1 Goldfinch 3
Black-headed gull 41 Willow warbler 1 Linnet 2
Herring gull 6 Goldcrest 2 Bullfinch 1
Wood pigeon 8 Long-tailed tit 6 Reed bunting 1
Swift 2
