Hogganfield Loch

It has been several months since I had been at Hogganfield & the most obvious change was the new decking/bird viewing platform now extending from the car park. Gone also is the metal fence that did its best to obscure the loch now replaced with bollards to prevent cars from falling or more likely, being pushed, into the water. Unfortunately, the bollards do not extend across the viewing platform and this will surely encourage "low life" to park their cars on it. Hopefully, they will sink into the loch. Oh how I do just love the human race !

A 'tern' nesting island has also been constructed in front of the viewing platform. This has obviously been done with good intention but for me it is far to close to the bank to be of any serious interest to nesting birds.

 Being July, most wildfowl are now moulting. The banks were strewn with almost a hundred feral Grey Lags and equally as many Tufted were present on the loch. One female Tufted had 6 ducklings, proving presumably that breeding takes place at this site. The hoped for Ruddy Ducks were absent. If they had been present, I would not have reported them & I would urge anyone who sees Ruddy Duck in the UK NOT TO REPORT THEM. The b******* from DEFRA monitor birding sites to identify sites where birds remain and so by reporting them you are doing the birds absolutely no favours at all.

Folllowing the very hard winter I have struggled to see any Little Grebe this year. My only record for 2011 prior to today was a bird heard at Kilconquhar Loch in Fife. However, today there were 2 adults present. There were also up to 10 Great Crested Grebe present, no juveniles as yet, however, there were 3 birds on nests so hopefully in the coming weeks. Some shots of today's birds: