Great Crested Grebe Back at Hogganfield

Signs of us beginning to see the end of what has been a pretty awful winter. Up until the end of December it was very cold with lots of snow and from January onwards it has just been dull and depressing.

Sunday dawned like lots of days recently i.e "dull and depressing" but to add to the mix it was also raining. I didn't even bother with the telescope far less the camera for my first look round Hogganfield for a fortnight.

On the positive side the loch was entirely ice free, last weeks gales would have seen to that, and things were now more or less back to normal with duck numbers building again. There were 40 Teal present, 10+ Pochard, C15 Goldeneye. 17 Whooper Swan and 4 Gadwall. A sure sign of Spring was the 1st returning Great Crested Grebe.

Great Crested Grebe - 1st of 2011