Goslings Amongst the Petrol Pumps

Sometimes wildlife appears in the most unexpected places. Travelling back from holiday along the M74 stopped at the Annandale Water Service Station and was quite amazed to see several geese and goslings wandering amongst the parked cars and on the petrol station forecourt.

Swans Nesting

For some years now mute swans have nested amongst the rushes on the small island in Birnie Loch and it looks as if they are going to do the same again this year.

Normally only one pair of swans nest on one stretch of water and the male defends the territory.

There were also a number of black-headed gulls, tufted ducks, pink-footed geese and the ever present mallards.

A pair of tufted ducks.

A pink-footed goose

Geese at Birnie Loch

Thousands of pink-footed geese over-winter in nearby Loch Leven but I think that from the orange colour of the bill these are probably greylag geese. Photographed at Birnie Loch yesterday they seemed unphased by the proximity of the car park and people walking on the grass quite close to them.