Loch Leven boxes hoped to be perfect nest site for rare Goldeneye ducks
dailyrecord.co.ukLoch Leven NNR in Kinross-shire is a safe bet to see a range of migratory birds but recently efforts have been made to encourage a rare duck to stick around and breed.
NatureScot Nature Reserve officer Simon Ritchie has been installing nest boxes where the Goldeneye duck - famed for its madcap breeding display - might choose to raise a family.In his regular blog he explained more: “Winter is the best time to see one of my all-time favourite birds - the Goldeneye.“This duck winters in good numbers at Loch Leven with an average winter seeing around 500-600 birds.
We have had nearly 900 birds at peak.“Goldeneye are mainly winter visitors to the UK with around 30,000 birds arriving from Scandinavia in the autumn.“The drakes (males) can be quite easily identified.
They have a black head with almost a dark green gloss, a golden/yellow eye (as the name suggests), a black back and the breast and flanks (sides) are a pure white with black streaks.
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