Masses of ducks and wading birds were feeding on the shore at Aberlady Bay with the sounds of curlews and also skylarks singing in the blue sky above the Reserve.  In the next few months there will be innumerable birds and also moths and butterflies among the flowers but today there was little evidence of any.  Their environment has been greatly helped by the sheep which have been brought in to graze in order to maintain a suitable habitat for nesting birds and to protect the native plants and enhance the land.  The rare hardy Chevease sheep, which are part of the Scottish Wildlife Trust Flying Flock, are able to thrive successfully on even the poorest grazing and are used on Trust properties   They have less wool than other breeds and don’t need shearing so any wool left lying around is used for lining some cosy bird nests.  These sheep are due to leave Aberlady very soon after their stay of about four months and will return to their home farm for lambing.