22nd-24th March

The most notable bird of the past few days was a Woodlark, the 6^th island record, seen briefly by Bride’s Loch on the 23rd. A Glaucous Gull flew past the obs on the 23^rd and a Stonechat was at Kirbest on the 24^th. The Smew has been present again on both Hooking and Bewan and appears to be a 1^st winter male. The first Kestrel of the year was sighted on the 23^rd and the first Lesser Black-backed Gull on the 24^th. We’ve had the highest counts so far this year of Meadow Pipit (38 on the 23^rd) and Pied Wagtail (25 on the 24^th). Skylark passage has also picked up with 73 on the 23^rd. A flock of 45 Long-tailed ducks were seen on 22^nd, and over 250 Guillemots passed by the south of the island on the 23^rd. Merlin, Hen Harrier, Peregrine and Short-eared Owl were all recorded too. The winds are forecast to change to a southerly direction at the weekend, so hopefully this will bring in some more migrants. 

Smew (photo George Gay)

Stonechat

Bar-tailed Godwit (photo George Gay)

 Rock Pipit (photo George Gay)

 Black-headed Gull

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