11th and 12th April
The 11th was a dreadful day with persistent
rain pretty much all day, swept across the island by a biting, very cold NW
wind! Census work carried on regardless
though and in the difficult conditions a few highlights were unearthed with an
adult Iceland Gull at Garso, the Northern Harrier still (hanging around Brides with a ringtail Hen
Harrier – perhaps that’s why he’s lingering deep into this [alleged] spring!),
a Lapland Bunting and the first signs of any Goose passage with 17 Pink-footed
Geese seen coming in from the south.
Other
counts worth mentioning included 2 Goldeneye still, 145 Purple Sandpipers and
206 Turnstone round the coast, a Woodpigeon, just 6 Wheatears, 31 Redwings and
single Chiffchaff and Snow Bunting.
Tysties, photo Simon Davies
There
were some good spells on sunshine the following day but the howling, cold NW
wind still battered the island and with sheep punding taking place at many
areas along the east coast the birding rewards were even sparser through the
day! Birds of note included the Green-winged Teal remaining on
Gretchen, the Northern
Harrier floating past the Landrover
at point blank range as we were waiting to start chasing sheep, 14 Wheatears, a
Blackcap, a Rook and 6 Snow Buntings.
Green-winged Teal, photo Simon Davies
Hooded Crow, photo Simon Davies
Greylag Geese, photo Simon Davies
Comments