19th and 20th March
After an awesome Aurora
display overnight when it was crystal clear, calm and cold the 19th
dawned cloudy with a brisk NW wind (a complete turnaround after the last week);
the selection of early spring migrants on the land included an excellent 9 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Woodpigeons, 27 Rock Pipits, a Pied
Wagtail, 10 Robins, 56 Fieldfares, 11 Song Thrushes, a Rook, 19 Snow Buntings,
2 Hen Harriers and a Merlin.
Some good wader totals through the day comprised 114
Oystercatchers, a Grey Plover, 65 Golden Plover (290 were present this time
last year – they haven’t really returned after the freezing weather), 2 Ruff
still, 112 Dunlin and 45 Bar-tailed Godwits.
The Green-winged Teal, Smew and Kumlien’s Gull were all still present in their favoured locales.
A similar day to yesterday on the 20th
with a brisk NW wind but a couple of showers were thrown into the mix; the days
highlight was certainly a Woodlark seen in flight a couple of times in Loch
Park but soon disappeared (only the eighth for the island!). Elsewhere on the land, totals included 4 Woodpigeons,
75 Skylarks, the Black Redstart still, 5 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Chaffinches and a
Woodcock.
A Black-throated Diver was again in Nouster Bay
along with 8 Red-throated and 10 Great-northern Divers while wildfowl of note
comprised 19 Pintail, the Smew on Hooking, 10
Goldeneye and 10 Red-breasted Mergansers.
The Kumlien’s Gull and single adult Lesser Black-backed Gull were
both present again.
Aurora Lewis Hooper
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