Went up to Scotland for a
few days on Islay, catching the ferry across lunchtime on the 8th
before which we had a smart juvenile Glaucous
Gull in a field at the head of Loch Fyne on the drive down from Glasgow
which there were 30+ Great-northern Divers seen from the ferry.
As befits the time of year and all the recent storms
the next three days were obviously very windy and showery and most of the
birding was from the car; the Geese were the highlights really with every flock
of Greenland White-fronted Geese and Barnacle Geese scanned through and while
there were no real oddities there were plenty of neck rings and darvic rings to
try and read.
Unfortunately there were few surprises but other bits
included a few Hen Harriers floating around, an adult male Peregrine having a
swipe at a flock of Bar-tailed Godwits, small numbers of Whooper Swans dotted
around but only one family party, some good flocks of Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler
and Pintail, a few Stonechats, several flock of Reed Buntings and other Finches
to look through and brief but good views of an Otter playing in one of the bays.
The Glaucous
Gull was in exactly the same field at Loch Fyne as we drove back on
ironically the best day of the week!
Glaucous Gull
Purple Sandpipers, Dunlin and Ringed Plovers
Male and female Stonechats
Barnacle Geese
Greenland White-fronted Geese
The White-fronts included this slightly unusual bird with an extensive black belly - presumably an old bird
Otter record shot
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