Thursday 30 December 2010

Birding West Mainland

An attempt on Gannet from the garden this morning, possible because of the lack of haze, was unfortunately unsuccessful. However, all that scanning didn't go to waste with two Ruff seen in flight over Loch of Bosquoy. Also in the garden, briefly eight or so Common Redpoll perched in our largest tree.

Sitting in the smallest room a familiar call was heard and two Whooper Swans, yet again, narrowly missed airspace.

A tootle around Birsay found 58 Dunlin, 170 Purple Sands and a very nice Grey Plover. A ringtail Hen Harrier appeared briefly hunting the waders on the beach.

The ice on Loch of Stenness has melted over a much larger area, not surprising as this is brackish water, the duck have dispersed and the Smew was nowhere to be seen.

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