Sunday 24 February 2013

Beautiful weather, few birds


Lovely weather this weekend, calm and sunny. Today the clarity was brilliant, I've never seen Westray so clear and a whole range of snowy covered hills could be seen across the Pentland Firth into mainland Scotland.




The main interest is in and around the garden where there are signs of spring. Last weekend Goldfinch was singing when the "flock" had grown to three. A real charm of four this weekend and possible, if distant and brief singing heard again. Song Thrush was singing last weekend and was doing its cheery stuff again early a.m. and late p.m. As expected Woodpigeon made a brief appearance but still waiting for Lesser Black-backed Gull, although saw one last Saturday in Kirkwall. After the absence last weekend there were Bramblings here again with 18 today. Also two Reed bunting were in the bottom Rosa. 

Distant Skylarks were seen from the garden, the first for me this year, also heard singing at MarWick.

Not so much at Birsay but Long-tailed Duck is uncommon at Palace so one there was a bonus, a flock of Twite and Fulmars going west at 2,500 an hour.

A trip to Stromness to take the girls swimming enabled a bit of a walk at Warbeth.

Rockit

2 comments:

Stewart said...

I love the lemon yellow axilliaries on the Brambling Alastair! We always looked at it when we were lucky enough to catch one for ringing...

Alastair said...

I'd not noticed that, lovely colour. They're still here today.