Yesterday's good weather initiated a trip to Hoy. The main mission was to visit the Berriedale Wood, the most northerly natural woodland in UK. Once inside the wood is magical, but care is needed as it ascends steeply and the path crosses and recrosses the burn.
A significant problem were the midges, very persistent and a real irritant.
On the way we saw Golden-ring Dragonfly, an interesting very bright blue (it must have been) Common Hawker and this Common Hawker was found in the wood. Also what I think were Arctic Char in the burn.
Common HawkerAt Sandy Loch there was a lot of Bonxie action, 80 were counted on the water at one time but birds were constantly coming and going and well over 100 were seen in 30 minutes or so.
Bonxies and a Red-throated Diver
Bonxies and a Red-throated DiverBelow the dam there was this plume moth.
Also just down the track was Middle-barred Minor.
An hour spent in Hoy Lodge Plantation found one or maybe two juvenile Coal Tits, juvenile Willow Warblers, a pile of Goldcrest, a Chaffinch and a few Robins. Coal Tit has only recently been proven to breed on Hoy, in another plantation, previously a rare bird on Orkney it now appears to be present in suitable habitat on Hoy.
On the way home we were treated to some great views.
Once back at the ranch a quick check of The Shunan found Little Stint, excellent, also 2 Ruff and 6 Black-tailed Godwits. So maybe the spell of not finding any decnet birds is coming to an end, purged by midge instead of the hair shirt.
Also just down the track was Middle-barred Minor.
An hour spent in Hoy Lodge Plantation found one or maybe two juvenile Coal Tits, juvenile Willow Warblers, a pile of Goldcrest, a Chaffinch and a few Robins. Coal Tit has only recently been proven to breed on Hoy, in another plantation, previously a rare bird on Orkney it now appears to be present in suitable habitat on Hoy.
On the way home we were treated to some great views.
Once back at the ranch a quick check of The Shunan found Little Stint, excellent, also 2 Ruff and 6 Black-tailed Godwits. So maybe the spell of not finding any decnet birds is coming to an end, purged by midge instead of the hair shirt.
2 comments:
micro looks like emelia monodactayla
Hi Andy,
Thank you, that would be a pretty good record as the list says it's a vagrant here. I'd better send the pic to Sydney.
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