Summer update - apparently it is arriving on Monday and will last for two days. In the meantime here is what has been happening with me since the last post.
WOW has been well filled with water and the terns and gulls are nesting/fledging/feeding/flying around. We have been entertained with Mediterranean gulls and their chicks. Four pairs nested on the nearest island and have taken to resting right outside the window. We have had a smattering of waders, usually on the far side. Teal are back in small numbers and there is a shelduck creche of 28 birds. Mallard, tufted and shoveler are around in small numbers but wigeon are absent and gadwall are missing or hiding in the reeds. I have not added any new species to the list.
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Ringed plover
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The best trip was the middle week which I missed but John Mason went and as usual his pictures are worth a look here:
Tanya and I did the Islay eagle cruise again this year. Like last year golden eagles were a no show and sea eagles were hard to find, but we did manage one near Tarbet. As usual we had good views of all we could expect on the crossing and also saw an otter off shore at Craighouse
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| This is John Mason's shot from 2021, same eagle same tree!! |
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| Jura |
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| Eagle country |
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| Craighouse |
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| Jura view |
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| Jura view |
The North Down patch is stagnant at present as I have mopped up everything I can reasonably expect. Hopefully the autumn will add a tick or two.
Finally, a few days in Donegal added chough to the list and a cracking 5 hours on Tory Island. Watching 3 peregrines on Tory and 2 at Horn Head was just magic.
2022
144: Spotted flycatcher
145: Sea eagle
146:Chough
NDCP
59: House martin
WOW
75: Manx shearwater
