Friday 26 September 2014

26th September 2014 Out Skerries SW8 Squally showers

Awoke to a gale force westerly with thankfully fairly infrequent heavy pulses of rain. Today started where yesterday finished with a Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff immediately seen in 'our' garden. The usual 90 minute early morning walk of the East Isle produced a Pied Wagtail at the end of the airstrip and a Whimbrel that was first heard calling but soon picked out loosely associating with three Curlew but that unfortunately had a white rump! A Kestrel flushed out of the first geo and a Wheatear in the second was the first passerine migrant I've seen using them since being here. The pool area was quite sheltered but just the two Whinchats were seen there. Rocklea was windblown though seemed quiet. The iris beds were similarly quiet although yesterday's White Wagtail remained. Walked to the beach beyond the marsh and twice to Magnus's Watch in the hope of a Wader or two but just a Fieldfare was seen. 
 
Eider 20
Heron 2
Kestrel 1
Ringed Plover 4
Golden Plover 2
Dunlin 1
Snipe 4
Turnstone 4
Black-headed Gull 1
Goldcrest 1
Skylark 4
Chiffchaff 1
Blackcap 2
Blackbird 5
Fieldfare 1
Song Thrush 2
Whinchat 2
Wheatear 5
Dunnock 1
Pied Wagtail 1
White Wagtail 1
Tree Pipit 1
Meadow Pipit 25
 
Early morning on Out Skerries
 
Bay near the northeastern tip of the island
 
Siberian Blue Robin at the end of the rainbow...
 
...not this time!
 
Eider on Out Skerries
I distinctly remember seeing one sat on a nest here on Out Skerries back in 1978
 
Magnus's beach on Out Skerries
 
The iris beds on Out Skerries
 
 Stormy seas off Out Skerries