After five days of effectively being snowed-in, it was nice to be out birding today. First-up, we bumped into the Canada Goose at Haroldswick Hall that has previously been present in Baltasound. Loch of Cliff was playing host to a couple of large congregations of Gulls stood on the ice but single third-cycle Glaucous Gull was the best we could find among them. Burrafirth then produced a surprise as at least 47 Goldeneye were sat on the sea. We then tried Uyeasound where a Kumlien's Gull was seen briefly patrolling the littoral near the Hall but all too soon flew out to the salmon cages joining 2 Iceland Gulls out there.
Haroldswick: Canada Goose, 2 Barnacle Geese & Grey Heron.
Burrafirth: 47 Goldeneye & Glaucous Gull.
Uyeasound: 2 Mute Swans, Kumlien's Gull & 2 Iceland Gulls.
Loch of Snarravoe: 7 Whooper Swans.
Baltasound: 4 Whooper Swans & Pink-footed Goose.
Canada Goose at Haroldswick
Larger than the accompanying Greylag Geese, not particularly long-necked, pale-breasted and lacking any hint of a dark gular stripe.
part of the flock of Goldeneye at Burrafirth
Kumlien's Gull at Uyeasound
Views mainly very distant but its grey-washed outer primaries and tail band are just about discernible in the above images. Whilst I found it impossible to age in the poor light at the distance involved, its bill might suggest that it's a second-cycle. If so, perhaps it's this individual returning for its second winter...? Hopefully we'll obtain much better views in the coming days...
Whooper Swan on ice at Loch of Snarravoe
