Back from Islay

Great Northern Diver

Hello

The NBC contingent left Islay on the 9.45am ferry to the mainland yesterday, seeing a few birds along the way! The best were probably a flock of Pale-bellied Brents, Eiders, a Common Scoter, common auks, Red-throated and Great Northern Divers, quite a few Slavonian Grebes, Gannets and Kittiwakes.

While I have been away many people have taken on the task of maintaining the wild bird feed stations at Pitsford, Kelmarsh, and Harrington - thank-you all very much! Perhaps not surprisingly my first day back in the county today was spent visiting all these feed stations and topping up feeders in order to ensure that the feeding birds during the winter are supported during the spring hunger gap. 

There seemed to be a very light sprinkling of Chiffchaffs and clearly the main arrival of these early migrants has yet to occur. A Green Sandpiper was again on the muddy pools below the dam at Pitsford Res, but the gull roost there has all but finished for the season now.

Eleanor was again over at Staverton today and the pair of Raven were still in situ. The only other birds of note were two Barn Owls at Blueberry Farm this afternoon.

Regards

Neil M

Drake Eider

Great Black-backed Gull

Drake Red-breasted Merganser

Gannet