Thursday, April 10, 2008

8-9th April, 2008.

Finally got around to setting up this Blog after threatening to do so for ages!! Will progressively improve the site as time allows! After returning from Ethiopia recently, and then having my two young daughters with me for a week, birdwatching has been a bit of a catch up process over the last couple of days. Thankfully not much appears to be on the move here as yet.

MIGRATION.
Little in evidence. Single Black-throated Diver and Manx Shearwater north over the sea, 3 Gadwall and increased numbers of Shoveler at Gruinart ( with two pairs elsewhere ) suggested new arrivals, a Sand Martin and a handful of Wheatears completed the list of obvious "movers".

GENERALLY.
Great Northern Divers, Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Goldeneye and Slavonian Grebes still around, as are appreciable numbers of Barnacle and Greenland White-fronted Geese, doubtless held back by the recent northerlies. Both the latter are now very restless and obviously ready to leave for their breeding grounds as soon as suitable weather arrives.
Some good accumulations of Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull and Common Gull on ploughed land or where muck spreading has occurred. Birds of prey noticeable with displaying Buzzards, regular Merlin and Peregrine and an obvious presence of male Hen Harriers in particular.

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