Bird Report - August 2017

Early in the month I had a report from Sidney Eunson of two Grey Herons which were passing time in his field, while Sidney's sister Mabel was amazed at the number of Curlews gathered in another field nearby.

There have been a lot of Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails, Swallows as the year wears on and plans are afoot for travelling to winter quarters. A significant number of Swallows were flying around in the field adjacent to Glenavon on the 28th.

On the 23rd I was lucky to see a small flock of Snow Buntings flying past the house.

I had a walk from Hacco down to the shore and was surprised to see two Whooper Swans in the water. Making my way back up there were the inevitable Meadow Pipits, a Wheatear and it was nice to come across a Red Admiral Butterfly, in fact I have seen several of these during the month.

During my walks with the dog I noticed quite a few brown furry caterpillars taking their chances crossing the road!

Last month I mentioned the large number of young Starlings and House Sparrows at the feeders in the back garden and these are still with us. The young Starlings can easily be recognised by their brown heads before they change to the more familiar colour.

Other birds reported in the parish:

Ian Cunningham had a nice sighting of 4 Ruff amongst a mixed flock of Lapwings and Golden Plovers near Greentoft on the 29th. He also had noticed plenty of Wagtails and Wheatears about. Moving on to St. Peter's Pool there was a solitary Knot.

Ian was out again on the 31st and was pleased to see 16 Black-tailed Godwits at Eves Loch and he counted another 8 at Watermoss.

Not too much about during August but September might be a different story as the migrant birds pass through Deerness so hopefully there will be plenty to report next month.

Pauline Wilson

 

Bird Report - July 2017

Pied Wagtails and a few Wheatears are now being seen in the parish along with lots of Meadow Pipits which appear to have had a successful breeding season. Here at Sunnybank the House Sparrows and Starlings have also notched up breeding success as I don't recall seeing so many young of these species before. Our Wren must have found pastures new for, in spite of the male building a splendid nest, this has not been deemed suitable.

Nancy Scott reports Swallows and House Martins once again and there is a family of Swallows next door to us in Phil Longley's garage at Eastbank.

We had a pile of feathers underneath the wall, a sure sign of a Sparrowhawk devouring its catch. One less baby sparrow I am afraid!

Another raptor, this time a male Hen Harrier, keeps paying us a visit; I have seen him on three occasions the last of which saw him being chased off by one of Phil's Swallows!

I had a walk to the Brough of Deerness on July 11th, spotting Swallows in the Gloup, an Arctic Skua flying over the Gloup car park and a Snipe perched on a fencepost - chicks nearby. Further along my walk I heard one of my favourite sounds - a Snipe drumming. There were Meadow Brown butterflies and lovely small Blue Butterflies and the Grass of Parnassus was in flower – lovely.

Another walk, this time to the Coventanters Memorial then around the coast and back up to the car park.

  Covenanters memorial

(Photo showing Covenanters Memorial in distance by Pauline Wilson)

Along the way I counted no less than 22 flower species - Tormentil, Angelica, Meadowsweet, Sorrel, Hawkweed, Clover, Forget-me Not, Willowherb, Buttercup, late-flowering Marsh Orchid, Marsh Cinquefoil, Sneezewort, Purple and Yellow Vetch, Bell Heather, Ragged Robin, Ragwort, Lousewort, Mayweed, Self Heal, Bright Eyes, Mimulus. What a tally!

  Angelica

(photo of Angelica, with Tormentil and Meadowsweet in the background).

Once again there were Meadow Brown & Blue Butterflies and Seals were hauled out down by the shore. Not too many birds around but an unusual sighting was a male Chaffinch, lots of Meadow Pipits, two Arctic Terns, many sounds of Curlews, and a lot of Oystercatchers. There were Shags & Razorbills down on the rocks.

I had a final walk of July on the 30th, this time to the Point of Ayre which is a lovely spot that escapes the tourists on a fine sunny day! On reaching my destination I enjoyed a cup of coffee while watching Cormorants, Shags and two mystery birds which I eventually identified as juvenile Black Guillemots, the giveaway clue being their bright red/orange legs.

We are lucky in Deerness that there are so many beautiful places to explore.

Pauline Wilson

Bird Report - June 2017

Nobody can fail to see the yellow vista all around the parish at this time of year as Buttercups stand proudly in bloom - not the favourite of farmers I am sure!

There was exciting news on June 2nd when Marie Fotheringham rang to say a Corncrake was calling in the field between Lynegar and Esnaphy. The male bird called for a number of nights before disappearing, probably due to a night of wind and heavy rain.

Another calling bird, but this time a sweeter song, was heard and seen at Sunnybank when a bonny male Linnet perched on the fence singing away, while in our small wooded area a Greenfinch male made its unmistakeable call.

Unfortunately the Wren nest in our byre is still unoccupied but I still hear a male singing so maybe there is time yet for a female to move in.

Harsher calls were heard on the 16th when I took a walk from Hacco down to the shore and it was impossible not to notice Oystercatchers fussing and flying around, no doubt with the intention of protecting young birds. Also on the walk I saw a Skylark with feed in its beak, obviously heading for a family close by.

  Skylark

Photo of Skylark by Gerry Cannon.

It's all about breeding at this time of year - it's a delight to look out of the window and see two or three baby Sparrows following a parent and begging for food, likewise Starlings who are trying to learn to fend for themselves as parents get on with a second brood.

  Starling2

Photo of Starling with nesting material by Gerry Cannon.

A wader perched on a fencepost is a sure sign that a brood it not too far away.

  Redshank

Photo of Redshank by Gerry Cannon.

 

Pauline Wilson

Bird Report - May 2017

It was a nice start to the month when, on the 1st, I had news of a couple of interesting birds down the track to Sandside Bay. I was lucky that the birds were still showing so first the Black Redstart appeared.

Black Redstart

(Black Redstart photo by Gerry Cannon)

I was then delighted to see the Whitethroat almost at the top of the track and posing very well so I had a lovely view of it. These birds were 'firsts' for me. Also flying around were Swallows and a handful of Sand Martins. A Robin and a Wren completed the picture.

Also on the 1st 2 Chiffchaffs and 3 Wheatears were seen in the Lighthouse Quarry Garden.

Quite a lot of Swallows are displaying now, looking for likely nest sites. Nancy Scott reported a couple investigating the byre and is delighted that House Martins have arrived back from their long journey after wintering in Africa. Soon they will start the task of nest-building under the eaves. (I notice House Martins are also present again at the new houses in Toab).

On May 12th during my beached birds survey at Newark I counted at least 100 Ringed Plovers on the beach, then driving down the Oback road I spotted 2 Jackdaws also the inevitable Swallows.

I was at Sandside Bay on the 13th when the rough seas attracted a host of waders - Turnstone, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Sanderling then as I reached the end of the bay near the fish farm there were 8 Knot which was especially nice to see as these birds do not seem to be so common. I also saw my first Bonxie of the season though not, I suspect, the last! As I walked back up the track 2 Linnets flew into one of the bushes, the red breast of the male showing up well.

On a walk down the track from Hacco early in the month I saw a Skylark rising singing its unmistakable tune. Two Wheatears, 5 Hares and 1 Rabbit completed my tally this evening.

I had a most enjoyable - though very windy - walk later in the month down the track to Gritley then up the Geo Road and back home via the main road. Oystercatchers, Redshank, Curlews & Lapwings were very vocal and a few Rabbits entertained me. Just a few Arctic Terns were on the wing and it was lovely to see 2 of the bigger Sandwich Terns overhead. As I neared the bottom of the track there was a small group of young cattle in the field getting much attention from 8 Swallows which were flying round and round. Two landed on the fence post and what a gorgeous close view I had of them.

I wondered if the birds do this as they require mud for nest-building and perhaps associate cattle with mud? Coming back along the main road there was a Wheatear in the field and a Skylark was perched on a wall with a tasty morsel in its beak so obviously youngsters around.

The migrants seem to be a little late arriving this year, maybe due to the cold spring, but keep an eye out as there could be something worth seeing any time soon!

Pauline Wilson