Another glorious day on North Uist and three species added to year list in the Claddach-vallay area: a Woodpigeon was in display-flight - Peggy tells me they first arrived about three weeks ago and she has been getting one or two in her garden since; also here was a Chiffchaff along with a more unexpected ♂ Great Tit. Quite a rare visitor to the Uists and Outliers (St Kilda/Mingulay) with 13 records (14 birds) and this was our first March record.
In the afternoon over Carinish a White-tailed Eagle was being attacked by a Buzzard (a bit later four together were soaring high up) and an adult Golden Eagle drifted N. My walk was rather spoiled by the smell of smoke and huge plumes of black smoke coming from several areas of moorland. Golden Eagles are pretty unusual over Carinish, especially at this time of year, so it is hoped that another so-called muir-burn in a known territory a few days ago did not cause any disturbance.
Ness news from Tony: 'yesterday at 11.55 hours my first departing flock of Pink-footed Geese (75) came from the SE over Loch Stiapavat and headed out to sea to NW near the lighthouse. Also around the lighthouse area were two Glaucous Gulls while by dusk some seven Iceland had arrived at the roost on the Port of Ness cliffs.'
And for today: 'there were three Glaucous Gulls in the lighthouse area early this morning and a single Iceland Gull (none appeared in the evening, maybe as a result of a major improvement in the weather - up to 12 have been using the roost for 12 days from 11th-26th). At Loch Stiapavat two flocks of Pink-footed Geese arrived and later joined up (total of 82) and I saw my first Wheatear.'
In the afternoon over Carinish a White-tailed Eagle was being attacked by a Buzzard (a bit later four together were soaring high up) and an adult Golden Eagle drifted N. My walk was rather spoiled by the smell of smoke and huge plumes of black smoke coming from several areas of moorland. Golden Eagles are pretty unusual over Carinish, especially at this time of year, so it is hoped that another so-called muir-burn in a known territory a few days ago did not cause any disturbance.
Ness news from Tony: 'yesterday at 11.55 hours my first departing flock of Pink-footed Geese (75) came from the SE over Loch Stiapavat and headed out to sea to NW near the lighthouse. Also around the lighthouse area were two Glaucous Gulls while by dusk some seven Iceland had arrived at the roost on the Port of Ness cliffs.'
And for today: 'there were three Glaucous Gulls in the lighthouse area early this morning and a single Iceland Gull (none appeared in the evening, maybe as a result of a major improvement in the weather - up to 12 have been using the roost for 12 days from 11th-26th). At Loch Stiapavat two flocks of Pink-footed Geese arrived and later joined up (total of 82) and I saw my first Wheatear.'
