Saturday, 28 April 2012

It's been a wry old start



Wryneck - one of three on islands in recent days (Graeme Duncan) 

A cracker - male Redstart (Graeme Duncan) 

Last of the Barnacle Geese heading east (Graeme Duncan) 

The breeding season continues - nesting Eider (David Steel)


Saturday 28th April comments: The northerly backed winds continue to cause problems for us on the islands as today (Saturday) brought our fourth consecutive day of closure. The team remain island bound as we welcomed our last visitors on Tuesday, which now feels like something of a distant memory.

Regardless of the lack of visitors, we still have a job to do and a job we have done. Today we concentrated on the accommodation on the islands as Brownsman kitchen was painted whilst the work shed was cleaned and spruced up for the summer. We also took the opportunity to complete some concreting - the rangers are certainly 'jacks of all trades'.

On the islands, the strong wind and glorious sunshine has helped our Puffin population and hopefully we’ve seen the last of the heavy rain. The breeding season continues to advance with news filtering out that we have our first Razorbill on eggs whilst Arctic Terns continue to display over breeding colonies. Migrant birds also continue to impress with two Wrynecks together on Staple Island while a splash of colour was brought to the islands in the form of a male Redstart.

On a final note, the forecast looks dreadful for a few more days, so where not out of the woods yet. April has been such a disappointment for visiting the islands, lets hope the month of May is better!

Friday and Saturday highlights:
Barnacle Geese 7E on 28th

Moorhen - the long staying adult remains on Inner Farne
Wryneck 2 on the outer group on 27th-28th – seen together on Staple Island

Redstart 2 on 27th-28th including an impressive male

Ring Ouzel male on 27th

Snow Bunting male on Inner Farne on 27th

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