dafi
Well-known member
Our trip to day took us down a brand new access path to the south end of the loch of Isbister. For those of you familliar with Orkney this is the RSPB loch that is just visible from The Loons hide on the western end of the loons reserve. The loch and loons area is a fantastic area of wetland mire with nationally important numbers of breeding Pintail and widgeon. Access has always been restricted to a roadside viewing point and one hide so the new path is a boon.
On arrival we cross two fields on the sight of the ww2 air field and immediately see our first birds. Sky larks are singing away staking their territories. Ten seperate birds are singing and what a spring time welcome they are!. Onward to the lochside. In the distance the sky is alive with large flocks of Golden plover,Oystercatcher,Curlew and Dunlin Although we cant see whats putting them up its a sure bet theres a raptor out there some where. The fields around are heaving with geese. West of us are Barnicle and past them are pinkfeet,on the side of Yonbell hill are Greaylag and above them some whiteface with the jewel in the crown a real Snow goose - no plastic escapee this one!.
On the loch there areTufted ,Widgeon,Teal,Pintail,Shoveller,Shellduck,Mallard,Potchard and Goldeneye. Along the lochside large numbers of Oystercatcher[their numbers starting to build now]Lapwing,and Golden Plover. Above us among the flights of wild fowl Snipe are very evident along with a large flock of Dunlin which are nice to see away from the shore. As its lunch time we head for the other side of the reserve to have our sarnies at the loons hide.
We settle in for a munch and a spy. The Snow goose is evident in the distance and just over the reed beds a Peregrine is preening on a fence post. On the water a Dabchick is diving and feeding, a pleasing sight cos its an unusual bird on these waters. A Gadwall is spied, a few mallards, thirty or so Lapwing and a few Curlew. An over flight by a male Hen Harrier causes a little confusion but hardly warrants a turn of the head from the Peregrine. With that its off to the shore at Birsay.
This beach is west facing to the Atlantic and can be super spectacular with big seas running. Today is fairly calm though. We head off from the graveyard at the south end and head toward the village. Oystercatchers speckle the rocks along with groups of Purple Sandpiper and a few Redshank. We have arrived shortly before high tide so the birds have been pushed up the shore towards us. Moving along we are looking for a flock of snowbunting that have been on the links for days but search as we might thay are nowhere to be seen. Just inland hoodies harass a Raven. High speed flights of ringed plover shoot around us as we pass through their display ground[magic]. Good numbers of Turnstone are all along the shore while hauled up on rocks a few young seals bask like bananas one still sporting its cute white coat. Out in the bay a large raft of Widgeon float happily about with five Merganser some Eider and two Shag. On the shore a small group of Rock Pippet forage in the tang. Arriving at our destination of Buckquoy Point we see a Razorbill - one of the first Auks to arrive back.
With that its time to head home, stopping off on the way at the Orkney Brewery ponds to see Orkneys only Ruddy Duck, add that to the Long tails[and four Icelands] we saw in Kirkwall on the way out and we have seen thirteen types of duck and five types of goose with Snowgoose a lifer for me . A cracking six hours.
On arrival we cross two fields on the sight of the ww2 air field and immediately see our first birds. Sky larks are singing away staking their territories. Ten seperate birds are singing and what a spring time welcome they are!. Onward to the lochside. In the distance the sky is alive with large flocks of Golden plover,Oystercatcher,Curlew and Dunlin Although we cant see whats putting them up its a sure bet theres a raptor out there some where. The fields around are heaving with geese. West of us are Barnicle and past them are pinkfeet,on the side of Yonbell hill are Greaylag and above them some whiteface with the jewel in the crown a real Snow goose - no plastic escapee this one!.
On the loch there areTufted ,Widgeon,Teal,Pintail,Shoveller,Shellduck,Mallard,Potchard and Goldeneye. Along the lochside large numbers of Oystercatcher[their numbers starting to build now]Lapwing,and Golden Plover. Above us among the flights of wild fowl Snipe are very evident along with a large flock of Dunlin which are nice to see away from the shore. As its lunch time we head for the other side of the reserve to have our sarnies at the loons hide.
We settle in for a munch and a spy. The Snow goose is evident in the distance and just over the reed beds a Peregrine is preening on a fence post. On the water a Dabchick is diving and feeding, a pleasing sight cos its an unusual bird on these waters. A Gadwall is spied, a few mallards, thirty or so Lapwing and a few Curlew. An over flight by a male Hen Harrier causes a little confusion but hardly warrants a turn of the head from the Peregrine. With that its off to the shore at Birsay.
This beach is west facing to the Atlantic and can be super spectacular with big seas running. Today is fairly calm though. We head off from the graveyard at the south end and head toward the village. Oystercatchers speckle the rocks along with groups of Purple Sandpiper and a few Redshank. We have arrived shortly before high tide so the birds have been pushed up the shore towards us. Moving along we are looking for a flock of snowbunting that have been on the links for days but search as we might thay are nowhere to be seen. Just inland hoodies harass a Raven. High speed flights of ringed plover shoot around us as we pass through their display ground[magic]. Good numbers of Turnstone are all along the shore while hauled up on rocks a few young seals bask like bananas one still sporting its cute white coat. Out in the bay a large raft of Widgeon float happily about with five Merganser some Eider and two Shag. On the shore a small group of Rock Pippet forage in the tang. Arriving at our destination of Buckquoy Point we see a Razorbill - one of the first Auks to arrive back.
With that its time to head home, stopping off on the way at the Orkney Brewery ponds to see Orkneys only Ruddy Duck, add that to the Long tails[and four Icelands] we saw in Kirkwall on the way out and we have seen thirteen types of duck and five types of goose with Snowgoose a lifer for me . A cracking six hours.
