Monday 18 July 2011

Recent Highlights

The breeding season is at the end now, with many birds leaving the islands for their first winter.

As our birds leave we are starting to get a few interesting birds to pass by.

The first highlight was a Honey Buzzard which drifted pat the Inner Farne on the 18th May and only the 9th for the islands.

A Red-breasted Flycatcher arrived on The Brownsman on 26th May. Only the fourth ever spring record.

We have has 3 Spoonbills so far and the first 2 were spotted flying past the bow of the boat on the 28th May and I nearly fell of the seat. Great sight. The other was spotted on Longstone Island on the 15th June.

A Black-headed Bunting was discovered on Staple Island on 31st May and showed well for a few hours. This was the fifth bird for the islands following birds in 1971, 1999, 2004 and 2009.

A Black Tern on the Inner Farne and good numbers of Manx Shearwaters flying north through Staple Sound.

We were also lucky to see 2 Great Crested Grebe's flying north. Over the last few days we have seen a few Harbour Porpoise, Bottle-nose Dolphins, 70 Common Scoter's,  Purple Sandpiper's, Knots, Turnstone's, Golden Plovers, top count was 90+, and 8 Arctic Skua's.



Yesterday on the way home about 5pm we saw 2 Red-throated Divers flying south and 1 Great Northern Diver also flying south.
Things are now starting to move around so hopefully we will get to see some nice things soon.

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