Today lacked the rare birds we've gotten used to recently, which gave us a bit of time to dedicate to the island activities you don't hear about as much on the blog. The pumpkins were mulched, the rest of the sunflowers we've been growing were planted in the observatory garden and the first island football match of the year was held down on the Narrows. It was a nail-biting game full of wonder goals and well-timed tackles, but in the end the visiting guests beat the islanders 12-8. We let them win obviously.
Other birds noted today included 10 Fulmars, 920 Manx Shearwaters, 8 Gannets, the Grey Heron, a Sparrowhawk, a Buzzard, a Kestrel, a Ringed Plover, a Lapwing, a Sanderling, 21 Dunlins, a Whimbrel, a Curlew, 10 Turnstones, 133 Kittiwakes, 29 Puffins, a Collared Dove, a Little Owl, 15 Swifts, nine House Martins, ten Stonechats, 14 Wheatears, five Sedge Warblers, two Blackcaps, seven Chiffchaffs, two Willow Warblers, 12 Spotted Flycatchers, five Chaffinches, five Goldfinches, 21 Linnets and a Lesser Redpoll.
The Thrift is starting to look its best. One of the most evocative plants of spring on the West coast.
This evening's sea haze meant that the sun almost manage to sneak below the horizon without anyone noticing. A small orange orb lingering briefly far out into the Irish Sea was all we got.
No comments:
Post a Comment