NT
On the 14th July:
1976
An evening visit to the Marshfield area, where in a crop field, at about 9pm, we heard Quail, one was very close with another 4 further in the field. It took over half an hour to see the close bird, even with a tape, a new bird for us.
1977
Again we stayed in the hostel in Uyeasound overnight, in the morning on a look around the bay we saw 23 Ringed Plovers, a Redshank, 2 Red-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver, a Black Guillemot, 9 Eiders, a Twite and 2 Rock Pipits.
Then we left for the ferry to Yell, on Yell we caught the bus to Mainland and asked the driver to stop at the turning for Ronas Hill which is in the far northwest of the island. A little used road we walked a lot of the way, getting a lift for part of it and eventually getting to the minor road which led to the hill. Here we found a hut for milk churns and decided to spend the night, but it was only just about big enough for two, so Detlef had to sleep outside. On the journey there we saw lots of Red-throated Divers, Golden Plovers, Arctic and Great Skuas, Curlews, Snipe and Wheatears.
Pale phase Arctic Skuas by Laurel Tucker.
Dark phase Arctic Skua
Pale phase Arctic Skua
Bonxie or Great Skua.
1983
A drive north to Eckington Bridge where we saw 2 Marsh Warblers, 2 Reed Warblers, 4 Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 5 Turtle Doves and at least 3 Spotted Flycatchers.
1997
On a sound recording trip to the Picos de Europa Mountains in Northwest Spain.
2020
My first visit to Slimbridge since it has reopened, only limited entry due to the Coronavirus situation. On the Rushy there was a Green Sandpiper and several Lapwings, there were small numbers all around the site. Then to the Zeiss Hide from where I saw 2 more Green Sandpipers, 2 pairs of Avocets with chicks, a pair of Little Ringed Plovers with 2 juveniles, an almost summer plumaged Spotted Redshank and 30+ Dunlin, most still with black bellies. Then a walk through the newly created reed-bed walkway, seeing lots of Reed Warblers, which were common around most of the site.
Then to the South Lake hide, from where there were more Avocets, 50+ Black-tailed Godwits, 20+ Redshanks, 2 more Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Ruff still showing some summer plumage, a Knot, 3 Egyptian Geese, a Kingfisher and an adult and a juvenile Great Crested Grebe.
Egyptian Geese
Juvenile Great Crested Grebe