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Birdie Group - June 2017
by Jack Macinnes - 22:17 on 30 June 2017
The U3A Bird Group assembled on the longest day to approach Marwick Head from the north and was rewarded with 22 species ( listed at the end of the report ) . The principal joy, however, was the discovery of such full bird ledges on the Head, the best for many years.
More detailed scrutiny revealed numerous razorbill chicks . Kittiwakes were also present in considerably larger numbers and again chicks were splendidly plentiful. Numerous great skuas were patrolling and a pair were enthusiastically dissecting a drowned kittiwake on the water below . Several mature gannets were a striking close flypast. As the day continued to warm even more chicks were revealed and hopes were high for a successful breeding season.
List of species seen : Arctic skua, skylark, oystercatcher, hooded crow, shelduck, tystie, curlew, meadow pipet, fulmar, razorbill, gannet, great skua, wheatear, kittiwake, guillemot, jackdaw, puffin, great black back, lapwing, swallow, swift, pied wagtail.
Certainly it was a rewarding expedition, enjoyed by all.
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