Members, please make submissions to info@orkneyu3a.org
u3a Photography Group - Harrold Esson Collection - 30 October, 2024u3a Walking Group One - Newark, Deerness - 25 Octoberu3a Scotland - Archaeology Group - Swandro Iron Age Siteu3a Walking Group One - Eastside, South Ronaldsay - 27 September, 2024u3a Photography Group - trip to Grantown-on-Spey - September 2024Index
Birdie Group - December 2017
by Liz Lea - 11:13 on 14 December 2017
On 13 December 2017 8 members met at the Peedie Sea (PDC). The first surprise was the complete overnight melt after two days of snow/black ice. The second was that despite heavy rain at breakfast we had almost none on our outing and even saw the sun. But it was blisteringly cold!
David Lea, on his mobility scooter, counts all the PDC birds - except gulls - several times a week so we followed him round doing the count, but also noting the gulls. A black-headed gull was beginning to look quite summery.
From there 6 of us drove to Scapa, walking from the Harbour Office to the pier and adding pipits, wagtails, waders and eiders to the PDC waterbird count. 2 bar-tailed godwits landed immediately below us, so close that we were able to see the bars on their tails and hear their bi-syllabic ' ke- veu' as they flew off.
5 of us then drove to Waulkmill hoping to find black throated divers. No luck, but we did find Slavonian grebes and we disturbed a wren.
The 3 remaining Kirkwallians diverted down to Inganess and , before being driven back into the car by a sharp wintery shower, located a stonechat.
All- in-all, a highly enjoyable winter outing, seeing 33 species.
Happy Christmas everyone and all best wishes for 2018. We missed Bev and Beryl and hope it won't be too long before both are able to return to the fray.
Add your comment
Please note that whenever you submit something which may be publicly shown on a website you should take care not to make any statements which could be considered defamatory to any person or organisation.