We hope this section will carry brief reports of formal and informal Club outings and activities. Please feel free to add comments and information.
Winter Wildlife Walk, Shapinsay
by MTaylor - 20:01 on 12 December 2019
It was a small group who put their faith in Megan and the weather forecast after a couple of days of stormy weather and we were duly rewarded. It was a glorious morning, the sun was shining, the wind dropping and surprisingly calm seas. On the walk to Vasa we watched a Buzzard, Redwings, Fieldfares, Stonechats and Reed Buntings. There weren't many Whoopers at Vasa, however we did find a very mobile flock of Snow Buntings (approx. 30) which we saw and heard a few times on our walk, and was one of the highlights of the day.
After a coffee stop at Vasa, we returned by the same route heading for the hide at the RSPB Mill Dam reserve where we enjoyed our lunch watching a male Hen Harrier hunting for his lunch. From the hide we saw Wigeon, Teal, Goldeneyes, Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Moorhens, Mute Swans, Greylags and Pink feets. In addition to the male Hen Harrier, we also had great views of a female Hen Harrier in the afternoon sun.
Back down at the village, the tide had dropped and as we were watching some seals frolicking a Sparrowhawk flew low along the shore. By the shop, we sat and watched the Harbour seals with a couple of Grey seals mixed in with them, and 2 herons working the tideline.
The sun was starting to set, and the air was cooling, but it was smiles all round after a fabulous day out!
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