Wednesday 31 March 2010

Wednesday 31st March 2010

The island has taken a beating from the weather over the last 36 hours, with continuous rain, then snow, with very strong cold north winds. The effect of the weather today has been: some snow, lots of flooding and no electricity for a large part of the island (most of the Rhinns). Luckily for the birds it is such a late Spring, that none of the breeding waders had started to lay eggs and hopefully the flooding will subside to allow them to get back on territory.
Whooper swans have been hitting the news again, with migration struggling to get underway. Two whooper swans radio tagged at Martin Mere have been on the move, with Gordon managing to get to Iceland over a 5 day period stopping off on Tiree for a break. The other bird Tony has made it to Islay and decided to wait out the weather. We haven't found Tony, but he should be out there somewhere.
Whooper swans have been in evidence today with 18 at Ardnave Loch. At Gruinart 2 merlins were seen hunting in windy conditions and the little egret was still present. On Loch Indaal near the Uiskentuie strand GJ spotted 3 wheatears, 2 stonechats, 1 greenshank and 23 turnstones.

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