Sunday 19 March 2023

Sunday 19th March

Derek Polley reports on another boat trip from Ballycastle today to Ardnave and Gruinart. It sounded like the wet morning was a bit of a wash-out, but a much better afternoon. He was happy with views of “loads of Barnacles and White-fronts - where we are seeing 6 is good”

At Gruinart this afternoon a ringtail Hen Harrier flew past the front of the hide, then 3 Golden Eagles over the hills directly opposite the hide. Finally a White-tailed Eagle gave stunning views over the field between the hide and the visitor centre. It flew within 50 m of the hide. His verdict: “absolute stonking megatick”.

Other news came in from Derek Killick who enjoyed a couple of dippers and a pair of Grey Wagtails on the Sorn at the Woollen Mill. Later a Slavonian Grebe in full breeding plumage in Loch Indaal off Bowmore was a fine sight. Ed Burrell noted his first returning Lesser Black-backed Gulls of the year at Cornabus, where Lynn & Steve Rogers found Woodcock amongst other species.

Both Ed Burrell and Jim Dickson reminded us of a recent influx of Alpine Swifts into the UK. Many of them are in the west, and one was seen on Mull on 16th. The weather looks not very conducive to make a swift of any species very happy, but do keep an eye up towards the sky…………………

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