Page 13 - Out Birding Autumn 2023

damselflies and dragonflies including 4-spo􏰀ed chaser, common blue darter and a newly emerged hairy dragonfly.
Our bu􏰀erfly count increased significantly on these more sun-dappled areas of the reserve, Comma, Common Blue, Woodland Brown and Pyrgus Skipper sp., Orange- Tip, Brimstone and Peacock.
Working our way back to the centre, we added Buzzard, Stock Dove, Moorhen, Magpie and Li􏰀le Grebe. A helpful fellow birdwatcher told us that Turtle Dove were s􏰁ll singing a li􏰀le way off so we set off on a quest to spot the bird we had heard, on and off, all day along with the Nigh􏰁ngale. We were lucky enough to have a good clear sigh􏰁ng of the Turtle Dove si􏰂ng in a tree in full sunshine, a real treat for the end of the day.
As we made our way back to the car park, a Robin sang loudly from a shed beam to remind us not to miss him from the list. Leaving the reserve, five of us paused at the Furneaux Lane pools where we were able to add Sand Mar􏰁n, Canada Goose, and Barnacle Goose.
We ended, all a li􏰀le pinker, a􏰃er a brilliant day’s birding (49 birds) in the sunshine. Thank you to John, Gavin, Joyce, Anne􏰀e, Chris, Helen, Kath and Norma for their excellent company and Mar􏰁n for leading us around this jewel of a reserve which always manages to throw up something wonderful.
Peter
Lewis - Outer Hebrides , Scotland 20 - 27/05/2023
Eight birders drew together in two self catering houses on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis (and Harris of course) on 20th May by three lots of ferries. Andy, George, Graeme (big thank you for organising!), Neil, John and I were returners, Adrian and Maureen were new to the island. The crossings had been safe but windy and a wee bit damp but even the late ferry had daylight.
An􏰁cipa􏰁on was high for seeing plenty of birds and hopefully dolphins and whales. Adrian kept the list and it included just over eighty in his count (that’s with the birds we only heard), also to be noted Adrian included ones he’d seen on his trip to the Ullapool ferry, the part he did with Graeme from S􏰁rling.
During the week we had great views of White-tailed Eagle and a clear but distant view of a Red-necked Phalarope. The Corncrake we only heard but they were o􏰃en heard. Cuckoo, Wheatear, (various) divers, Gannet , Buzzard, skuas, and Stonechat were aplenty and many others.
Our enthusias􏰁c sea watching revealed distant dolphin and whale , while great views of bonxies added to our interest. The scenery is spectacular on Lewis and our tours around all corners of the island including a trip to Tarbert (in Harris) made the week a great memory.
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