A weekend visit to Holy Island,started with 4 Whooper Swans on mudflats at Beal( mistakenly reported as 44). A Little Egret,now a regular feature fished the shallows here. A walk from Chare Ends to the village via the Lough and Lonnens, proved prouctive. The fields were alive with Linnets,Reed Buntings and Skylarks , all put to the air by a passing Merlin and two Kestrels. Perhaps 250 Linnets were present and easily, 60 Skylarks. A good number of House Sparrows here too. A flash pool contained 19 Teal,several Mallard and a Grey Heron.12 now seemingly resident island Roe Deer lay in the warm sun.
At the Lough 5 splendid Bearded Tits were present,a rare county visitor,most often in winter and along the Straight Lonnen,among 25 migrant Blackbirds and 9 Song Thrushes, was a juvenile Ring Ousel-all feeding on the abundant berries. On what was a superb,warm,sunny day, the Lonnen was very busy with dog-walkers,ramblers and even mountain bikers,as I watched a flock of feeding Goldfinches,as they tried to settle.In the village, a Yellow browed Warbler showed well in the Vicar’s garden. A report of three here earlier in the day. A single Brambling noted and several Goldcrests. A late Swallow was enjoyed as I lunched,as it hawked for insects up and down the road at the Straight Lonnen farm,where around 120 House Sparrows was a good count. Then a single House Martin over the village-plenty of flying prey for these late hirundines to enjoy today. A walk out over the Pilgrim’s Way area later, took me close to a flock of perhaps 1,500 Golden Plover,600 Knot,750 Bar tailed Godwits and numerous Dunlin and Redshanks. As the tide edged closer, it brought with it a large flock of Brent Geese,mainly of the usual pale bellied variety,but 20 dark bellied noted too.Feeding on the Eel Grass,there appeared to be well over 2,500 birds, many calling as they ate.
Down to Budle,where 250 Barnacle Geese grazed the fields at high tide and perhaps twice that number of Shelduck in the bay. A Peregrine spotted at what is a very reliable site in Autumn/winter for them. On to Stag Rocks,and a roost of 37-40 Purple Sandpipers,with 50 Oystercatchers was a good count. A Slavonian Grebe and several Red throated Divers offshore,then a pair of Sandwich Terns slowly drifted south. Gannets, Kittiwakes and Shags seen here and several Guillemots and a Puffin too.
A.S.Jack