π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ Friday 3rd May 2024 π€ 14C ~ Wind NE @ 8MPH ~ I spent a few hours at RSPB Loch of Strathbeg this morning. A couple of Corn Buntings were singing along the phone wires as I passed the Crimond cemetery, and a Stonechat perched briefly along the entrance road to the reserve. Strathbeg has a large colony of Tree Sparrows and several were on the feeders as I parked.
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| One of the many Tree Sparrows at Strathbeg |
A quick check through the screens at the visitor center picked up a male Garganey that had been seen on site for the past week. After that, I made my way around to the bench to have a look over Starnafin Pools.
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| Record image of the Drake Garganey. |
The Garganey was quite distant, but I managed to take a few record shots of it while it was busy preening. Scanning the pools there were hardly any waders around, except for a few Lapwings. However, I did manage to note down Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, and Gadwall.
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| Pectoral Sandpiper ~ My first Nearctic of the year. |
I then suddenly came across a distant medium-sized wader which I didn't recognise immediately. The bird was brown-toned overall with yellowish legs but when it turned toward me it revealed dense breast streaking with an abrupt border and white belly, a Pectoral Sandpiper! My first Nearctic species of the year and more pleasing a self-found bird!
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| Linnet |
I spent an hour at the bench recording Marsh Harrier, and a couple of Ospreys drifted over at a distance. There were plenty of Swallows, along with a few House Martins. During my walk to the Dunbar Hide, several Willow Warbler, Linnet, Tree Sparrows, Yellowhammer, Meadow Pipits, a Blackcap, and Skylarks. The reedbeds held at least five Sedge Warblers and a few Reed Buntings, but the low ground was particularly quiet, save for four Grey Herons.
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| Green-veined White |
With the relative warmth, I also recorded my first Green-veined White butterfly of the year.
