Hello Fowlsheugh Blog. I am Tom Simon the current Intern for the RSPB Grampian Reserves. This is my second visit to Fowlsheugh and it was a memorable one.
The main purpose of our visit was to replace the stakes on the cliff tops which we will tie ourselves to when carrying out breeding bird surveys. I myself will be doing Kittiwakes and the general feeling was it was quite quiet for the time of year.
My favourite bird though was here and the Razorbills were courting all over the cliffs, with their low grating call resonating from their selected crags. Guillemots are re-colonising the cliffs also but there were many in large rafts just offshore.
A Puffin had made it to land but we were too late to see it disappear into its burrow near the shelter and the recent sightings board in the shelter itself told us that 6 Puffins had been seen on the water in the cove.
Towards the end of the day I was collecting up the old stakes to take back to the truck when I saw 3 Bottlenose Dolphins swimming close to the shore. After a while more small groups passed with about 15 in total coming into view and making my day complete! Dolphins were a new experience for me so close and calm under the cliffs just slowly making their way north.
The other wildlife of note was the Green-veined White butterflies that we had near the bridge over the stream on the way down from the road and up to the shelter.
Quite a tiring day but I can’t wait for my 3rd visit!