Greater Yellowlegs is back, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warbler, Redstart, many Goldcrests, Brambling, Short-eared Owl, Barnacle Geese, White-tailed Eagle, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, Grey Plover, Whooper Swans & a Sabine's Gull?!?!?!?!?!
The Greater Yellowlegs-shaped hole has been filled as the Golden Welly winning wader has returned to the Loch of Strathbeg and was in its usual feeding grounds on Tower Pool and on the Pools outside the Visitor Centre this afternoon.
We hoped for much after the 45+mph easterly winds yesterday and they have delivered after James, one of our residential volunteers, and myself found a beautiful male Red-breasted Flycatcher in the Plantation!
Also in the Plantation are 1 female Pied Flycatcher, 2 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 female Redstart, many Goldcrests, 2+ Song Thrush, 1 Brambling and quite a few Robins.
If you don't know the local tracks, then the best way to check the plantation out is to walk in from St Combs, ask at the centre or the office and we'll show you the best way to go.
Whooper Swans are back here too, up to over 100 now. Arran (or Red A) the wing tagged White-tailed Eagle is still here.
Our sandpipers, the Pectorals and Buff-breasted are still here and now the Yellowlegs is back we're in a real purple patch on the Low Ground.
The first (I hope I'm right in saying it's the first) Short-eared Owl of the autumn has arrived. Me and James flushed it on our way back from the Plantation.
James had just admitted he saw a Sabine's Gull flying past when he was stalking the Red-breasted Flycatcher........so we had a SABINE'S GULL too!!!
Amazing what's been around in the last few days - madness!