Handa Island did not disappoint - weather was glorious - blue skies, blue seas and a breeze. An 0700 departure from Inverness in shared cars meant our group of 14 (including two youngsters) arrived at Handa ferry by 0930. There was already a queue and we were the third trip across. The last ferry back would be at 3.30pm. On arrival to the island we were told the last ferry would be 2.45pm!! Tide and wind?? Time was short.
Great Skua (Sue Seright)
At the sandy beach the sound of Arctic Terns filled the air. A volunteer warden gave a brief greet and meet before we headed out towards the Great Stack. By the ruined village (deserted during the potato famine) Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Wren, Dunnock and Reed Bunting were noted in the scrub, whilst overhead Great and Arctic Skuas were wheeling around – pairing up, displaying and calling. There seemed much evidence of Bonxies although we were told their numbers had crashed from 200 pairs to 60 pairs due to avian flu. Most of the Arctics were dark phase. A Red-throated Diver flew over calling. (It was later seen on the fresh water lochan with at least 8 Bonxies. The warden assured us that the divers do sometimes succeed in raising young). Our party divided – some going clockwise, some anticlockwise with board walk most of the way. Redpolls were heard and a male Stonechat spotted. As well as birdlife, the spring flowers were in flower – patches of primrose, violet, thrift on the cliffs with milkwort, and lousewort. Approaching the coast facing the Atlantic – a raft of birds was seen – feeding and settling and then taking off like a snowstorm - Kittiwakes.
L to R: Arctic Skua (Josh Allan), Kittiwake (Josh Allan), Puffin nest-building (Phil Wilson)
By now auks were in evidence and we all spent some time overlooking the Great Stack with nesting Guillemots, Razorbills, Fulmars, Herring and Great black-backed gulls and a handful, only, of Puffins. The Puffins were busy pulling up vegetation and creeping into holes nest building. Back across the moor, Skylarks were in full song with the occasional Meadow Pipit and some pristine Wheatears.
Waiting at the jetty for the return trip a Ringed plover was seen. Back on the mainland, a Sedge Warbler was in song, a Common Sandpiper trilled and Greenfinches, Goldfinches and a Song Thrush were noted. All in all, an excellent trip with 45 species logged.
Mary Galloway
Waiting at the jetty for the return trip a Ringed plover was seen. Back on the mainland, a Sedge Warbler was in song, a Common Sandpiper trilled and Greenfinches, Goldfinches and a Song Thrush were noted. All in all, an excellent trip with 45 species logged.
Mary Galloway
RSS Feed
