Trip reports

Day trip to Shellness

Barn owl looking over its shoulder

Wednesday, 22 November 2006

Thanks to a good weather forcast 12 members met for a morning walk to Shellness. After a quick raid on the bakery we set off finding a good variety of waders: dunlin, oyster catcher, black tailed godwit, bar tailed godwit, redshank, knot and turnstone. We also found brent goose, shelduck, herring gull, greater black backed gull, common gull, lesser black backed gull, black headed gull and cormoront. In the fields there were large flocks of lapwing, golden plover and starling which attracted the attention of a fast moving peregrine falcon.

In the afternoon we regrouped at the raptor watch point on the Harty Ferry Road. Here we were treated to excellent views of marsh harrier, hen harrier, corn bunting, a green sandpiper and barn owl. In total we found 54 species. A very enjoyable day.