Northern Gannet
Today started very dull and cloudy so no hope of a decent sunrise! As is typical of my luck, it remained dull until I returned home, whereby it started to brighten and as I write this, there is blue sky and sunshine! Best birds for me this morning were several Stonechats, Blackcaps, a very grey but brief Chiffchaff, many thrush species and a Brambling heard. A few Fulmars are lingering off the cliffs and thousands of Gannets remain, most in flight now but some still on the ledges, and a few Gugas. I have decided to no longer target birds but to see and enjoy what I see on my walks. I rarely see the "rarities" even when, on receiving a message I head straight to the location and arrive within minutes of the report! Usually, there are no birders either! I do not enjoy distant dots that could be anything or reports of a call heard. All images courtesy of my Sony RX10!
When a Gannet is about to move or fly, it indicates it's intention by "sky pointing". This is then followed by the "Geronimo" jump accompanied by a long, low call! As shown below.
Most of the Gannet young, Guga's, have left the cliffs, some are ready to depart and others have a week or so of parental services to go
Mature Gannets
Gannet Gang
Good numbers of Redwings can be found in the wooded, berried areas of the reserve
Check out the Blackbirds, some are referred to as continental, males have a black bill rather than yellow
A couple of Herring Gulls
It is the middle of autumn and thoughts of "Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness" come to mind. However, with no mists, I tried my best to capture a little "fruitfulness"! It was rather hard!
'till next time...
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