Fulmars of Fowlsheugh

Although I was tempted to hang around for another Osprey session, a visit to RSPB Fowlsheugh was planned, so we set off for the coast at Stonehaven. The drive via Tomintoul, Ballater and Banchory  is very pleasant, taking in a trip over the Lecht. With the snow gone the roads were almost deserted and birds were also few and far between, just a few Red Grouse monitoring our progress.

Martin and I had visited Fowlsheugh back in March and were amazed how many birds had already arrived so I was keen to revisit later in the season. Bird numbers had multiplied and the noise from thousands of Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Razorbills, Fulmars and Gulls was phenomenal.

Our target was close up views of Puffins, sadly not to be as Liz managed to find only one, and that was a long way off and eventually did a Houdini.. So we settled down on the cliff top, out of the wind and I attempted flight shots of what ever was passing by. We had failed miserably to capture Fulmars in flight back in March but today's conditions were much more helpful. So were the birds, circling the cliffs and coming within almost touching distance.  

 

 

As I said - they do come close!

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

Thousands of Kittiwakes are present

Compared with Kittiwakes and Fulmars, Herring Gulls have an "evil" look

 I guess because this is not an over visited reserve the birds are more approachable.

 

Living in close proximity creates problems

 

Photography of flying Auks is virtually impossible.

I could sit and observe Razorbills for hours, I can empathise with their apparent grumpiness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auks

Day 9 Fowlsheugh

It is not often that we get a whole RSPB reserve to ourselves - but today we did!

As we were again breaking the journey into two stages we decided to do some birding on the way to our overnight stay. Martin suggested a visit to RSPB Fowlsheugh near Stonehaven, a venue he has previously visited. We didn't think much would be on the cliffs yet, but we thought that Fulmar and Kittiwake might be on the cards. How wrong can you be, mid March and the nesting ledges were already covered in Auks. Not only that, out on the sea, great rafts of them all preparing for the forthcoming mating season. Razorbills had already started displaying and bonding and the Guillemots were not far behind.

Just a vertical cliff of conglomerate and sandstone with sparse volcanic rocks (The Old Red Sandstone) jutting out into the sea - take a closer look.

The reserve is the narrow path following the cliff - mind the edge.

 

 

 

 

  



A few Fulmars in residence.

 

 

 

 

 

  

The Farnes - Inner Farne

Inner Farne is Tern Central, hundreds if not thousands of Arctic Terns all involved in frenetic pairing activity. Just a few weeks from now walking up the path from the quay will be fraught with danger, wearing a hat will be essential and even that may not be enough to protect you from a severe pecking. However, today it was all about giving the loved one a nice fish, or in some cases, peddling a fish around the tern bazaars to try and tempt any mate who might be interested. There are also both Common Terns and Sandwich Terns present in much smaller numbers.

 

 

 Eider Ducks also nest here, most of them close to the footpath but not necessarily in plain view. The females are superbly camouflaged and blend into the surrounding vegetation. The males just loaf around on the rocks - well they have earned a rest considering all the hard work they have put into breeding.

The usual suspects are present in smaller numbers than on Staple, Puffin, Razorbill and Guillemot are nesting. Even several Black-headed Gulls have managed to nest in what is tern chaos.