On our return to Dale Fort on Friday we were greeted with a Short-eared Owl hunting over the field – very much a jump out of the car to look moment! No sign of it since unfortunately.
On Saturday, a walk to the Gann turned up a Yellow-Legged Gull or potential hybrid, just above the footbridge. And a pair of Stonechats back on territory at Point House.
On Sunday morning around 30 Gannets and 20 Kittiwakes accompanied 50 Bottlenose Dolphins into the bay. The dolphins put on one hell of a show from Dale Fort (first sighted from our bedroom window!) feeding on herring in the bay and lingering to play for about 3 hours. The pod appeared to be a mix of ages, including mothers and calves visible breaching from the shore without any optical equipment. Dave and Lisa managed distant views from the Gann confirming the sighting wasn’t too good to be true!
On Monday morning with an avid eye on the sea we’ve seen 4 Red-necked diver, 3 Great-northern Diver, 5 Guillemots, a Razorbill, 2 Shags, and 5 Gannets. Nothing much to note from the Gann but nice to see a Red Kite circling the carpark as we arrived about 10.15am.
Oh how lovely it is to be back. Fiona Day and George Mee.
