A few sightings and notes from a visit to Caldey today. A small team visited the island as part of the long term study of the Herring Gulls there - more on productivity etc from Steve sometime. In one of the colonies a superb looking leucistic adult Herring Gull - pristine white feathers but with colouful bill and eyes. Over the years we have seen several leucistic Herring Gulls on the island. High tide as we landed and a flock of 75 Oystercatchers roosting on the sand. Three Black Swans on one of the ponds - no young to be seen. Whilst talking with Ben - the Island Manager about potential Puffin re-colonisation, he did mention he thought the Red Squirrel population was in the order of c55 individuals.
