Dawn's Weblog

RSPB Belfast Harbour Reserve

Once again I had to go away on business, this time to Glasgow. So early this morning the scope and bins were put in the car in the hope that the flight would be on time and I could call round to the Reserve. And it was! Unfortunately the light wasn't any better than last week, but at least the wind wasn't blowing straight into the hide. Birds of prey are frequently seen at the Reserve, but with the exception of a kestrel quite some time again my visits and theirs never seemed to have synchronised. The drought was broken tonight with a common buzzard. Whilst I appreciate that this isn't a rare bird I think I was as excited as the first time I saw a buzzard. Other birds seen - mute swan, mallard, shelduck, scaup, teal, wigeon, black-tailed godwits, grey heron, lapwing, black-headed gull, lesser black-backed gull, greater black-backed gull, herring gull, glaucous gull, coot, moorhen, dunlin, golden plover, curlew, jackdaw, hooded crow, carrion crow, magpie, common sandpiper, snipe, and little grebe. Didn't see any small birds. But, as with last week, plenty of rabbits.

Got a couple of nice photos (for me) of some of the shelduck. Still haven't got the PC sorted out.