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Photography Group One 1st May 2024
Ten of us met at the roadside Car Park in Finstown on a day with little wind and some low cloud but with the sun trying to get through. We set off to the Community Garden where we found lots of lovely colourful flowers out as well as tree buds bursting forth. The Burn was a great source of images.
Jocky Wood was painting a new picnic bench with the appropriately titled Wood Stain! He does a great deal of the work on the garden as well as his own just up the hill opposite.
Six of us then headed for Binsgarth Woods.
The track was muddy in places but the spring flowers were out all the way. There was Pink Purselaine, Wild Garlic, Wood Anemone, and the invasive Salmon Berry. Since the tree leaves were not blanketing the light, one was able to get good photos close up. The Burn had lots of interesting tree roots and hanging tyres and ropes from the kids' dare devil antics. Then it was back to the shop for rolls and along to Tom's house for a cuppa and a nice piece of cake. Thank you very much for that Tom and all the stories too.
The next meeting will be going to Westray on Wednesday 29th May for the day. Arrangement will be made nearer the time.
All in all a lovely morning, taking time to look at the flowers and listen to the Wrens, Willow Warblers, Chaffinches and Robins singing in the woods.
Keep clicking.
Walking Group One 25th April 2024
Five hardy souls collected today at Happy Valley for the first Hill Walk of the year .The temperature was cool with a North Easterly wind blowing and a hint of rain on arrival.
Off we set heading towards Russadale Quarry, spotting a Buzzard on the way.Turning into the footpath we remained sheltered from the wind all the way to the top of the hill.
The sun was out at the Quarry and a Greenshank was feeding at the edge of the Lochan. Then it was up the Peat road to the summit with spectacular views across Stenness and Harray Lochs, plus a view of the Closed Road beyond the Watch Stone. On the other side we looked over the Flow and down towards the Oil Platform and South Ronaldsay
Then it was back down after a stop for a snack and finally a walk around Happy Valley itself. The Daffodils planted by James and others were looking lovely and the Bluebells are days away from opening. Then it was on to a well deserved lunch at the Pier Cafe, having walked 4 miles and gone up 800 feet (and down again )
The next walk will be on Friday 24th May and hopefully more hills and views.
Keep moving.
U3A Birdie Group - September 2019
by Judy & David - 07:58 on 20 September 2019
On Wednesday 18th September ten of us took the ferry to Rousay to enjoy a walking tour of the Trumland Nature Reserve guided by Christine, the RSPB Warden.
The trail leading up to Knitchen Hill was occasionally steep and slippery, providing a challenge in parts. There were relatively few birds to be seen up the hill at this stage of the season but a reward for the exertion was a fine view of the north isles and Fair Isle during a lunch break at the summit. A buzzard was seen as we descended by the alternative route and several fulmars paid us close attention.
After a brief refreshment break at the Craft Hub we made a circular tour of the island by car, stopping at frequent intervals to see a profusion of birds at lower levels, on the coast and at Wasdale Loch. As always on our outings some folks spot more species than others but they help the group to see and (hopefully) learn a little more of the 43 or so recorded on the trip, which were:
The pier to Trumland Reserve: Starlings, House Sparrow, Wren, Meadow Pipit, Wood Pigeon, Caffinch, Robin, Stonechat 3 juveniles, Hoodie, Wheatear, Mallard, Buzzard
Judy and Peter: Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Diver, Cormorant
Drive around the island: Great Black-Back Gull, Stonechat (again), Grey Heron 2, Fulmar, Common Gulls, Kestrel 1 male
Wasbister Loch: Mute Swan, Curlew, Pied Wagtail, about 100 Lapwings! Swallow, Wigeons, Greylags, a mixed flock of about 50 birds of Linnets and Twites, 4 Snipes, Mallards (again) and Teals
Near the Coast: Ringed Plovers, Oystercatchers, Gannets, Redshank, Rock Doves about 35, Turnstone, Short-Eared Owl, Kestrel (again), Ringtail (Hen Harrier), Raven
West Ness: more Teals, Moorhen, Gadwall male, more Curlews, Shag
On the point on Eynhallow: large numbers of Cormorants or a mix of Shag and Cormorant
Between Westness and the Pier: a buzzard, (same as seen earlier?)
On the pier: Kittiwakes and From the boat: Eiders
Many thanks to Sally for compiling the record of our collective sightings and to Christine (RSPB) for her expert guidance.
Further details of the next outing will be circulated nearer the time.
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