Despite the rain and 30 knot wind I ventured to Ferry Bridge for this mornings ebb, but there was little to report. Of the 53 medium size Gulls 23 were Mediterranean, along with 51 Ringed Plover, 103 Dunlin and 19 Turnstone.
So, on that note back to Buchan Alpha
With such massive migrations on some occasions, it was inevitable that some birds were going to be easily caught due to exhaustion. North Sea Bird Club policy on such matters was in general to leave them to their own devices. However, in making our own judgments at the time many birds were thought to have been saved. With cooperation from our helicopter carriers (Bond, Bristow and British International) we were able to send many individuals ashore for release - see Peregrine Falcon of yesterday. In addition, corpses were of great value and after biometrics had been taken by the NSBC, selected skins were sent to Aberdeen University and skeletons to the Edinburgh Natural History Museum. This latter practice was cut short by the spread of Bird Flu with several valuable specimens lost to science.
So, on that note back to Buchan Alpha
With such massive migrations on some occasions, it was inevitable that some birds were going to be easily caught due to exhaustion. North Sea Bird Club policy on such matters was in general to leave them to their own devices. However, in making our own judgments at the time many birds were thought to have been saved. With cooperation from our helicopter carriers (Bond, Bristow and British International) we were able to send many individuals ashore for release - see Peregrine Falcon of yesterday. In addition, corpses were of great value and after biometrics had been taken by the NSBC, selected skins were sent to Aberdeen University and skeletons to the Edinburgh Natural History Museum. This latter practice was cut short by the spread of Bird Flu with several valuable specimens lost to science.
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The day ended at JD Weatherspoon's pub The William Henry. Daragh Croxson and I started sharing an occasional steak and a pint together some months ago, now our numbers have swollen to 5. Paul Harris, Peter Coe and John Down joined us last evening, a great laugh and time was enjoyed by all.