After a hard days work and you just want to go for a small easy walk then Buness is the place to go. Its just a short walk from the observatory which in the summer you have most of the breeding seabirds nesting amongst the colourful flowers which supports the amazing scenery.
Buness in early spring
On my last walk up there, it was such a pleasant afternoon but quite chilly with a fresh north easterly wind. I came across the very small Tern colony but I did not stay for long as I did not want to disturb them. Arctic Terns has declined each year after a big crash in 2002. Back then we had around 2700 pairs nesting on the island but at chick stage, Their main food source (sand eels) disappeared letting thousands of chicks starve to death. Only 6 chicks survived which was quite devestating at the time. Since then, they have been struggling and it looks like 2011 is going to be another bad year for this long distance migrant.
Arctic Tern
known as The Sea Swallow.
Moving on to the incredible Puffin colony at the south of Buness, The cliff tops were carpeted with Sea pinks known as Thrift which provides interesting colours when its set around yellow lichen rocks and the black soil. As I tried to sit on the colourful cliff top, I heard a noise as if someone was behind me but there was nobody there but when I looked down there was burrow.
An Occupied Puffin Burrow
On closer inspection, this is what I came across
The Resident
We watched each other for several minutes before I could hear its feet and watched it disappear deeper in to the burrow. This is just one of those encounters which I will not forget in a long while.
Shortly after, sat amongst the puffins, I found this individual
getting rid of his winter coat
Its very common across the island to find Puffins making homes amongst Rabbit colonies. Puffins are known to use old rabbit burrows and can take over occupied ones.
After breakfast, Johan 'Starling researcher' came running up the road to with a big bird bag, Instead of catching Starlings in the crow trap, He came back with a jet black Carrion Crow, A new ringing tick for him and the first time I have seen this species in the hand, This stroppy female stayed around the Obs and Buness for the rest of the day.
From baking all morning making soft Bread, Tea Loafs, Short Bread and Sticky Ginger Cake, I headed straight out after Lunch to the Havens and Buness just a short walk away from the observatory. I found the 1st Common Tern of the year as it dived and fed on Lesser Sand Eels.
Hopefully this main food source will be plentyful this year so the seabirds will have a very good breeding season.
Record shot of Lesser Sand Eels
A male Common Scoter fed in the entrance of the harbour while a female Goldeneye fed close by the white sandy beach. The Ringed Plover was joined by a second as a pair of Oystercatcher's continued to make there presence known though there high pitched calls. I continued up onto Buness taking notes of any birds just incase David could not make it on there to finnish his census, Just on the other side of Buness, A Common Seal was having a good jolly relax on the Rocks at the bottom, It was a very photogenic Seal as you will be able to see from the picture below.
Headed down from Buness to the Pier as I watched a Willow Warbler feed on the cliffs around the Good Shepherd. In the full sunshine, This lovely warbler bursted in to song, This is one of my favourite songs of alll time and will certainly brighten up anybodies day!
