How many berries?
November 12th 2016
Given the huge influx of winter thrushes this year I wondered just how many rowan berries might be available to them.
One of the smaller rowan trees in my garden, which will be 50+ years old, measures 7m tall, 5m across and has a trunk 25cm in diameter. On 10th November 2016 I counted 800+ clumps of berries on this tree and a sample of 5 clumps yielded 280 berries weighing 97gm. In round figures then the total crop of berries on that tree could be 44800, weighing around 16kg!
All measurements, other than the count and weight of the sample, are approximations, but that is still a lot of food for fieldfares and redwings, given the large number of rowans in Assynt (think of a number!).
Ian M. Evans
Recent Sightings
White-tailed Eagle
Single bird over Culkein Drumbeg (DAH). Possibly same bird seen over Bay of Stoer (Charlie Leeson) (14/08)
Red-throated Diver
Seven adult birds Clashnessie Bay and three Loch Dhrombaig (DAH) (14/08)
Marsh Harrier
Juvenile bird quartering ground, Raffin area (DAH) (14/08)
Eider
Adult female with juvenile, Bay of Stoer (Charlie Leeson) (14/08)
Red-throated Diver
Four adult birds, Clashnessie Bay (Anne Nicol) (13/08)
Redshank
At least two birds calling but flying unseen in low mist over Clashnessie Bay (DAH) (13/08)
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Single adult bird, Clashnessie Bay (DAH) (13/08)
Harbour Porpoise
Three animals off Clachtoll Broch (DAH) (13/08)
