Welcome to my birding blog - first launched 12th March 2012...
12th-19th October 2019
The Findhorn valley looking North
I travelled up to Scotland from York calling at 3 planned stops: the first was at Frankfield Loch east of Glasgow to see a blue-winged teal. Unfortunately it didn't show itself although it may have been dozing among the undergrowth at the far side of the loch along with all the other wildfowl. I pressed on!
Next I called at the Kelpies as I'd always wanted to see them.
Nearby I visited the boat lift known as the Falkirk Wheel but I didn't stay too long as I was running a bit late and it was throwing it down!
Day1: 13/10
My adventure really begins! Loch Garten RSPB to try and see some crested tits. The coal tits were tame enough to feed from the hand!
'Cresties' turned up on the feeders...
...but I don't like feeder photos very much so I was pleased to get this shot...
Carrbridge for a coffee.The old bridge was built [so I was told] so that the dead could be buried on the other side of the river, well away from the village. Must have been a precarious last trip!
We headed for Strathdearn and the Findhorn Valley.
I love the Findhorn valley. The light is ever changing and the wildlife always has the potential to surprise. Dippers were spotted on the river as we headed for the end of the road.
Collared doves even found here!
A mistle thrush stood sentinel at the top of a larch.
My first red deer were spotted up on the hillside. This one was very high up and far away...
...but this group of 6 was much closer.
On a walk to try to see mountain hares we saw a fox and a skein of geese flew over. No mountain hares were seen, alas. I've never seen one in Scotland although I did photograph some in the Peak District this year. A nice memory...
A group of stonechats were quite active by the river.
Roe deer spotted on the way back to the hotel.
Day 2: 14/10
A slightly roundabout journey to Skye. We called at Achnasheen station for a break and to see what birds were about. My first redwings of the autumn.
We took a diversion to Applecross to look for ptarmigans. We were lucky although it was scope views only. Nice flight views of 3 birds showing plenty of white although overall the plumage was far from full winter colour.
They're in this photo somewhere!
Panorama video clips from Applecross car park.
Soon we were on the Isle of Skye although I miss the ferry crossing - going over a bridge somehow detracts from the feeling of being on an island. Our lunch stop provided my first hooded crows of the holiday. I do like hooded crows - charismatic birds so I tend to take lots of pictures of them...
Last port of call was high up at Isleornsay CHECK A cheeky robin kept an eye on us!
Well, it's getting near Christmas!
Outside the hotel: a hooded crow on Broadford beach.
Day 3: 15/10
Starting the day where I left off... Another [or perhaps the same one] hooded crow near the hotel. I can't recall exactly what it was perched on...
...and I prefer not to wonder what it's eating!
Early morning at Broadford.
We set off again. Mergansers on a nearby CHECK sea loch.
Mergansers versus goosanders - I was told long ago: mergansers a bit scruffy; goosanders rather neat. May come in handy later.
Old Man of Storr. Photo taken on my phone but I then processed a telegraph pole out of the way. If you look carefully you may be able to tell. I can!
After lunch across from Staffin Island we cut off the northern loop road by taking the minor road C1225 west.
We stopped here to look for raptors. Prolonged views of distant golden eagles from near Linicro. Always a thrill however distant.
I took lots of shots like this, hoping it might come closer. However we dropped down into Uig where I was truly thrilled and surprised to get really close eagle views including a buzzard mobbing the eagle. The eagle was unimpressed and soon dodged away. As you will see!
Wow!
Unknown caterpillar - my best guess is fox moth as it's common and feeds on bilberry and heather. More expert help very welcome!
Day 4: 16/10
My photogenic hooded crow was waiting anxiously to be snapped first thing in the morning. Up on the hotel guttering...
This was a day to head more to the South of Skye. In the little harbour at Elgol on Loch Scavaig we saw rock pipits and cows with a taste for seaweed.
Rock pipit
Next stop Torrin on the shore of Loch Slapin. Wonderful views in changing light conditions with a few distant waders - mainly turnstones plus a couple of ringed plovers.
Then the sun came out to play!
A lunch stop by the famous Eilean Donan Castle - just back on the mainland and back into the gloom! One of the most photographed castles - I had to try myself just using my iphone and a bit of post processing at home. At first it was misty but the light did change later.
En route back to Nethy Bridge we stopped for a drinks break at Loch Killin, east of Loch Ness. Sika deer and red kites seen in the area.
The river at Loch Killin and the loch itself.
Back at the hotel. From my bedroom window I saw a roe deer bathed in the last rays of the setting sun.
Another grand day!
Day 5: 17/10
We set off on a walk from the old Nethy Bridge station along the Speyside Way. The railway closed in 1963. The station today...
...and a very poor quality photograph of how it was once. Photo best seen from about six feet away!
The walk was good for yellowhammers - and frost!
Autumn in the hedgerow
We headed off to look for capercaillies again. This time we were very lucky as in the space of a couple of minutes two male 'capers' flew - one across in front of us and the other left to right on our right hand side. Amazing views of such a powerful flier going low over a more open area of moorland.
Not all my bird photos come out right! I hesitated before including this one taken through the glass of a minibus but this is a cock capercaillie in flight!!
Oh well. Can't win 'em all!
Lochindorb was our next stop - the loch with the ruined castle in the middle. Good for divers in summer. We saw red grouse plus a surprise hen harrier.
In the afternoon we finished up with a crossbill hunt. Not easy to photograph pointing high into the trees - recipe for an aching neck!
Including a vertical take-off crossbill!
Day 6: 18/10
The Moray Coast. Spey Bay was our first stop. A large piece of driftwood shouted photograph at me!
One of our party was lucky to spot a snow bunting. The bird was hard to spot among the dead plant material - grasses, red dock stems etc ... but with a bit of patient fieldcraft I managed to get some clear shots.
We stopped briefly at a small loch whose name escapes me. CHECK Mute swans drew the lens...
Lunch beside the River Lossie just before the river mouth. For a while it flows parallel to the sea protected by sand dunes. A family was paddling their little boat across to the dunes. Family dog had to swim!
The area is a busy wildfowl roost. I tried to capture some of the birds we saw.
Teal
Wigeon
Grey herons
I like trying to get gulls in flight. The birds were coming for discarded sandwiches! Black-headed gulls in their winter garb.
Curlew
Lossiemouth Promenade had two seasons' worth of roses.
But even better were the birds just offshore. Brightly coloured eider, long-tailed ducks [they're the smaller ones]. These look like immatures.
Long-tailed ducks in first photo, then eiders, then they join up as one group.
And a rock pipit on the harbour wall.
Journeying back to Nethy Bridge we called at Roseisle near Burghead. The trees had an abstract feel to them like a repeating pattern. This is almost what the camera saw. I'm afraid I've cloned a woman and child out of the top left corner!
Black and white version.
Pretentious, moi?! version! 1980s LP sleeve version, perhaps.
Back to reality for the last time. Mergansers and goosanders together off Roseisle beach. Smart or tatty, remember?
It is much easier to 'kill' the speed of an aeroplane [even a jet fighter] than it is to take a pin sharp bird photo. Drone at Roseisle.
From the ridiculous to the sublime. A peregrine on the last leg of my trip.
Day 7: 19/10
Time to go home. But I'll be back.
241 UK 2019
9th October 2019
Good old coot's feet!
I think I've mentioned it before: colt's feet is what 'phalaropus' means - from the ancient Greek.
A grey phalarope [I think of them as spinning tops] was reported on Middleton Beach, Hartlepool. I'd not been there before but I soon found it as I knew it was just south of the Lifeboat Station. It was indeed and various birders who recognized me and who were returning to their cars told me where to go. The bird was very confiding - in fact I don't think it was really aware of us as a source of danger. It was more worried about a herring gull that came close and [much later, I heard] a dog that spooked it. It soon returned to its favorite spot.
Photographers sometimes get a bad name for getting too close and I'm afraid the first photo shows an example. However, in the photographer's defence the bird took absolutely no notice and was not disturbed. I took my photo by walking south along the water's edge about 150 metres and was not standing in the water by the way!
Here's my selection. I tried to get something different as the little bird battled the waves.
A walk round the dell in the Zinc Works Road bushes produced a firecrest with the help of a couple who had better hearing than I. Although I waved my camera about I couldn't get a lock but a lovely little bird to see nonetheless.
At Saltholme things were quiet. Just a few blackwits at Phil Stead hide. I went home early well satisfied with my day.
230 UK 2019
25th September 2019
'twas just one of those days...
September 25th around Saltholme and Hartlepool Headland
Let's begin at the very beginning. I drove straight to Hartlepool Headland via the A19 and A689 and parked up by the Croft. A birder told me a yellow-browed was showing round the corner. It was. Here it is! The photos may give the impression the bird posed for me: I was amazed that the photos are as acceptable as they are as the bird was deep inside the bush, the light was poor and the bird moved around tirelessly.
From there I drove to Blackhall Rocks hoping for whinchat. I saw stonechat - second best, I suppose.
Common toadflax linaria vulgaris was plentiful and flowering well on the clifftop.
Cormorants were fishing close in.
Newburn Bridge was quiet - just oyks and black-headed gulls. After a few minutes a group of turnstones landed on the stub end of the quay and one bird went for a wash in a puddle.
A great white egret was reported from the Greatham Creek/Seal Sands 'ugly screen' [not my name for it] but I could only spot 3 or 4 little whites. A common seal was basking nearby.
From there I headed to Saltholme to play at 'Toggers and Wizards.' There were quite a few Toggers at their seats but no sign at first of the Wizard. Patience is an essential virtue for all birders... While we waited there were black-tailed godwits to watch.
A mute swan flew over: funny thing about the mute bit is that mute swans are unmistakably noisy in flight. Even if you can't yet see them, you know exactly what is coming. Thump, thump, thump...
Sir Columbarius appeared distantly but eventually put on a magnificent display of tricks and aerial displays...
The merlin doesn't eat the dragonfly's wings: they can be seen being kicked off the post in the next photo.
In the distance a sparrowhawk was watching...
The merlin took no notice and the group of black-tailed godwits were not worried by the merlin. However the sparrowhawk was very interested in the godwits and suddenly launched a blistering attack. The godwits all left - hurriedly. The sparrowhawk failed to catch a meal and paused on a post to reflect on life, hope and failure.
Meanwhile the merlin carried on and a few godwits returned. The merlin can be seen carrying a dragonfly.
I'll finish with some aerial shots that are a fitting end to the memorable encounter. Definitely worth going back for, Mr. A!
228 UK 2019
17th September 2019
Excellent craic/crake!
Blacktoft 17th September
Morning at home when suddenly I saw a message on the pager: Baillon's or little crake at Blacktoft. I have rarely got on my way so quickly! I knew both birds were potential lifers - it was just a matter of seeing it, knowing, as I did, that crakes can disappear in a reedbed for a very long time...
I needn't have worried. I saw the bird within a couple of minutes of arriving at a half-full Marshland hide. Within half an hour birders were queuing outside!
There were other birds too, so I'll start with them.
Ruff and shovelers
Ok. Time for the little 'un! I've mixed a couple of water rail shots with them as some people got very excited when one appeared. The crake was comparatively tiny. UK lifer 440 coming up!
227 UK 2019
10th September 2019ff
Spellbound!
1:September 10th: Magpie photoshoot
Back to Saltholme and to Phil Stead hide hoping for more merlin encounters. The bird showed well in the morning but my visit was in the afternoon. A magpie photoshoot entertained me in good light. None of the magpie photos have had their colour adjusted in any way: what colourful birds they are in good light!
If you're going to star in a photoshoot presumably you have a good wash first...
...and a soak...
...a preen...
...and ready for action!
Also seen: snipe and blackwits
A young moorhen practising diving...
A highland cow!
In the quiet times I practised too! Photographing dragonflies in flight! Darters in tandem - after mating the male guards the female to prevent other males from mating.
Double tandem!
Ok. My best bit of the afternoon was a juvenile water rail.
2: September 13th: Wizardry!
I decided to go back to Saltholme in the morning and hope for another merlin encounter. This bird has provided me with one of the photographic and general birding highlights of the year and my session on 13/9 was the climax. I wanted to get some flight shots and I realised the only way to do it was to get the camera as stable as possible and stare through the view-finder constantly - no breaks allowed. As the bird flies you need almost a reflex action to press the shutter and hope! Here goes: a lot of merlins. I hope you like them...
When the merlin disappeared out of view there were always the merlin's food source to mess with: trying to photograph the common darter dragonflies! I took a few more: here's some I liked.
I did a good walk round the reserve but saw little of note. A few godwits were near the Wildlife Watchpoint...
...and later I saw a kestrel sunning itself down the Zinc Works Road.
3:The anti-climax!
A long-billed dowitcher was reported at Fairburn on the south-east lagoon. I was unsure where this was so I went down Lin Dike and sat in the tin hut all alone feeling increasingly I was in the wrong place!
A spoonbill lingered in the dark mangroves [I know they're not mangroves but there's a section down the left side of Spoonbill Flash that reminds me of them. And the spoonbill shone through the darkness.
Eventually I learnt that I needed to go up the Coal Pits Trail where I would find the correct lagoon and a line of birders many of whom I knew. There was, however, no sign of any dowitcher! Bearded tits were flying around. I sort of managed a shot of one.
After an hour or so I went home. After lunch the dowitcher was reported on Spoonbill Flash after all so I went back with Sheila. A long way off but we haven't had what I call a 'cuckoo shot' for a good while. A 'cuckoo shot' is my term for a ridiculously distant attempt at a photograph which is then mega-cropped to produce a 'proof I saw it' photo. This was indeed a very long way away....
Quite anticlimactic, I think!
226 UK 2019