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Highlands & Skye 2017 - Part One
Highlands & Skye 2017 - Part One
This account, which is in several parts, covers my trip up to Scotland as well as the holiday itself.
Day 1: April 28th
I headed north from York at dawn, planning to spend as much time as possible in the Dunkeld area, notably at the Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve at Loch of the Lowes. First visited a year earlier I think it's the best place to watch and photograph ospreys. Here are some of the results.
The volunteer guide explained that, unusually, both birds were on nest duties and the female liked to go off and have a fly round and have a bathe in the loch. Not sure how often this has been photographed but it was all very exciting for me.
Back at the nest site...
Also at this site were redpolls and lots of siskins.
The red squirrels were too quick for me when I tried to photograph them out and about. Only at the feeders did they remain still enough for a shot!
Originally I had thought of spending an extra day at the end of the holiday going to Strontian for the long-staying american black duck. That evening I decided after messing with the satnav that it was feasible to head west [but not in a straight line!] via the Corran ferry to Strontian, see the bird [a lifer for me] and then head north for Aviemore and Nethy Bridge. Calculations gave me 3 hours to find the bird, often described as elusive, 'frequenting the river mouth or loitering outside the shop.'
Day 2: April 29th
Strontian is the tiniest place and barely warrants the importance maps seem to give it! A few buildings and a pull-in car park with a group of kayakers busy unloading. I got out of Tiggy, stretched and spotted a group of birders down the far end under some birch trees. I grabbed my bins and started to walk over. One of the birders gave a thumbs up. I ran over and looked in his scope. Later, I got the camera...3 hours all done in 10 minutes!
Accompanied by a mallard - it is a drake, by the way.
Note the blue speculum - lifer 432
A greenshank was also out on the wet grassland.
I took the Corran ferry for a second time. Black guillemots nest in the old pier that's about 50 metres from the ferry slipway.
Day 3: our first full day, April 30th
We began around Loch Garten looking for crested tits. I managed a reasonable shot of a red squirrel.
Crested tits were seen but only fleetingly. Here's one from last year.
A drive round an estate looking for capercaillie proved fruitless but our lunch stop, high up overlooking the A9 far below and miles of open moorland, proved amazing as some putative scottish crossbills thrilled us all.
Comfort break at Carrbridge. Some of us saw a pair of dippers. I snapped the bridge with my phone.
We ended up at Lochindorb looking for a black-throated diver in rapidly fading light. A very dark red grouse appeared...
...together with its mate.
Redshanks and common sands were seen as well as the diver.
End of Part One
Highlands & Skye - Part Two
Highlands & Skye 2017 - Part Two
Day 4: May 1st
It would be difficult to better yesterday! We set off fairly early, heading for Skye but not by any direct route. John took a very rare photograph at one of our break stops. Me. He was hoping for wood warbler but I was all he could find!
Sorry I'm not always precise about the locations: perhaps I should fill in my notes more assiduously!!
Near Achnasheen wagtails were showing along with hirundines at the railway station. Near there ravens were seen atop a pylon.
They flew off. I like a nice bif! [birds in flight]
Anyway, we stopped for lunch near Shieldaig. A wheatear bounced around.
Applecross was our big stop of the day. Probably because I wasn't paying attention I didn't really know why we were going there. It sounded like a long uphill walk. In the end I probably walked no more than 600m. All for just a couple of birds...
One peeped over a rock at us.
Wonder if he knows how to spell his name? Ptarmigan.
For me one of the two main highlights of the holiday. Here they come, male and, less noticeable, prettily marked female.
We reached our hotel on Skye late afternoon. A brief stop at the wrong hotel gave me a chance of a hooded crow photo - they can be easily seen but wary of photographers. Got this one!
Day 5: May 2nd
A boat trip from Portree to see white-tailed eagles. For me the memories are unforgettable. Porpoises, dolphins and the eagles. Here's a few reminders.
Leaving Portree out into the Raasay Sound.
Red-throated divers seen shortly after leaving harbour - into the sun made lighting tricky.
Eagles spotted standing like guardians of their empire on rocks by the water's edge. Waiting for us perhaps to throw some fish overboard...
Now for the really tricky bit: could I get a sharp shot as the eagle came for the fish... Only want one!
Good, but not quite.
That'll do.
Flying off.
Up on the rocks the crows harassed the eagle for morsels.
Black guillemots, guillemots and shags all seen too.
Very good crest.
Seals basking in the wonderful weather we were so lucky to enjoy. Nowhere in Britain had it better than us!
Not forgetting the dolphins. Next time, if there ever is one, I must spend longer trying to photograph these fabulous animals...
Quick shopping trip back at Portree. No, I didn't buy a yacht.
We set off for the Trotternish peninsula. Great scenery all day. The cliffs of Staffin and Kilt Rock.
Lunch overlooking Staffin Island where bonxies [great skuas] nest. I managed to home in on one.
End of Part Two
Highlands & Skye - part three
Highlands & Skye 2017 - Part Three
Day 6: May 3rd
Down towards the south-eastern peninsula looking south-east initially to the deserted Knoydart peninsula on the mainland. Eagles, cuckoos but, first of all, some encounters with twite. Tricky little chaps!
Golden eagle seen but, mysteriously, I took no photos. Managed some bifs of the white-taileds with the sun illuminating those white bits!
Eagle watchers!
Rum from the Ord valley.
Lunch in the area round Ord. Great northern diver.
Whimbrel.
The view - iphone video takes a good few seconds to load...
Taken near Dunsgiath Castle at Tokavaig [I think!]. Remains of castle pop into view at end of clip.
End of day 6 back in my room at Nethy Bridge. Roe deer from the window as I sipped a glass of red stuff.
Day 7: May 4th - Pottering around the Aviemore area.
Another day, another try for capercaillie. But, we succeeded or, more to the point, Sally spotted one. My first female caper. Fabulous. Lunch back up top with more crossbills but I was always on the wrong side for good light.
Stopping to turn back through the forest someone cleverly spotted some green tiger beetles. Tried a long distance shot with equivalent 560mm lens [400mm DO lens with 1.4 extender]. Not bad!
Quiet lunch in Aviemore watching a peregrine site but nothing seen except this rook caught my eye. Another bif!
Walking at Craigellachie failed to produce wood warbler but I was lucky when I left on Saturday and called in again - wood warbler seen and heard well. I hope Paul and Chris found one too.
We headed for Aviemore to look for ring ouzel near the base station. Soon seen but took a while to get these.
Pale willow warbler seen too in the rock garden. Very flighty bird.
The moon came up over Cairn Gorm.
Day finished near Loch Insh close to an osprey nest. The birds showed well as a possible intruder bird was stirring things up. Although the light was tricky I like the translucent effect this created.
More conventional shot as the bird moved round to the north.
Day 8: May 5th - Moray coast
Frosty morning as I looked out from my bedroom window. Roe deer again in the early light.
Swallow on the fire escape!
Portsoy looking for white-billed diver but no luck there. Eider and turnstones.
Hi there!
Lunch at Spey Bay where with telescopes we watched osprey, goosander, little and common terns. Beautiful location.
I've gone slightly out of chronological order on purpose. Just wanted to finish with two final views from Port Gordon area.
Wheatear at a cemetery.
Final shot. Grey seal contortionist.
Highlands & Skye 2017 - thanks to everyone who made it so wonderful.
22nd-23rd April 2017
Cetti's Part 2
If you haven't read my most recent blog you may like to start there! Not only had I had really good views of these secretive birds but I had my first photos ever. So, unable to resist I went back.
Thought of calling this blog: Black to Backtoft! Probably best not. Anyway, the birds were still showing well. Here they are.
This bird was on the right hand entrance pool. Sedge warblers were showing too, doing little song flights.
Turning left by reception this bird showed quite confidently a few meters further on.
I must admit I like this rather different view of a Cetti's! I'm sure you know that feeling when you just have to scratch your chin with your right foot!
Carrying on round the reserve...
Some people claimed this as their Cetti's - birders like a bit of wishful thinking...
A couple more distant views of Missus Monty [see last blog for better shots].
Some nice duck shots: garganey, pochard and shoveler.
Avocets were mating at Marshland.
Then a snooze.
Finally from by the toilet block I snapped a tree sparrow: a bird we are lucky enough to take for granted: in many parts of the country this is a pretty rare bird.
Next day I went back in the afternoon. The cetti's were still showing but seemed more restless - maybe there were just too many people about. This dunnock posed for me...
...and a male marsh harrier flew overhead by Xerox.
The drake garganey showed in good light and I was lucky to catch a display shot.
Chiffchaff sang from the main path.
20th April 2017
Togging along again!
April 20th was an unusual day. I got off early to Wheldrake to see if some common cranes were still around. They weren't so I thought I'd just check North Duffield but no sign. However a couple of whimbrel showed - one on the river bank and one in the field in front of the Geoff Smith hide.
I then went home to take Sheila shopping!
After that Sheila [who although not a birder loves to read the pager reports to me] suggested I get off to Swillington [can't get used to calling it St. Aidan's - nor can the pager!] and then on to Blacktoft for the female Montagu's harrier.
Wistful willow warblers, chiffchaffs but the causeway was dominated by this fellow's song. It's not that tuneful is it?!
The local Swillington birders up on their viewpoint pointed out an arctic tern. My photos only caught the commons.
Handsomely coloured blackwits distantly from the causeway.
Eventually I headed east to Blacktoft. Couldn't believe my luck by the entrance pools a little brown job crossed my path, settled in the reeds very close to me in full view and began to sing like only a Cetti's warbler can!
I headed for Singleton for the Montagu's harrier which showed regularly but, as usual, a long way off. Mobbed by a crow, here's a selection of my photos.
Incoming crow attack... [plus giant greylag!]
