As usual I was giving my time to young people this morning. We had a very able guy sharing with them the basic principles of Search and Rescue. It was all a very encouraging and soul searching experience as it can never be really easy to carry out such work. As volunteers how much we owe them.
For the bird front the best bird was a a lovely male BLACK REDSTART that put in a few just outside the centre. A bird for everyone to see and enjoy, for most a first time experience Other than that was the number of REDWING feeding on adjacent hedges. But for me the sight of GREEN WOODPECKER was as always breathtaking. I also picked up a female BLACKCAP which again is as so many birds right now on the way through. Also those really dark and large BLACKBIRDS with their large beaks from assumed Bavaria well at least from the far continent of Europe.
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Monday, 22 October 2012
Sparrows Nest and Oval
Walk through SP brought in an immediate SPARROW HAWK female bird which flew in front of me as I parked up on Whapload Road. Flew very low hunting over the old net hangings. Plenty of ROBINS on arrival and calling GOLDCREST. Walk up to the top and caught up with the TIT flock. No surprises although they did stay for about 20 minuets before moving on. REDWING and FIELDFARE in abundance. I also caught a flock of FIELDFARE flying in above the trees about 12 birds in flock. Plenty of BLACK'S about and THRUSHES everywhere. Walked along Flycatcher and picked up some very noisy JAY'S who seemed to be intent on just enjoying the noise. REDWING, FIELDFARE and SONG THRUSH over the oval. A single CHAFFINCH feeding above and one flying. Came across a single REDSTART at farside of Oval and walked back to car.
Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Best bird of the day in respect was a YELLOW LEGGED GULL this is the closest I have managed to get to this bird as it sat with other gulls near puddles at the bottom Links Hill car park. Managed not only to gain reasonable photo but short video clip as well. http://youtu.be/S7gWL9qwurg
The other main challenge for me was a woodpecker at Sparrows Nest this morning. I expect I am still learning after all these years of birding, some things do not add up some birds just remain a pain. So the jury is out and we will confirm my ignorance latter. That is unless you know better. My thoughts are simple the branch is obliterating the eye and the lore strip is high.
The other main challenge for me was a woodpecker at Sparrows Nest this morning. I expect I am still learning after all these years of birding, some things do not add up some birds just remain a pain. So the jury is out and we will confirm my ignorance latter. That is unless you know better. My thoughts are simple the branch is obliterating the eye and the lore strip is high.
Monday, 15 October 2012
Not so black
Managed to call in at Oulton Broad to take a view of this bird. It seems that it owed me as it came in real close, I wont complain. These birds are very exquisite in there bib and tucker. Seems he could jump out of the water and go and serve meals at the Wherry. They might get more people in there if they did.
Seems to be confusion over this bird and that it has now sorted out as Slav, but depending on view you can understand the difficulties in relation to bill and crown.
Seems to be confusion over this bird and that it has now sorted out as Slav, but depending on view you can understand the difficulties in relation to bill and crown.
Scotland the brave.
You need to brave to make this journey, for us it was just 2680 miles in two weeks. But then if you are going that far you might as well see what you go up for. So a real thank you to my son Jonathan for making it possible by driving so many miles and making dads dream come true to visit again. A year ago who would have dreamed it possible, but we done all praise and thanks to the living God. Who does all things well.
We stopped at Edinburgh on the Friday night and set of for Lock Lomond on the Saturday and we where greeted to a lovely family of RED BREASTED MERGANSER they where hunting feed together only to gain a fly over far from see of two GANNETS heading south over land. The RBM which we saw where many i should think that altogether we saw 200 birds scattered around. But only one RED THROATED DIVER. The best day was no doubt the day of the best scenery when we headed from Shin Falls into the heart land of County Sutherland. Our first GOLDEN EAGLE was at the falls and by the time we reached Ullapool we had 7 different birds. With some flying high over us. Ho majestic they are and on such a lovely day to. We also had 2 SPARROW HAWK and also one which we found dead on the caravan site where we stayed.. In regards to this on the Black Isle it lived up to its claim of the reintroduction of KITE. This was the bird of every day with the knowledge that they liked my sausage rolls. They chased the crows away and took to feeding and waking us up in the morning as they scampered about with long struts on the roof. What a privilege was our just to think when I was a boy there was only six birds in Wales and now this generation has this privilege. We also picked up with MERLIN on the east side of Ness on the moors It was chasing a flock of SANDPIPER about 13 birds in all. It came to rest in a tree near by and was that slat grey that you come to expect. On the mores we had some lovely RED GROUSE which decided to walk in front of the car, but then you cant go fast up there.
Fortrose was a spectacular point to watch birds especially on the Tuesday which was full gale. I met up with two guys who lived in the area and new there stuff. We had no difficulties in picking up BONNXIE and ARCTIC SKUA but the best was a first for me in the shape of a LEACHES STORM PETREL. I just gotten in the car when the guys shouted and shore enough I saw a bird not 30 yards away in the surf with head into wind. I jumped out and joined them on the shore as it flew across away from us in the trough of the wave. I watched it for about 3 minuets until it was out of view because of the rain. We also has 3 GREY PHALLAROPE in the same place just working there way against the wind. What a great view for us all and according to these guys this was the best day in 20 years. So not so bad. We had 2 encounters with OSPREY on the Black Isle one on the North Shore the other on the south. We also picked up 12 male EIDER near Cromerty on the north of the inlet.These birds where in summer plumage which again is a first for me.
I was amazed at the amount of small birds especially CHAFFINCH but the only CHIFFCHAFF I was able to locate was at the point at Fortrose. I also had SWALLOW and SAND MARTIN, HOUSE MARTIN AROUND THE CARAVAN WITH pied wag but I also picked up a pair of GREY WAGTAIL at Fortrose. As for DIPPER we gained two good sightings one was on SPEYSIDE. the other was at the end of Loch F
Other birds of interest where a GREAT-SPOTTED-WOOD which had just flown over the Moray Firth and landed in a tree nearby, unusual for these birds to fly over water. I had altogether 4 ARCTIC TERNS and several TWITE which flew each morning near the caravan, and also a LONG TAILED DUCK fly by.
In all we had 88 species of birds as well as Mountain Goat, Red Rat, Grey Seal Mountain Hare, Salmon, Fox and Red Deer.
We stopped at Edinburgh on the Friday night and set of for Lock Lomond on the Saturday and we where greeted to a lovely family of RED BREASTED MERGANSER they where hunting feed together only to gain a fly over far from see of two GANNETS heading south over land. The RBM which we saw where many i should think that altogether we saw 200 birds scattered around. But only one RED THROATED DIVER. The best day was no doubt the day of the best scenery when we headed from Shin Falls into the heart land of County Sutherland. Our first GOLDEN EAGLE was at the falls and by the time we reached Ullapool we had 7 different birds. With some flying high over us. Ho majestic they are and on such a lovely day to. We also had 2 SPARROW HAWK and also one which we found dead on the caravan site where we stayed.. In regards to this on the Black Isle it lived up to its claim of the reintroduction of KITE. This was the bird of every day with the knowledge that they liked my sausage rolls. They chased the crows away and took to feeding and waking us up in the morning as they scampered about with long struts on the roof. What a privilege was our just to think when I was a boy there was only six birds in Wales and now this generation has this privilege. We also picked up with MERLIN on the east side of Ness on the moors It was chasing a flock of SANDPIPER about 13 birds in all. It came to rest in a tree near by and was that slat grey that you come to expect. On the mores we had some lovely RED GROUSE which decided to walk in front of the car, but then you cant go fast up there.
Fortrose was a spectacular point to watch birds especially on the Tuesday which was full gale. I met up with two guys who lived in the area and new there stuff. We had no difficulties in picking up BONNXIE and ARCTIC SKUA but the best was a first for me in the shape of a LEACHES STORM PETREL. I just gotten in the car when the guys shouted and shore enough I saw a bird not 30 yards away in the surf with head into wind. I jumped out and joined them on the shore as it flew across away from us in the trough of the wave. I watched it for about 3 minuets until it was out of view because of the rain. We also has 3 GREY PHALLAROPE in the same place just working there way against the wind. What a great view for us all and according to these guys this was the best day in 20 years. So not so bad. We had 2 encounters with OSPREY on the Black Isle one on the North Shore the other on the south. We also picked up 12 male EIDER near Cromerty on the north of the inlet.These birds where in summer plumage which again is a first for me.
I was amazed at the amount of small birds especially CHAFFINCH but the only CHIFFCHAFF I was able to locate was at the point at Fortrose. I also had SWALLOW and SAND MARTIN, HOUSE MARTIN AROUND THE CARAVAN WITH pied wag but I also picked up a pair of GREY WAGTAIL at Fortrose. As for DIPPER we gained two good sightings one was on SPEYSIDE. the other was at the end of Loch F
Other birds of interest where a GREAT-SPOTTED-WOOD which had just flown over the Moray Firth and landed in a tree nearby, unusual for these birds to fly over water. I had altogether 4 ARCTIC TERNS and several TWITE which flew each morning near the caravan, and also a LONG TAILED DUCK fly by.
In all we had 88 species of birds as well as Mountain Goat, Red Rat, Grey Seal Mountain Hare, Salmon, Fox and Red Deer.
Monday, 3 September 2012
Leath's Ham
Soon picked up with CHIFCHAFF in the garden this morning two birds followed by one later in the day. Also 5 COMMON TERN at Links car park. At Leath's Ham a SCARCE MIGRANT HAWKER both male and female. Good photo also a SPECKLED WOOD dark phase and a hover fly SUN SEEKER with three strips. Photo to follow. Many roving L.T.Tit's with the occasional CHIF also had a LESSER WHITHROAT and a WHITETHROAT.
Sunday, 2 September 2012
Kessingland foreshore to sluice
Walk along here brought in several CORMORANT flying along just off shore with a seal putting in brief appearance The best was a PEREGRINE that gave a stoop as it attacked prey not far from us. Jonathan managed a shot of it in its dive. Several LINNET and a sigle BLACKBIRD with SWALLOWS about 20+ birds in all. We also watched a GREEN WOODPECKER on a telegraph pole making a short message. Then it flew to ground as it rooted about.
At home a several SWALLOWS flying north then south followed by a single SWIFT. I also managed this photo of a SCARCE HAWKER i believe. If you know any diffident then you know more than me. Which would not be difficult.
At home a several SWALLOWS flying north then south followed by a single SWIFT. I also managed this photo of a SCARCE HAWKER i believe. If you know any diffident then you know more than me. Which would not be difficult.
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