Scotland Day 11 (Tuesday 4th June)

Hi

Tuesday was a full day on the small island of Iona, located off the south west tip of Mull.  Sunny and actually hot on this day!

After the five-minute ferry over to Iona, we explored the key areas of the island.  The best birds located were 13 Corncrakes, mostly within the community of Iona itself.  The vegetation should be much higher this time of the year, but the advantage for us was that the Corncrakes were relatively easy to locate and with patience it was possible to see some of them too.  Clearly some were still sorting out their territories and were chasing each other both on the ground and in flight.

A Great Skua flew over a couple of times and a colony of Arctic Terns were showing well as they fished the surf at the north end.  Like Mull, sea-birds were very much in evidence and many of the land-birds were similar (apart from Rooks and Jackdaws which seem to be mostly absent from Mull).

On arrival back to our temporary home (very late again but still daylight), a pair of White-tailed Eagles showed well on the opposite side of the valley where they have rapidly consumed a sheep carcass during the last three days.

Eleanor and Neil

Greylag Goose

Arctic Tern

Oystercatcher

Starling (they are still
singing up here!)

Common Sandpiper

Corncrake

Scotland Day 10 (Monday 3rd June)

Hi

Monday was another sunny and bright day up here on Mull.  However the late Spring has affected things here too, with masses of Bluebells out at the same time as Primroses and earlier flowering plants, mixed in with orchids and later flowers.  The bracken which should be much taller by now has hardly grown at all and the result is a profusion of colour on the mountain slopes.  Quite stunning and perhaps Mull at its best.

The huge sea lochs are full of both breeding and non-breeding auks.  The locals say this is very unusual and another sign of a cold and late (but dry) Spring.  There seems to be plenty of life in the water with the terns and Kittiwakes continually catching small fish; there are good numbers of jellyfish in the water too.

Plenty of birds to watch in the stunning light, with Sandwich and Common Terns joining the more numerous Arctic Terns at key points around the island.  There must be hundreds of pairs of Common Sandpipers and Oystercatchers on the island, every waterside stretch seemingly hosting a pair of each.

We explored the small coves and beaches west of Tobermory and then went up on to the Mornish headland to watch for activity along the cliff-tops and out to see towards the island of Coll.  The sea was flat calm and it was possible to see every surface movement for miles.  Grey Seals and Porpoise continually bouyed to the surface and the water was littered with diving auks, Manx Shearwaters, terns and Kittiwakes.  Gannets, Arctic Skuas and Great Northern Divers were all in single figure numbers, but it was a memorable experience with the awe-inspiring peaks of Mull and in the distance, Rum and Skye adding to the splendour of the spectacle.

Regards 

Eleanor and Neil

Common Gull

Red-breasted Merganser

Whinchat

Eiders

Scotland Day 9 (Sunday 2nd June)

Hi

On Sunday we visited Calgary Beach on Mull, with the main intention of giving the dogs a play in the sand and surf.  However there was a small Sand Martin colony there which no doubt suffers from the attention of clumsy beach users, and some female Eider were proudly showing off their ducklings.  Other birds noted included Stonechat, Peregrine, Common Tern and common sea-birds.  Several Crossbills were flying around the broken woodland on the headland.

Mull is mostly made up of single track roads with passing places, but despite this it is very much a place to spot wildlife from your car.  We scanned the sea lochs and found plenty of birds but no Otters!  A few Great Northern Divers kept their distance which was a great shame as they were in full summer plumage.

The late afternoon and evening was taken up on a five hour trek on the Bowmore Estate, walking along the side of Loch Ba and the steep sides of Beinn a Ghraig and Ben More.  A waterlogged area held breeding waders in the shape of Snipe, Curlew, Redshank, Golden Plover, Lapwing and Oystercatcher.  Common Gulls were also breeding nearby and all joined in the scrum to see off Hooded Crows taking their chicks (unsuccessfully as it happens).  All these birds and the crows turned their attention to a marauding adult White-tailed Eagle as it swept through the valley, and a distant Golden Eagle slowly circled over the high tops.  We walked through a couple of Whinchat territories, and there were small numbers of Wheatear and Tree Pipit to accompany the singing hordes of Willow Warblers.  A few Red-breasted Mergansers rippled the still surface of Loch Ba and several pairs of Common Sandpipers were busy along the loch edge.

A tiring but enjoyable walk, but yet another very late supper by the time we arrived back at our digs!

Regards

E & N

Grey Heron

Eider

Curlew

Common Sandpiper

Pitsford Moths

The moth traps at Pitsford are still very quiet despite the recent improvement in the weather.
This morning's offerings included a Poplar HawkMoth, Green Carpet and White Ermine.  Brimstone and Rustic Shoulder-knot were also present.  A Violet Ground Beetle completed the mornings interesting fauna.




    Regards,

                   Neil H.

Scotland Day 8 (Saturday 1st June)

Hi

Now the card reader is playing up so no recent images to show currently!

Saturday morning saw us walking around a circular route east of Loch Sunart in the Ariundle oak woods.  Super habitat which includes ancient oaks, some beech and plenty of more recent spruce and pine.  Lots of singing birds included Redstart, Wood Warbler, Tree Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Spotted Flycatcher, Lesser Redpoll and Siskin.  And plenty of discarded Pine Marten scats just to tease us!

This was our last day in the Ardamurchan area, and we drove south stopping at locations near Acham and Loch Arienas en-route to Lochaline.  Three Golden Eagles put in brief performances and we notched up Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser, Greenshank and plenty of breeding Common Sandpipers.  Then it was a short crossing over the Sound of Mull to Balmeanach and on to our next instalment which is a week staying on Mull!

The remainder of the day was unremarkable for wildlife as we made preparations for our stay, and of course we had to pay a visit to the multi-coloured sea-front at Tobermory (and a fish and chip supper)!

Eleanor and Neil

Scotland Day 7 (Friday 31st May)

Hi

Experiencing some internet connection problems up here in the lochs and mountains of west Scotland!  Friday saw us exploring further areas around Strontian and slightly to the north around Kentra and Loch Moidart.  Most birds were more of the same in rather grey and cool conditions.  A few power showers and strong sunshine afterwards cleared the air and kept us watching the horizon for the next dark cloud on its way.

A walk along the sandy causeway to Tioram Castle notched up a few fly-over Crossbills, Common Tern and singing warblers; the abandoned castle itself was home to Raven, Rock Dove and Rock Pipit.  Plenty of Red-breasted Mergansers fished the shallow waters where the fresh water merged with the sea loch, the males already well in to eclipse plumage and losing their stunning late winter/spring plumage.  Ravens fed their fledged young and Grey Herons stalked the rippling tides.

The afternoon was spent exploring the folds and mountain-sides of Morvern with a couple of vast vistas providing scanning opportunities.  Here herds of Red Deer were visible as far as the eye could see, Ravens croaked overhead and six hunting eagles were made up of four White-tailed and two Goldens.

We progressed along the side of Mull Sound to the outpost 'community' of Drimmin where the road effectively ends.  Very much a leafy rustic English lane nestled in the protected folds of west Scotland!  A two and a half hour hike along an ancient burial route without seeing another person was good for the soul and for obtaining close views of both Red and Roe Deer.  Birds were much the same as elsewhere and included a couple of bright red Crossbills and still large numbers of Willow Warblers.  A Dipper on a heavily-wooded burn was the first we have managed to see on this trip.

At 10.20pm we began a 90 minute evening/night drive back from Drimmin to Strontian in a vain effort to see Pine Marten and Wildcat.  Plenty of sheep and deer but no hoped-for Scottish predator!

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

Scotland Day 6 (Thursday 30th May)

Hi

After an early morning hike around some habitat near Strontian (finding Crossbill, Whinchat, Redstart, Wood Warbler, Tree Pipit, Grasshopper Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher etc), today we split forces with Eleanor staying on the Ardnamurchan with the dogs while I took a day boat trip to the Treshnish Isles.  It was a cool and strong north-westerly but the sun shone all day.  Eleanor notched up five Golden Eagles including two very low juveniles playing over Sanna Beach for quite some time.

On the boat we located an active pod of Common Dolphins which performed as only dolphins can!  A Minke Whale was sighted briefly and some Harbour Porpoises were seen on the way back.  Grey and Common Seals showed well on rocks.  Common sea-birds included the fabulous Puffin plus Great Skua and Manx Shearwater.  We landed on Lunga (one of the Treshnish Isles) which is where many of these sea-birds were breeding, and it was possible to watch the birds from very close range.  Breeding passerines here included Twite, Wheatear and Rock Pipit.

Further efforts at finding rare mammals late in the evening didn't yield the hoped-for animals, but meant that we were out very late again!

Regards

Neil M

Common Dolphin

Puffin

Fulmar

Razorbill

Scotland Day 5 (Wednesday 29th May)

Hi

Apologies for the delay in blogs and images.  The last couple of days has seen us out and about by 6am and not back in until 11pm, so there has been little precious time for updating the blog etc!

Wednesday was spent exploring the Ardnamurchan Peninsula in stunning weather.  A pre-breakfast walk in to the Invedruie Woodlands was sufficient to find Crossbill, Tree Pipit and the first of ridiculously large numbers of Spotted Flycatchers for the day.  Further woodland and moorland at Glenborrowdale hosted good numbers of day-flying moths and butterflies, most of which were too flighty to identify!  Wood Warbler, Redstart and more Tree Pipits and Spotted Flycatchers were the pick of the birds.  Cat and Pine Marten scats were located but no sightings of the animals themselves!

The hills and moors up here echo to the sound of calling Cuckoos.  It seems we are finding more in one day than I see in a whole spring back home!  We are more and more compelled to think that west Scotland is where all our summer visitors now live!  Virtually all the warblers are represented in good numbers.

The lighthouse and headland at Ardnamurchan Point is a useful sea-watch location and we watched a variety of seabirds venturing past - good numbers of rafting Manx Shearwaters were probably the best.  Birding in the end third of the peninsula yielded interesting passerines in the forms of Twite, Whinchat, Wheatear, Stonechat, Rock Pipit and others.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

Wood Warbler

Hooded Crow

Meadow Pipit

Willow Warbler

Highland Cow

Red Deer

Scotland Day 4

Hi

Today was spent driving from Dumfries and Galloway to the Ardnamurchan Peninsular.  As such we didn't experience a great deal of wildlife interest today.  Willow Warblers continue to cascade their songs wherever we go and Wood Warblers were trilling away alongside the A82 as we travelled along the length of Loch Lomond and the Trossocks.  The first apparent pure Hooded Crow of the trip was spotted against the stunning backdrop of Glencoe.  Carpets of Bluebells are frequently colouring the road verges and Lady's Smock and other common flowers abound.  Ardnamurchan wildlife to date includes plenty of Common Seals, Roe and Red Deer, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Sandpiper and the first of the midges!

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

Siskins
Ardnamurchan Peninsular.
Siskins are common and well-
spread throughout Scotland
and it is very much an every-day bird,
but I can't help but continually
stop and stare at these charismatic
 little finches!

Scotland Day 3

Hi

After two days of glorious weather, we paid for it today with very strong winds and heavy rain for most of the day!  Loch Ken and the Dee Marshes were extremely wet and birding was very difficult.  The hides and feeders at this site at least provided views of Nuthatch and Willow Tit.  The latter species is a rare bird in Scotland but a small population occurs along the Dee Valley and are among the most northerly birds in the UK.  Nuthatch was almost unknown in Scotland some 15 years ago, but this species is spreading north and west rapidly.

We visited the Bellymack Farm Red Kite feeding station in the driving rain and high winds.  Plenty of soggy Red Kites and other opportunists braved the weather but photography proved very challenging!  Some images feature under the new Tab 'Soggy Kites'.

A walk around Laurieston Forest at least shielded us from most of the rain but no birds of note were seen.

We finished at Threave, which is a Natural Trust reserve and is one of at least three sites locally which provide nesting opportunities for Osprey.  We saw the birds at relatively long range, with the male fishing nearby.  Despite the persistent rain, Willow Warblers sang all day wherever we were and is an indication that the bulk of the UK population now breeds north of the border.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

Scotland Day 2

Hi

First thing this morning we motored up to the upland spruce forests blanketing the hills north of Dumfries.  Plenty of bird song indicated good numbers of common birds and many warblers finding a living on the edges of these plantations.  The best birds were Grey Wagtail, Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit and Redstart.

After breakfast we drove west to the beautiful Wood of Cree.  This is an extensive oak woodland draped in moss and with an under-story of hazel and other shrubs, supported with birch, rowan, scrub and a mass of wild flowers.  Powerful burns cut through the landscape to add further diversity.  Pied Flycatchers and Redstarts sang from mostly hidden song-posts, but the Wood Warblers were a little easier.  Other birds included Nuthatch, Tree Pipit, Spotted Flycatcher (seen at numerous sites today) and Grey Wagtail.

After reluctantly leaving this jewel of a reserve, we headed further west and then direct south to visit the Mull of Galloway.  This exposed headland is the most southerly landmass in Scotland - Northern Ireland was clearly visible from the windy cliffs.  Relatively small numbers of sea-birds breed here and we saw Gannet, auks, Kittiwake, Fulmar, Shag etc.  A male Peregrine put in an appearance and there was visible proof of successful breeding of Pied Wagtail and Stonechat.  Both Meadow and Rock Pipit song-flighted in the strong updrafts.

Our last venue for the day was the southern edge of Loch Ryan which held good numbers of loafing drake Eider, three species of tern, auks and Gannets, but little that we hadn't experienced earlier in the day.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

Wood Warbler
Wood of Cree

Gannet
Mull of Galloway

Scotland - Day 1

Hi

Today was spent driving up to Dumfries and Galloway and visiting a couple of sites as the start of a trip to West Scotland.  Like most of the UK it was bright, sunny and dry.  

Our first venue was a short stop at Mabie Forest, a Forestry Commission area south of Dumfries.  Common woodland birds and a stretch of the legs was all that was required and we then moved on to Southerness Point.  Here it was high tide and the pick of the waders roosting on the rocks were a couple of Whimbrel.  Good numbers of Arctic and Sandwich Terns were fishing in the Solway here and passing birds included Red-throated Diver, Common Scoter, Puffin, Guillemot and Razorbill.  A small pod of Harbour Porpoise were relatively close in.

After dawdling around the emerging sands and rock pools, we headed off a little to the west to visit the RSPB reserve at Mersehead, generally a winter venue for the Barnacle Goose.  No Barnies today though, and common birds showing well included Lesser Redpoll, common warblers and small numbers of waterfowl and waders.

The weather forecast looks OK for tomorrow, and we hope to spend some time in the Stranraer area.

Regards

E & N

Lesser Black-backed Gull
Southerness

Ringed Plovers
Southerness

Sandwich Terns
Southerness

Chaffinch
Mersehead

Lesser Redpoll
Mersehead

Lapwing
Mersehead

Rook
Mersehead

Summer Leys

A much more pleasant day today, although I still had plenty of clothes on for a visit to Summer Leys.
Bird of the day was a Spotted Flycatcher in Kim's corner, a bird I have only seen once before on the reserve in almost the same location.  This was a year tick for me.
From the Pioneer hide there was a pair of Little-ringed Plovers holding territory on Round Island and a brief view of a Common Sandpiper on Rotary Island.
A Yellow Wagtail was on the grass behind Brayshaw's Bund catching insects.
There was no sign of any dragonflies on the Toad Pond: Hairy Dragonflies should be emerging shortly, hopefully before the long weekend is over.
A couple of Common Spotted Orchid plants were visible near to the Pioneer Hide but neither was in flower.

    Neil H.

Raven versus Crow

Hi

No surprise perhaps but little to mention today with such gruesome weather locally!

A pair of Raven over the village here at Hanging Houghton this morning caused consternation among the local Carrion Crows and they were rapidly 'escorted' out of the parish!

Regards

Neil M

Kingfisher surprise

Hi

No birds of note today but I was a little surprised to come across 2 Kingfishers at the brook in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton this afternoon.  They often appear later in the summer during the post-breeding dispersal period, but I'm guessing these must be breeding not too far away!

This week we have been gradually dismantling the local wild bird feed stations on the Kelmarsh Estate and adjusting the ones at Pitsford Reservoir for the summer.  Never before have we fed so much food to so many birds so late in the season!

Regards

Eleanor

Spring to summer

Hi

I started the day padding about on the Old Sulehay site, north-east of Oundle.  Very dull and uninspiring weather and it took a little while for the birds to sing properly today.  The birds were mostly predictable but included a late redpoll sp and two 'purring' Turtle Doves were a treat, with one of them displaying nicely.  A Spotted Flycatcher was at nearby Fotheringhay village.

A visit then to Thrapston GP and a circular walk around the Titchmarsh Reserve again.  The only bird out of the ordinary was an Arctic Tern with Common Terns, but the Nightingale was still present and singing well (this time on the reserve itself).  Two or three Hobby were present and the walk was accompanied with constant warbler song everywhere.

A short walk around sections of Harlestone Heath and Harrington Airfield didn't provide any birds of note.  The only birds noted locally for yesterday were the regular Barn Owls and Grey Partridges at Blueberry Farm, Maidwell.

Regards

Neil M

Turtle Dove
Old Sulehay

Female Banded Demoiselle
Thrapston GP

Male Banded Demoiselle
Thrapston GP

Hobby
Thrapston GP

Lady's Smock
Thrapston GP

Amazing migration

Hi

Some 24 birds were captured during a ringing session at Stortons GP yesterday morning and included a Garden Warbler and a Reed Warbler initially caught within minutes of each other at the same site back in 2011.  The considerable value of re-traps provides one of the interesting aspects of ringing and an opportunity of assessing site fidelity -  particularly amazing when its small bundles of feathers that have wintered in the African continent that then frequently return back to the same clump of scrub or reeds where first captured.  One of the many reasons why I find bird migration so amazing!

Today but it has been hard work finding anything.  A walk around Borough Hill CP (Daventry) located a singing Spotted Flycatcher but little else.  A Hobby hawking insects at Daventry CP was the best bird there and Ravensthorpe Res seemed even quieter!

Regards

Neil M

Pitsford Ringing

Hi

An early morning ringing session at Pitsford Res today incorporated a Constant Effort Site census, in total catching and processing 50 birds.  Species caught included 2 Mallard, 5 Stock Doves, Kingfisher, Yellowhammer, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler and Chiffchaff.  Other birds noted included Raven and redpoll sp and the number of Common Terns seemingly intent on breeding on the rafts has gone up considerably the last couple of days to about 40 birds.  At least one Oystercatcher remains.

At Harrington Airfield this morning, birds noted included a Turtle Dove and a pair of Grey Partridge.

Some scanning from the garden this afternoon produced plenty of raptors enjoying the warm conditions and included three very high kites, one of which was a Red Kite.  The other two remained very distant and defied identification.

Regards

E & N

Jackdaw
Hanging Houghton

Goldfinch
Hanging Houghton

Back to reality

Hi

Well after the purple patch in NN6 yesterday, today was back to reality with a bump!

I've made a couple of visits this morning to the area between Scaldwell and Hanging Houghton but I couldn't hear or see yesterday's Firecrest.  A similar story with the Nightingale near Maidwell too.  Unless they were particularly quiet this morning, it seems that both birds may have already moved on.

The only birds of note on this morning's rounds were at Kelmarsh Hall with 1-2 Siskin, a Raven and a singing Spotted Flycatcher.

Regards

Neil M

Roadside Firecrest

Hi

A cycle ride down to Pitsford Res this morning came to an abrupt halt when a Firecrest decided to sing from some conifers at the road-side!  This was between the villages of Hanging Houghton and Scaldwell, along the minor road that connects the A508 with Scaldwell village.  The bird was singing from a conifer belt that parallels the road at SP758728.  The bird was still present at 2.40pm this afternoon.

A Common Bird Census around the reserve section at Pitsford Res this morning was unremarkable, the scarcer birds being a Spotted Flycatcher, a Common Sandpiper and at least one Oystercatcher.  There are good numbers of Garden Warblers on-site now and it was good to see the first brood of young Great Crested Grebes.

At Harrington Airfield this morning there was a cream-crown Marsh Harrier which flew towards Kettering, two 'purring' Turtle Doves, a pair of Grey Partridge and a Wheatear.  Other birds of note included a Spotted Flycatcher in Maidwell village and a singing Nightingale along the Brampton Valley Way below Maidwell (south of the Draughton cross-roads).

This afternoon a wander around Blueberry Farm, Maidwell produced a Hobby, a Barn Owl and a Whinchat.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

Muntjac Deer
Pitsford Res

Firecrest
between Scaldwell
and Hanging Houghton

Garden surprise!

Hi 

This morning a male Marsh Harrier was in the Brampton Valley below Hanging Houghton at about 7.45am, flying up to the village of HH before disappearing.

This afternoon a Wheatear was also in the Brampton Valley between HH and Cottesbrooke.

Local ringer Chris Payne experienced a pleasant surprise today when he extracted a female Redstart from his mist net in the garden at Greens Norton (images attached)!

Regards

Eleanor

Female Redstart
courtesy of Chris Payne

Pitsford terns

Hi

This afternoon at Pitsford Res a migrant flock of terns included a dozen Common, 2-3 Arctic and 2 Black.  They were quite mobile moving up and down between the causeway and the dam during the course of the afternoon.  In addition the number of hirundines and Swifts increased considerably from this morning but despite plenty of scanning as we do every year, there was yet again nothing odd among them!  The two Oystercatchers remain but were also very mobile.

Regards

Neil M

So that's what a wader looks like?

Hi

A couple of hours this morning at Earls Barton GP in pretty wet and cold weather was made birdable due to the hides on the Summer Leys reserve.  Nine species of wader were on offer which included 2 Oystercatchers, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Ringed Plovers, a Little Ringed Plover, a Turnstone, 4 Redshank, 5-6 Sanderling and 15 Dunlin.  Plenty of big gulls about adding to the tension around the Black-headed Gull colony and Common Tern gathering.

A brief visit to Pitsford Reservoir this morning didn't produce anything of note, with moderate numbers of hirundines and several Swifts and Common Terns visible from the causeway.

Harrington Airfield provided singles of Wheatear and Whinchat this morning.

Regards

Eleanor & Neil

And then it rained!

Hi

Well a nice calm and pleasant sort of start to the day, gave way this afternoon to heavy rain which is due to last overnight and the first part of tomorrow morning.

This morning, before the deluge, Eleanor located 3 rather late Wheatears in the Brampton Valley between Cottesbrooke and Hanging Houghton.  A Red Kite was the pick of the birds at Hanging Houghton this morning.

I expect to be looking at some pretty sodden birds tomorrow!

Regards

Neil M

Stormy weather

Hi

Well what a stormy lot!  High winds, strong wind but at least there is some sunshine.  But I don't feel sorry for the observers just the birds!  These conditions are probably OK for birds such as Blackbird, Song Thrush and Robin with plenty of worms, slugs and snails about.  Here's just hoping that these stormy conditions subside before the majority of the fledgling tits and warblers hatch.  Strong winds and rain effectively washes their food off leaves and away (caterpillars and similar).

Some scanning from the causeway at Pitsford Res today provided a Red Kite and a Dunlin.

Further singles of Red Kite were noted at Hanging Houghton and near Kelmarsh Hall and two wind-blown Whinchats were at the southern edge of Blueberry Farm early this evening.

Regards

Neil & Eleanor

Swift
Pitsford Res

Stortons Ringing

Hi

An intrepid band of ringers did battle with the elements at Stortons Gravel Pits yesterday morning and managed some ringing before it became too windy.  A Water Rail caught and ringed is now one of several during the year and further evidence that this site is no longer just a wintering area.  The capture of a Kingfisher is unusual for this time of year and suggests it is breeding nearby.  Some good numbers of Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats is also welcoming.  Whilst on-site, other birds seen and heard included Hobby, Cuckoo and Little Egret.

Regards

Neil M