Wednesday 28 April 2010
28 Apr 10 The First Swift
On the way home from work on the 28 th Apr 10 my first Swift of the year was over the Clyde at Dalmarnock.
Saturday 24 April 2010
24 Apr 10 Lancashire
I was off down the M74 by 4:15 am. Following a coffee refueling stop at Killington Lake I was at Abbeystead in the Trough of Bowland by 7:15 am in the hope of connecting with the male Dotterel that had been present with Golden Plovers over the past 2 days.
On arrival at Abbeystead Lane I quickly found a couple of Golden Plover but they disappeared into a dip in the field and it was a full 40 mins before a flock of at least 30 Golden Plover took to the air and conveniently landed in the field directly in front of the car. I quickly found the Dotterel, its creamy supercilium, breast band and smaller size being evident. Other birds of interest included Lapwing, Curlew and drumming Snipe. Red Grouse could be heard from the nearby hillsides.
After an unnecessary detour through Lancaster I was at Leighton Moss by just after 9am. The weather was just glorious, warm with light winds the only downside was significant haze. The haze improved as the afternoon wore on.
I spent some time at the feeding station close to the car park in the hope of connecting with both Nuthatch and Marsh Tit. The former showed well straight away on one of the feeders but attempts at photography were thwarted by the birds tendancy to spend its time on the wrong side of the feeder. A Goldfinch was a bit more obliging:
I collected my reserve pass and wandered slowly in the direction of the Grizedale hide, looking specifically for Marsh Tit but drawing a blank (see later however). Willow Warblers and Blackcaps were in full song along the path and a Sedge Warbler was seen well in the reedbed. Bearded Tits could be heard "Pinging" from the same area and later one was seen briefly in flight. The slow churr of a single Reed Warbler could also be heard. In a couple of weeks time the reed bed will be full of them ! A Green Woodpecker was heard several times "Yaffling" from the woodland adjacient to the reserve.
On reaching the Grizedale Hide it afforded good views of Lapwing :
Both male and female Marsh Harrier were regularly seen quartering the reed bed. Other birds of note from Grizedale included Gadwall, Teal and Pochard.
Next stop was Lilian's hide and the usual throng of Black Headed Gulls. There was also 2 Little Gulls with them and they regularly took flight showing off their black underwings and swooping to 'flycatch' insects from the surface of the water. Some shots of the birds on the water with Black Headed Gulls:
Also of particular note was a Greenland White Fronted Goose present amongst the feral Greylag and Canada Geese:
2 Marsh Tits showed really well in the woodland on the way back to the centre. It is some years since I saw this species and it is good to see them come through the awful winter we've had.
I then headed round to the Allen Pools on Morecambe Bay. This site can be a hit or a miss, often dependent on the state of the tide. Today the tide was high and it was definitely a hit ! Avocets have been present at this site for a number of years, how long before they colonise South West Scotland ? A symbol of bird conservation in the UK:
Wildfowl included Shelduck, Wigeon and Shoveler and the always attractive Pintail. There were at least 4 Pintails present, this being one of the males:
A roosting flock of Redshank had gathered to the left of the Eric Morecambe Hide and the flock included a splendid Spring plumaged Spotted Redshank. Here are several images of the bird in between preening in the Spring sunshine :
Other waders of interest included c5 Black Tailed Godwits and 4 Summer plumaged Dunlin. There was also a single Winter plumaged Dunlin present.
2 Ravens disturbed a Peregrine on the saltmarsh and the latter sat up for some time on a dead tree far out on the saltmarsh. A Kestrel completed the list of raptors.
Other birds of interest included 2 Little Egrets and my 1st Whitethroat of the summer was singing from the railway embankment.
I finished the day off by spending some time just West of the reserve at the Little Owl site of a few years ago. Scanning for this species proved unsuccessful, but both singing Blackcap and Garden Warbler were nice with both male and female of the former showing well. A Wheatear was also present.
Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker were also heard and a Sparrowhawk was seen over the woodland. It really was a most enjoyable days birding. Roll on the next one !
On arrival at Abbeystead Lane I quickly found a couple of Golden Plover but they disappeared into a dip in the field and it was a full 40 mins before a flock of at least 30 Golden Plover took to the air and conveniently landed in the field directly in front of the car. I quickly found the Dotterel, its creamy supercilium, breast band and smaller size being evident. Other birds of interest included Lapwing, Curlew and drumming Snipe. Red Grouse could be heard from the nearby hillsides.
After an unnecessary detour through Lancaster I was at Leighton Moss by just after 9am. The weather was just glorious, warm with light winds the only downside was significant haze. The haze improved as the afternoon wore on.
I spent some time at the feeding station close to the car park in the hope of connecting with both Nuthatch and Marsh Tit. The former showed well straight away on one of the feeders but attempts at photography were thwarted by the birds tendancy to spend its time on the wrong side of the feeder. A Goldfinch was a bit more obliging:
I collected my reserve pass and wandered slowly in the direction of the Grizedale hide, looking specifically for Marsh Tit but drawing a blank (see later however). Willow Warblers and Blackcaps were in full song along the path and a Sedge Warbler was seen well in the reedbed. Bearded Tits could be heard "Pinging" from the same area and later one was seen briefly in flight. The slow churr of a single Reed Warbler could also be heard. In a couple of weeks time the reed bed will be full of them ! A Green Woodpecker was heard several times "Yaffling" from the woodland adjacient to the reserve.
On reaching the Grizedale Hide it afforded good views of Lapwing :
Both male and female Marsh Harrier were regularly seen quartering the reed bed. Other birds of note from Grizedale included Gadwall, Teal and Pochard.
Next stop was Lilian's hide and the usual throng of Black Headed Gulls. There was also 2 Little Gulls with them and they regularly took flight showing off their black underwings and swooping to 'flycatch' insects from the surface of the water. Some shots of the birds on the water with Black Headed Gulls:
Also of particular note was a Greenland White Fronted Goose present amongst the feral Greylag and Canada Geese:
2 Marsh Tits showed really well in the woodland on the way back to the centre. It is some years since I saw this species and it is good to see them come through the awful winter we've had.
I then headed round to the Allen Pools on Morecambe Bay. This site can be a hit or a miss, often dependent on the state of the tide. Today the tide was high and it was definitely a hit ! Avocets have been present at this site for a number of years, how long before they colonise South West Scotland ? A symbol of bird conservation in the UK:
Wildfowl included Shelduck, Wigeon and Shoveler and the always attractive Pintail. There were at least 4 Pintails present, this being one of the males:
A roosting flock of Redshank had gathered to the left of the Eric Morecambe Hide and the flock included a splendid Spring plumaged Spotted Redshank. Here are several images of the bird in between preening in the Spring sunshine :
Other waders of interest included c5 Black Tailed Godwits and 4 Summer plumaged Dunlin. There was also a single Winter plumaged Dunlin present.
2 Ravens disturbed a Peregrine on the saltmarsh and the latter sat up for some time on a dead tree far out on the saltmarsh. A Kestrel completed the list of raptors.
Other birds of interest included 2 Little Egrets and my 1st Whitethroat of the summer was singing from the railway embankment.
I finished the day off by spending some time just West of the reserve at the Little Owl site of a few years ago. Scanning for this species proved unsuccessful, but both singing Blackcap and Garden Warbler were nice with both male and female of the former showing well. A Wheatear was also present.
Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker were also heard and a Sparrowhawk was seen over the woodland. It really was a most enjoyable days birding. Roll on the next one !
Sunday 18 April 2010
16-18 Apr 10 Speyside
Myself, Patricia & the girls left Cambuslang about 10 am on the 16 th & whilst stocking up for the journey at Morrisons a Blackcap was singing from scrub adjacient to the river.
The journey north on a beautiful Spring day produced a Jay over the A9 just north of Perth. An unscheduled stop caused by a coach crash further up the A9 held us up for about an hour but provided some singing Redpolls in the conifers above the road.
After a coffee & cake stop in Newtonmore we arrived at the B&B near Nethy Bridge around 3pm. After more tea we headed out for a walk in the woods just west of Boat of Garten. Crested Tit had been reported here a few days ago but none were present today. I got a good look at 2 male Scottish Crossbills out of a party of perhaps 5 or 6 Crossbils. The head and bill shape and size was particularly arresting, the upper mandible in particular being significantly curved with a real "conk" on it. I had never seen Crossbills in Speyside before other than flyovers but I was as confident as one can be that I was looking at Scottish Crossbill. Bird number 388 for Britain !
The woods also held small parties of Siskin along with both Coal Tit and Goldcrest.
I was up at 5pm (myself) on the 17th and headed for Tulloch Moor. It was still almost dark when I arrived at the screen that the RSPB have erected to allow birders to see the Blackcock lek without disturbing the birds. Through the murk, on what was quite a windy dawn. I saw flashes of white in the distance. Either they were displaying Blackcock or could they perhaps be rabbits? As the light improved, I was able to confirm the former. Some record shots of the birds:
At least 3 males were on show on and off for just over an hour & I watched them in the company of only 3 other people.
I headed round to the Osprey Centre for about 6:45 am and the chap at the booth showed me a male Caper on the video camera that was also likely to be showing from the hide. I quickly paid my £1 and headed in that direction. I met another 10 or so birders coming in the other direction. They had obviously seen all they needed to see and this was promising in terms of making the hide less busy. I have been up here before and people have been standing 3 deep making it difficult to see anything !
The hide was still reasonably busy but right away there was a female Caper on show on the top of a fairly close dead tree:
There were also 2 male Capers present, one of which displayed frequently. The following record shot was obtained:
A Buzzard and 2 Ospreys were other birds of note. One of the Ospreys:
After our full English in the B&B I dropped Patricia & the Girls in Aviemore for a couple of hours whilst I went birding. One of the bigger lochans on the north east side of Aviemore failed to come up with any Slav Grebes although there were at least 4 Little Grebe, 6 Wigeon and C8 Goldeneye present.
By the time I got to Garten Woods, the wind was starting to pick up and despite a slow walk through the woodland I failed to connect with Crested Tit or indeed much else. I haven't always seen Cresties here but I am sure that the really hard winter will have taken its toll and has made it more difficult.
In the afternoon we headed up the A9 and did the Findhorn Valley. By the time we reached the head of the valley the wind was very strong and not at all condusive for Golden Eagle and not surprisingly we drew a blank. An Osprey was seen from the car together with a Buzzard and a few Lapwing, Curlew and Oystercatcher. A Common Gull helped Rachel eat her sandwich !
Sunday the 18th dawned dull and wet with frequent snow showers, the temperature at 6am was only 1.5 degrees. I was tempted to stay in bed but instead headed round to the woods west of Boat of Garten. By 6:30 am the snow was falling quite steadily and the chances of Crested Tit looked slim. I saw 2 or 3 small parties of Crossbill in flight. I detected differences in the flight calls of different birds. Some sounded much hoarser than others. I therefore assume, based on call, that I am seeing 2 species of Crossbill in these woods ?
There was little else in the woods. A Great Spoted Woodpecker could be heard drumming distantly and a Raven flew over calling.
I scanned the pools on the other side of the road and noted 20 Wigeon, 8 Teal, 1 Greenshank and 1 Redshank.
It had been a very enjoyable weekend !
The journey north on a beautiful Spring day produced a Jay over the A9 just north of Perth. An unscheduled stop caused by a coach crash further up the A9 held us up for about an hour but provided some singing Redpolls in the conifers above the road.
After a coffee & cake stop in Newtonmore we arrived at the B&B near Nethy Bridge around 3pm. After more tea we headed out for a walk in the woods just west of Boat of Garten. Crested Tit had been reported here a few days ago but none were present today. I got a good look at 2 male Scottish Crossbills out of a party of perhaps 5 or 6 Crossbils. The head and bill shape and size was particularly arresting, the upper mandible in particular being significantly curved with a real "conk" on it. I had never seen Crossbills in Speyside before other than flyovers but I was as confident as one can be that I was looking at Scottish Crossbill. Bird number 388 for Britain !
The woods also held small parties of Siskin along with both Coal Tit and Goldcrest.
I was up at 5pm (myself) on the 17th and headed for Tulloch Moor. It was still almost dark when I arrived at the screen that the RSPB have erected to allow birders to see the Blackcock lek without disturbing the birds. Through the murk, on what was quite a windy dawn. I saw flashes of white in the distance. Either they were displaying Blackcock or could they perhaps be rabbits? As the light improved, I was able to confirm the former. Some record shots of the birds:
At least 3 males were on show on and off for just over an hour & I watched them in the company of only 3 other people.
I headed round to the Osprey Centre for about 6:45 am and the chap at the booth showed me a male Caper on the video camera that was also likely to be showing from the hide. I quickly paid my £1 and headed in that direction. I met another 10 or so birders coming in the other direction. They had obviously seen all they needed to see and this was promising in terms of making the hide less busy. I have been up here before and people have been standing 3 deep making it difficult to see anything !
The hide was still reasonably busy but right away there was a female Caper on show on the top of a fairly close dead tree:
There were also 2 male Capers present, one of which displayed frequently. The following record shot was obtained:
A Buzzard and 2 Ospreys were other birds of note. One of the Ospreys:
After our full English in the B&B I dropped Patricia & the Girls in Aviemore for a couple of hours whilst I went birding. One of the bigger lochans on the north east side of Aviemore failed to come up with any Slav Grebes although there were at least 4 Little Grebe, 6 Wigeon and C8 Goldeneye present.
By the time I got to Garten Woods, the wind was starting to pick up and despite a slow walk through the woodland I failed to connect with Crested Tit or indeed much else. I haven't always seen Cresties here but I am sure that the really hard winter will have taken its toll and has made it more difficult.
In the afternoon we headed up the A9 and did the Findhorn Valley. By the time we reached the head of the valley the wind was very strong and not at all condusive for Golden Eagle and not surprisingly we drew a blank. An Osprey was seen from the car together with a Buzzard and a few Lapwing, Curlew and Oystercatcher. A Common Gull helped Rachel eat her sandwich !
Sunday the 18th dawned dull and wet with frequent snow showers, the temperature at 6am was only 1.5 degrees. I was tempted to stay in bed but instead headed round to the woods west of Boat of Garten. By 6:30 am the snow was falling quite steadily and the chances of Crested Tit looked slim. I saw 2 or 3 small parties of Crossbill in flight. I detected differences in the flight calls of different birds. Some sounded much hoarser than others. I therefore assume, based on call, that I am seeing 2 species of Crossbill in these woods ?
There was little else in the woods. A Great Spoted Woodpecker could be heard drumming distantly and a Raven flew over calling.
I scanned the pools on the other side of the road and noted 20 Wigeon, 8 Teal, 1 Greenshank and 1 Redshank.
It had been a very enjoyable weekend !
Sunday 11 April 2010
11 April 10 One Swallow................
Another beautiful Spring day prompted lots of work in the garden.
The 1st Chiffchaff was 'singing' from the railway embankment and a Swallow (1st for the year) went over mid afternoon.
A pair of Blue Tits continue to prospect the nest box. Hope it's sufficiently out of reach of the cats !
The 1st Chiffchaff was 'singing' from the railway embankment and a Swallow (1st for the year) went over mid afternoon.
A pair of Blue Tits continue to prospect the nest box. Hope it's sufficiently out of reach of the cats !
10 Apr 10 Innerleithen & Musselburgh
Another warm spring day, temperatures mid afternoon got up to 18 degrees, only spoilt by significant haze.
I was at Innerleithen this time last year, albeit very much earlier in the day, and saw several Black Grouse though distant. Today, despite much scanning of the hillsides I did not locate any. I saw a Grouse briefly but it looked like a Red.
A Dipper showed well on several occasions and breeding waders included Curlew, Lapwing and Snipe. Many Buzzards and a Kestel were seen.
From the car on the road round towards Heriot there was a Wheatear.
I went up the A7 towards Edinburgh and stopped at Musselburgh. There wasn't a lot on the scrapes but the birds there include c10 Curlew, 1 Snipe and a Shelduck. Several Sand Martin were also present. There was also c 20 Teal on the scrapes including this male:
A Chiffchaff was singing in the trees behind the scrapes.
I moved round to the sea wall and the conditions were flat calm in complete contrast to a fortnight ago. There were several groups of Velvet Scoter and Eider. 3 Long Tailed Duck were present including 2 males in full summer plumage. 2 summer plumage Slavonian Grebe were close in and there was also 2 distant Razorbills.
Several Chiffchaffs could be heard singing around the boating pond area.
I was at Innerleithen this time last year, albeit very much earlier in the day, and saw several Black Grouse though distant. Today, despite much scanning of the hillsides I did not locate any. I saw a Grouse briefly but it looked like a Red.
A Dipper showed well on several occasions and breeding waders included Curlew, Lapwing and Snipe. Many Buzzards and a Kestel were seen.
From the car on the road round towards Heriot there was a Wheatear.
I went up the A7 towards Edinburgh and stopped at Musselburgh. There wasn't a lot on the scrapes but the birds there include c10 Curlew, 1 Snipe and a Shelduck. Several Sand Martin were also present. There was also c 20 Teal on the scrapes including this male:
A Chiffchaff was singing in the trees behind the scrapes.
I moved round to the sea wall and the conditions were flat calm in complete contrast to a fortnight ago. There were several groups of Velvet Scoter and Eider. 3 Long Tailed Duck were present including 2 males in full summer plumage. 2 summer plumage Slavonian Grebe were close in and there was also 2 distant Razorbills.
Several Chiffchaffs could be heard singing around the boating pond area.
Friday 9 April 2010
Summer Visitors Arrive in Lanarkshire
.........................well 1st time I,ve seen any !
A trip to M&D's in Motherwell on 09 April with Louise & Rachel gave me an opportunity to have a quick look round the woodland behind the theme park.
At least one Chiffchaff was singing together with 2-3 Willow Warblers on what was by far the warmest day of the year so far.
Other birds of particular note were 3-4 Redpoll and a Sparrowhawk.
A trip to M&D's in Motherwell on 09 April with Louise & Rachel gave me an opportunity to have a quick look round the woodland behind the theme park.
At least one Chiffchaff was singing together with 2-3 Willow Warblers on what was by far the warmest day of the year so far.
Other birds of particular note were 3-4 Redpoll and a Sparrowhawk.
Friday 2 April 2010
02 April 10 Cathkin
Winter weather had returned with a vengeance during the week and although the Glasgow area missed most of it, there had been a sharp frost overnight and temperatures were only 1 degree at 9 am. There was little or no wind and it was quite bright.
The walk down the hill from the car park yielded a female Kestrel. There were 4 Kestrels present this morning, this being one of the males:
Up to 3 Buzzards were also present.
Several singing Skylarks were over the braes and a few Meadow Pipit and Reed Buntings. The feeding area at the Carmunock end yieled no Yellowhammers, but 12 Tree Sparrows was a good showing.
5 Snipe and 1 Jack Snipe were flushed from the edges of Windlaw Marsh. The bubbling call of a Curlew was heard, a new species for me for this site.
Up to 15 Linnets were in the area around the stubble field. 2 Stock Doves flew out of the Big Wood and a Redpoll flew over. There was a single Long Tailed Tit close to the car park.
The walk down the hill from the car park yielded a female Kestrel. There were 4 Kestrels present this morning, this being one of the males:
Up to 3 Buzzards were also present.
Several singing Skylarks were over the braes and a few Meadow Pipit and Reed Buntings. The feeding area at the Carmunock end yieled no Yellowhammers, but 12 Tree Sparrows was a good showing.
5 Snipe and 1 Jack Snipe were flushed from the edges of Windlaw Marsh. The bubbling call of a Curlew was heard, a new species for me for this site.
Up to 15 Linnets were in the area around the stubble field. 2 Stock Doves flew out of the Big Wood and a Redpoll flew over. There was a single Long Tailed Tit close to the car park.
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