Collared Flycatcher at St Abbs

Showed fairly well on and off around the boathouse in very misty conditions.

Unfortunately the male Sub Alpine Warbler from yesterday could not be relocated. Find it hard to believe it had departed overnight given the conditions.

Pied Billed Grebe

My morning's work at Loch Thom this morning, hardly worth it....

Speyside

Good Friday was set fair weather wise and ideal for a trip to one of my favourite parts of Scotland, particularly at this time of year.

I reached Loch Garten with it still dark and time for a coffee before "caper watch". Sunrise over the Ospreys at Loch Garten:

Soon a male Caper was on show, never close but as good a view as I think I have ever had. It was obviously strutting its stuff to something, tail fanned & the occasional jump. The hide was busying & I decided to move on to Tulloch Moor.

Its been a few years since I was last at Tulloch Moor here and the road down is now 'private' although it didn't seem to deter some ! Again the Black Grouse showed pretty well with 2 females in trees and a displaying male on the ground. Added bonus here included singing Tree Pipit & Willow Warbler.

Loch Garten in the morning sunlight was a picture:

Loch Garten in Spring morning sunshine

Reflection of the trees in the loch

Apart from Crested Tit most of the target species were present including Crossbill sp, Redstart, Common Sandpiper, Siskin & Redpoll. I am always taken by the lichens on the trees and the abundant food supply was attracting lots of Treecreepers:

Treecreeper on a lichen covered tree

Carrying Food

Next stop was Lochindorb for Red Grouse and there were plenty:

After lunch I headed to the Findhorn Valley and got lucky with a tour van stopped at the roadside about half way down the valley enjoying a Golden Eagle in the sky with a mobbing Buzzard. A good opportunity for appreciating the obvious size difference of the two species.

Wheatears were plentiful, but I could not pin point a probable singing Ring Ouzel. Some exploration of a mountain stream produced Dipper:

Dipper

Common Gull attracted to my sandwiches

Findhorn Valley

Shows Yer Bars

Never having seen Two Barred Crossbill the prospect of going to see the 5+ wintering in South Yorkshire has been a continual temptation but the drive & the short days & of course the inability to get out my pit early enough have up until now conspired against me. A single reliable one a wee bit closer in Greater Manchester and the lengthening days finally encouraged me to go and by 11:30 am I was on site. Getting lost in Bury and initially being at the wrong car park at Saddleworth Moor explained the lateness of the hour especially considering I left Glasgow at 5am.

The Crossbill had apparently shown at 09:30 but not since & so I settled myself for a long wait. Not a bit of its because by 11:50 I heard "chip, chip, chip" and 3 Crossbill arrived in nearby larches including the male Two Barred:

Soon the 3 birds flew off and there seemed little point in hanging around and I headed back West to Leighton Moss for some lunch and some leisurely afternoon birding.

Marsh Harriers were much in evidence and I caught up with some early migrants such as Sand Martin, Swallow & Willow Warbler. Avocets & Black Tailed Godwits were good at the Allen Pools.

Great Crested Grebe

Very tame Pheasant 

Black Headed Gull