Ring Necked Duck

I was the 2nd car in the car park at 09:45 this morning but by lunchtime there were no spaces at all. I have rarely seen Caerlaverock busier. I am supposing it is something to do with the exposure it got from Autumnwatch ?

Overall it was an unremarkable day. What Barnacle Geese there were were in far flung fields or out on the merse. Most of the fields are still flooded & presumably less attractive to the Geese.

Barnacle Geese - from a previous visit

 Best bird was the 1st winter Ring Necked Duck. During the swan feed it stayed right at the back of the pond perhaps adding to its credentials as a wild bird.

Drake Ring Necked Duck

Even at distance it was easily picked out but the contrast between the grey flanks & the white on the breast. To continue the American theme, the drake Green Winged Teal was also on the Folly Pond.

Little Grebe

Drake Scaup

Drake Wigeon

South Cathkin

I have signed up for the 2016 Patchwork Challenge. I am hoping that it is going to encourage me to get out more locally. I have named it "South Cathkin" and it covers both Cathkin Marsh & the Heritage Loch. I have no idea how many species I am going to see & I am hoping I am going to stick to it.

The Heritage Loch is a popular local spot for walkers & joggers. There are lots of dogs & children & I am going to try & pick quiet times to visit it. Cathkin Marsh is a long standing SWT reserve & will be much quieter. I know both areas fairly well but had a bit of a trial run today. Goldeneye, Goosander & Snipe were the best at Heritage.

Common Snipe - I hope to see Jack in 2016

At Cathkin Marsh, Short Eared Owl have been the attraction of late. Today there were 3 birds present. A Raven was also of note.

Yellowhammer & Reed Bunting are present in small numbers

Short Eared Owls

Opportunities of late to get out have been restricted by the awful weather. Any time I've been free its been chucking it down. The forecast for today was much better but it dawned quite foggy & so it was late morning before I ventured out.

First stop was Hogganfield. There was nothing particularly unusual & I spent most of my time trying to take Gulls in flight & some of the wintering ducks.

Mid afternoon I headed to Cathkin Marsh in the hope of seeing some of the 5 Short Eared Owls that have been seen regularly of late. There were 2 birds present almost constantly. Getting a decent shot was another matter.

There were also 3 Stonechat, 2 calling Water Rails & a small mixed flock of Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting & Chaffinch.

Millichen, Hogganfield & Frankfield

It was a wet morning in Glasgow & after pottering around Dobbies in the hope the rain might ease I drove round to Millichen in the hope that I might see a Tree Sparrow.... I didn't.

The rain had by now eased off & so I pressed on to Hogganfield in the hope that I might see a Ruddy Duck.... I didn't. I decided to walk on towards Frankfield via Cardowan Moss. The walk through the woodland produced 2 Buzzards, several small birds and a Roe Deer. Frankfield Loch held 7 Gadwall & 1 Shoveler.

By the time I got back to Hogganfield it was 4pm and I stayed for a while watching some of the birds close to the car park.

 

Turnberry & Maidens

Floated closer as I kept still

Goldies - 1st I've seen in Scotland this year

Moved by a rising tide

Pied Wagtail

Purple Sand - I was nearly caught out by a rising tide taking this

Floating seaweed on Turnberry beach

Stonechats came quite close

Stonechat - I like the simplicity of this shot

Turnberry Lighthouse

Late Autumn Garden

Shetland - Day 8

The final day was again good weathe wise although produced nothing new initially.

Had a Velvet Scoter & Sanderling at Grutness & jammed in on a good view of an Olive Backed Pipit at Toab before I had to head for Lerwick & the overnight boat to Aberdeen.

Shetland - Day 7

Another pleasant day weather wise with a light southerly wind.

Geosetter - C10 Goldcrest, Blackcap & Reed Bunting.

Sumburgh - Richard's Pipit, 4 Jack Snipe, 1 Blackcap, 4 Wheatear, C50 Skylark.

Scatness - 44 Barnacle Geese, 1 Blackcap, 3 Wheatear.

Pool of Virkie - ~Goldeneye, RB Merganser & Bar Tailed Godwit & other common waders on a falling tide:

Shetland - Day 6

Altogether a much better day weatherwise with high hopes of seeing some good birds after the last 2 days rain & SE winds.

Geosetter had at least 20 Goldcrests and still lots of Redwing going through & I spent some time trying to get some shots of the former:

Small fast moving birds aint easy !

The variety of birds at Quendale was much better. I also 'found' the famous quarry for the first time & it was full of Goldcrests & Blackcaps & Chiffchaffs & 1 Willow Warbler. I reckoned these were a good shout for Sibe Chiff:

Very Grey

At Quendale I also saw Jack Snipe, Hen Harrier & Peregrine.

In the afternoon I had a single Brambling at Scalloway.

Scalloway