Gannets

Taken off Stevenston Point :

Black Winged Pratincole

What had been a leisurely day on the Farne Islands became something else when a Black Winged Pratincole turned up at Bothal Pond near Ashington. Being about 25 miles from Seahouses I was on site by about 6:30pm. I had dipped one in Cumbria back in the early 90's so it was good to catch up. The bird spent most of its time on the far away bank & with no scope I was reliant on looking through someone else's.  Just before 8pm however, it decided to get up & fly around and got quite close on occasion. Here is a rubbish record shot:

The Farne Islands were their usual brilliant selves. I managed to get on to 2 Roseate Terns near the jetty but otherwise it was just the usual seabirds, smells & divebombing from the Arctic Terns.

Bank Holiday Weekend Catchup

Started on Friday morning at Glen Finglas trying to nail some more summer visitors before there are too many leaves on the trees.

A Spotted Flycatcher showed well in trees close to the start & I was soon hearing Wood Warbler & Tree Pipit but frustratingly & despite much searching I failed to secure any Pied Flycatcher. Redstarts though were fairly easy although getting a good shot is a bit more difficult:

Male Redstart

In the more open areas Tree Pipit were a bit more obvious & I got a good view of a Cuckoo out on the open moorland. Encouragingly, Willow Warblers seem a bit more plentiful this year. This one gathering nest material:

Willow Warbler perched in broom

I climbed up on to Lendrick Hill through the trees and got a brief view of a Woodcock as it flew. It's not a bird I see very often so it was very welcome despite the brevity of view. A couple of singing Garden Warbler were also notable.

On Saturday I went to Saltcoats Harbour hoping to jam in on some of the good Skua passage this year. It was a glorious morning with light winds and not ideal for Skuas. I did manage both Arctic & Bonxie but none of the rarer ones. Nonetheless, it was still an entertaining couple of hours with a good variety of coastal species including both Red & Black Throated Diver, Common Scoter, Black Guillemot, Kittiwake & Pink Footed Goose. Eiders with young also added to the mix:

I stopped off on the way home at Lochwinnoch hoping to see the 2 male Garganey but unfortunately they remained out of site. I managed reeling Grasshopper Warbler for a year tick and the nesting Mute Swans at the end of the Dubbs Water Trail already had 4 cygnets:

Encouraged by Saltcoats on Saturday I was down again on Sunday. Viability was a lot better and it was a lot windier although there was an element of north in it. Over 2-3 hours I didn't see any Skuas but I was kept entertained by lots of Gannets, Razorbill, Manx Shearwater, Sandwich Tern & Red Throated Divers. A fairly obliging Black Guillemot was on the rocks below the tower:

After a scone & coffee to heat me up I went round to Stevenston Point via the pond at Auchenharvie golf course. A Pink Footed Goose allowed a close shot:

I spent about an hour watching off Stevenston Point but by now the sun was making things difficult. A couple of close Fulmar was notable.

I stopped again at Lochwinnoch on the way home & caught up with 2 of the 3 male Garganey. One was significantly into eclipse plumage indicating perhaps that it has already bred & that there is a female tucked away on eggs somewhere.

Leighton Moss and Burnbanks

Started at the Allen Pools at 7:45am. I picked up a couple of Med Gulls loafing away from the main Black Headed Gull colonies. Avocets were their usual bossy selves which they probably have to be with all the Gulls around.

Gadwall were busy chasing each other around & I caught this one in flight:

I moved round to the Eric Morecambe hide and all of a sudden all hell broke loose as a Peregrine dived in grabbed a Black Headed Gull and as it made off dropped it again.

2 Little Egrets were also present.

On the main reserve I was quickly hearing & seeing Reed Warblers & Marsh Harriers respectively. From the Lower Hide I watched 2 Otters & Great Crested Grebe.

A very tame Pheasant posed for his picture:

I wish I could get Marsh Marigold to grow as well as this in my garden pond:

After lunch I spent some time in both Lilian & Grizedale hides.

Drake Shoveler in flight

Noisy parties of Greylag are always a feature:

By late afternoon I drove up to Burnbanks in Cumbria in the hope of catching up with some of the oak woodland specialties. I managed Spotted Flycatcher but not Pied Flycatcher and there were several Wood Warbler but no Tree Pipit. A distant calling Green Woodpecker was added to the list.