Woodcock

I was casually watching the garden birds from the sun room window this morning when I noticed a large bird fly in the direction of the house. Obviously a wader, it banked against the houses on the opposite side of the road at which stage I was able to identify it as a Woodcock. It gained height and disappeared over the rooftops. Not only was this a garden tick but it was also a very welcome year tick.

Around lunchtime I took a trip up to the Heritage Loch. The loch was frozen in places and had good numbers of Herring Gulls and a couple of Greater Black Backs. A female Pochard was about the best duck and there were 40 Lapwing on the ice.

After that I did Cathkin Marsh where 2 Stonechat were present. As well as this, a Water Rail was squealing and there were some Fieldfare around. Close to the car park there was a Yellowhammer, and a few rather confiding Reed Buntings.

Female Reed Bunting

Everything scattered as a Sparrowhawk went through.

Caerlaverock

I kind of thought I had been in Dumfries & Galloway quite a lot this year but nonetheless this was my first visit to Caerlaverock.

Weather started off reasonable bright but soon got misty and then the rain started. In truth it was a pretty grotty November day. The new Peter Scott hide is a huge improvement on its predecessor especially since you can open up the windows in the tower for photography. Not that that was particularly easy today in the gloom.

Peter Scott Tower through the gloom

A drake Green Winged Teal has been around for weeks but it took me until after lunch to find it. Eventually, it showed very well.

Green Winged Teal

Teal for comparison

Distant raptors with nothing to size them against are not easy, particularly when you don't see them very often, but I think this is a female Merlin. It's going on my year list anyway. If anybody thinks otherwise please let me know & I might have to take it off.

Merlin - I think ?

Otherwise there were a few Barnacles to look at....

Just good to be outside enjoying the riches that Scotland has to offer.

A Wet Morning at Slamannan

Taiga Bean Geese

Scilly Day 8

The boat was not until 4:30 and so there was still some time to explore including at Carreg Dhu Gardens:

A guilty looking Blackbird on the apples

Dunnock

Firecrest

and at Carn Friars where I found this Lapland Bunting:

Lapland Bunting

The boat to Penzance produced lots of Gannets and a few Kittiwakes and nearing Lands End at least one probable Balearic Shearwater.

Nearing the mainland

Scilly Day 7

My holiday was coming to an end with this being my last full day. Whilst it will not go down in the memory as one of the classic autumns, it was just good to be down here. In a way however, Scilly has lost some of its magic and although it continues to produce some good birds the dearth of common birds is more and more evident with every passing year. I'm not sure what the causes are but it is a bit depressing.

Wheatears were however present in good numbers this year - bucking the trend

Anyway with the winds veering into the north east it encouraged a good passage of Redwings and some Fieldfares. A very showy Snow Bunting on Peninnis sent my camera racing:

After that I walked round the north east side of St Mary's and captured some of the views looking out towards Tresco & St Martin's:

and around Porth Hellick:

Whilst at Porth Hellick a Jack Snipe showed very well from the Stephen Sussex hide:

Jack Snipe

and finally St Mary's Harbour:

Scilly Day 6

At £8.40 a boat ride I had vowed not to travel unnecessarily however with very little on St Mary's and the likelihood of a Sora Rail on Tresco one felt compelled.

Sora Rail

With patience the Sora showed quite well.

Best of the rest included Juvenile Garganey, Water Rail, Black Tailed Godwit and Yellow Browed Warbler.

Stonechats were also quite obliging:

Scilly Day 5

Another quiet day with little to excite.

I relocated the Wryneck below the golf course, found another Yellow Browed at Trenowith and had 2 Ravens near Telegraph.

Breaking news of a Sora on Tresco would hopefully enliven tomorrow.

Telegraph - well you kind of knew that

Amazing flora

Amazing scenery