Marsh Harrier

Started off at Tyninghame and failed to see much other than maybe 5 or 6 Greenshanks.

Kilspindie in early afternoon was better with 1 Curlew Sand, 2 Greenshank, 1 Black Tailed Godwit and 5 Little Egret. This female Marsh Harrier flew west at 2:45:

Marsh Harrier

Ruff Weekend

Taken from the wooden bridge at Aberlady:

Ruff

In total there were 5 Ruff present.

Earlier off Longniddry I had 2 Red Necked Grebes and an Arctic Skua chasing Terns. Aberlady also produced Greenshank, Black Tailed Godwit & Sanderling. There was a small raft of Common Scoter off Gullane Point.

At Baron's Haugh on the Saturday there were at least 7 Ruff, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Black Tailed Godwit & Snipe.

Black Tailed Godwit

Seawatch

Troon harbour headland on Saturday morning 9:30 to 11:30. Hundreds going on a thousand Manx going past some quite close in. All of a sudden at 11:30 nothing............. everything stopped, never experienced such an abrupt halt before. Went home.

Croatia

Super holiday to Croatia staying in the 5 star Croatia Hotel in Cavtat. A big step up in quality for us but after last year fiasco in Crete we were never going budget again. As I suspected, the range of bird species was limited, indeed I hardly used the binoculars at all. Highlights were frequent Alpine Swift over the hotel, Sardinian Warbler showing well from the hotel balcony, Yellow Legged Gull and a calling Scops Owl outside the hotel on the last evening. Spent a lot of time with the camera:

Cavtat

Cavtat

Cavtat

Cavtat

Cavtat

Dubrovnick Old Town

Dubrovnick Old Town from the City Walls

Dubrovnick Old Town from the City Walls

Dubrovnick Old Town from the City Walls

Dubrovnick

Lokrum Island

Lokrum Island

Dubrovnick from Lokrum Island

Lokrum Island

Lokrum Island

Lokrum Island

In a Mood

Croatian Sunset

Islay & Jura

Continuing the island theme of recent summers we spent 4 enjoyable days based on Islay. The weather was for the most part absolutely brilliant which really makes a place like this.

The boat journey out on the Saturday was largely uneventful with only a single Manx Shearwater of note. We were based just outside Port Ellen at Carraig Fhada.

Carraig Fhada

Next morning at 6am I was up at the Mull of Oa. Although sea level was clear up on 'the Oa' low cloud prevailed and viewing was not ideal.

The American Monument through the gloom

Nonetheless Twite & Rock Dove were notable.

Most of the rest of the day was spent over on the West Coast at Kilmaholm & Saligo Bay and at Loch Gruinart.

Saligo Bay

Choughs were had at Kilmaholm and Hen Harrier at Gruinart.

Next day was again glorious and we took the opportunity of going over to Jura. Golden Eagle was seen well and the scenery was glorious.

View from Craighouse

The Paps of Jura

Overall Islay has terrific wildlife diversity. Small birds positively abound, particularly Meadow Pipits & Linnets. Another highlight was seeing Otter daily from around the B&B. July is probably not the best time but even so there was still much to see.

Swallow in flight

Willow Warbler  - has been really scarce this year.

Spotted Sandpiper

Caught up with the summer plumage Spotted Sandpiper at Barons Haugh at 6pm today. It was on the Clyde behind the Centenary hide. I had it entirely to my self, indeed in the time I was at the Haugh (c 1 hour) I did not meet a single person. Also had a good view of a Kingfisher and 3 Common Sands.

South West Scotland

Spent 3 enjoyable days at my cousin's caravan near Glen Luce near Stranraer. The weather was terrific which helped enormously.

Although it was July I was up and out early both mornings enjoying what was on offer. We also got to Portpatrick, many many years since I had been, and Mull of Galloway that I had never been at ever before.

Barnacle Goose - Stranraer. Presumably an injured bird that did not migrate ?

Tystie in Portpatrick Harbour - a super place for the species

Fulmar in difficult light off Portpatrick Cliffs

Fulmar in better light

Another shot of the Tystie in Portpatrick Harbour

Gannet off Port Logan

Great Black Backed Gull at Stranraer

Port Logan Harbour in early morning light

Ringed Plover on Port Logan beach