Strathclyde Loch

Did a walk with Patricia along the Crest Road late morning in the hope that the Little Gull or even an Arctic Tern might still be present. It was not to be.

Plenty of Sand Martin, a few Swallows and singing Willow Warblers. I also suspected some White Wagtails but they were in flight over the other side of the loch so I couldn't be sure.

Unfortunately not today !

Sun Room Extension Update

Lesser Scaup

It has finally got warm enough to leave the house and start Spring birding. A balmy 15 degrees this pm!

Bound to be some Sand Martin about, how about down Greenock way and a chance to snigger at some Morton supporters.

Real reason for heading that way was to see the Drake Lesser Scaup that has been at Auchendores Reservoir for months. The presumed bird showed immediately albeit miles away with Tufted Duck. I say immediately, it did take me at least half an hour to find the reservoir ! A few Sand Martin proved that Spring had arrived.

After jamming in on the Yank, I walked along the litter strewn Clyde at Port Glasgow :

Birds included 1 Summer plumage Slavonian Grebe, 2 Red Throated Diver, Eider, Merganser, 1 Razorbill and 3 Sandwich Tern.

Grand Designs

Work has been progressing well at Chateau H on the new Sun Room/Bird Photography Area:

Goshawks

Weather today looked good for attempting to see displaying Goshawks at Kielder.

Within minutes of starting to scan I had one in the sky over the trees. Saw several fairly well after that too. In truth that was about all I saw of any great interest. Several Goldeneye, Goosander, Teal and Canada Goose on the lake. A single Chiffchaff but unlike 2 years ago no Crossbill. Nice place though:

  

Blackpool

Rachel and her SLS Allstars were competing in Blackpool in a cheerleading competition & so me & Patricia headed down with them for the weekend.

I was fortunately spared the ordeal of sitting through 10 hours of extreme tedium and buggered off birding to Marton Mere instead. I didn't even mind the rain and biting easterly.

Marton Mere's main claim to fame is probably the Long Eared Owl roost and after a bit of searching I located 2 birds obscured in the scrub. A flight view of a Bittern, Water Rail and a calling Chiffchaff were also notable.

On the Sunday we went up to Piling where Little Egret, Red Legged Partridge, Stock Dove & Chiffchaff were seen.

Some Local Year Ticks

I have been off work this week and have spent the last two days moving and potting up plants in the back garden in preparation for the sun room extension.

Whilst the last two days have been blessed with glorious sunshine, today was dull grey and cold with a biting easterly. At Cathkin I picked up year ticks in the form of Skylark & Water Rail but failed to find any Jack Snipe.

At Hogganfield I had a drake R**** D***.