American Coot - a bonus tick



Our fantastic trip to Scotland included a bonus life tick for me too. We booked the weekend away back in late 2013 and before the now long staying American Coot was found on Loch Flemington, just a few miles from Inverness Airport, where we were flying into. Just 10 minutes after leaving the airport we pulled up at Loch Flemington, and there it was - tick. I now have as many ticks in the first 9 weeks of 2014 as I had in the first 9 months of 2013!       
  

 

   

A few more Highland highlights

A last few pics from last weekend's trip to bonnie Scotland.

 

Red Grouse up Cairngorm

 



Record shot of a Golden Eagle in Findhorn Valley

 

 

Crested Tit - Loch Garten

 



Red Squirrel - Loch Garten

 



Snow Bunting - one of c60 in the car park at the Cairngorm ski centre

Mountain Hare

Another highlight from our trip to the Highlands of Scotland last weekend was getting up close to this Mountain Hare. It didn't seem to be bothered by us as it snoozed in the afternoon sun.

Ptarmigan - ptastic in the Cairngorms

On Saturday I spent an amazing morning up Cairngorm, in the Highlands of Scotland with Shaun Harvey, Dave Morrison, Paul Hawkins and wildlife photographer, guide, and as we discovered, generally good bloke, e-birder; Marcus Conway. See www.ebirder.net

Stomping up Cairngorm in winter is not for the faint hearted and you need to be prepared for a hard slog in you want a chance of seeing the iconic winter plumaged Ptarmigan. After walking for approximately an hour we got to the spot where Marcus had seen a small flock of the birds the previous day. Eagle eyed Hawky, lifted his bins and predicable was straight onto one, then two, and possibly more. We were looking up a steep slope, to Windy Ridge, it looked not very far away, but it would take 45 minutes plus to circle our way up to reach the height where they could be found.

We spent the next couple of hours finding more and more Ptarmigan, some singles, some in twos, but often in double figure flocks. Not far from the highest point of Windy Ridge we spotted a bigger flock, of what we initially thought was at least 20 individuals, then as we approached more and more appeared in front of us. We estimated we had at least 50 birds gathered in a super-flock. By taking our time the birds were quite approachable, allowing some nice shots.      
              

 

Spending quality time with these beautiful birds was one of my favourite birding experiences in the British Isles and one I will never forget. 

 

Further posts to follow from our trip to Scotland including catching up with most of the Scottish specialities as well as a lost Coot.   

Happy birthday to me! Yellow Rumped Warbler, Durham

Most people spend there birthday opening cards and presents and generally being pampered. I spent my birthday, yesterday, driving 260+ miles to High Shincliffe, in Durham, to see a rare Yellow-Rumped Warbler, which was over here from the US on its winter hols. I have seen probably dozens of these birds in America, including a number of smart adult males, but it is a very rare visitor to main land England, so it may be a long time until another is available over here.  

Lee Brown and I set off around 4.30am in very windy conditions. After a major diversion due to debris on the motorway from the high winds and the compulsory McDs stop for breakfast, we arrived on site approx. 4.5 hours later.

On route we had news that the bird was still there and were lucky to have it on view as soon as we arrived. We enjoyed lovely views through the bins and scope for around an hour. Shame the light was so poor, as you'll see by the crappy record shots below.

We left the surprisingly small crowd  of c40 to go look for Waxwings and Willow Tit, neither of which we could find. We had another 30 minutes with the warbler, as well as Bradders Jnr, Filthy Twitcher, Jono and Nick Croft, who had arrived later, after prioritising a fry up over the bird, which by now being far more elusive.

   
 

Happy with the views we had  we  decided to head home. 4.5 hours later I was home. The champagne was in the fridge and my lovely wife, Julia, had baked a cake. Happy birthday to me! 

Don't look down

About a year ago Dave Morrison and I arranged for a Peregrine nest box to be installed on the to pod a 22 storey tower block in East London. For obvious reasons I can't divulge the exact location. Just a couple of months after it was in place the Peregrines successfully bred. With this year's breeding season just around the corner it was time to clean the box out in preparation for this year's breeding attempt.

Like a giant cat litter tray

 

My 13 year old son, Jamie joined, me, Hawky and Dave Mo to the top of the block, where we had to disassemble the scaffold housing before lifting the box off the ledge it was on, to clean it out. At 22 storeys up it was not for the faint hearted, especially if you are not good with heights. Dave had to put on a harness and climb over onto the ledge which he seemed to take is his stride, something I am not sure I could have done.

Dave Mo braving it over the ledge

 

Cleaned out and ready to go back out

 

Both the male and female were on site. The female played it cool sitting on another tower block but the male was much more inquisitive, having a couple of close fly pasts, checking out what we were doing to his box. 

Keeping an eye on proceedings

 

Not much in the way of prey remains were found this time. When undertaking viewings of potential sites 18 months ago we found amongst the pigeon carcasses Teal, Redshank and a few Woodcock.

So here's to another successful breeding season. Keep up the good work Mo. You never know we may get a web cam in the box by this time next year. Watch this space.

 Back in place ready for the 2014 breeding season

 

 Yours truly 

Cracking Kent

Another great half day out birding with Lee, this time in Kent.  Our first target was Hume's Leaf Warbler in Ramsgate Cemetery. The bird showed pretty well most of the time we were there, but usually at the tops of the trees and was very mobile. Also seen on site a smart Firecrest and a zillion Ring Necked Parakeets.
 

Record shot of Hume's Leaf Warbler 

 

Next we headed up the road to the Foreness Point in search of Snow Buntings. Surprisingly they were not easy to locate, but eventually we found a dozen or so, feeding on the cliff face.   



Fulmar

 

For me the highlight of the day was enjoying the waders on the foreshore, and in particular these Purple Sandpipers. Five birds showed really well as the tide quickly came in. Other birds seen included Redshank, Curler, Turnstone, Sanderling and Ringed Plover.    

 



 

Camouflaged well in the weeds