Suffolk Warblers

We parked up at Lakenheath this morning at 6am and took the long walk out to Joist Fen. On arrival there was another guy listening and looking for DB'S Marsh Warbler which we heard as we approached and saw straight away sitting up belting out it's full repertoire which seemed to include a little Nightingale some Song Thrush and Blackbird with a little Serin and a few others for good measure. Shame he has no female around to show interest in his talents.

Marsh Warbler

The bird was joined by Reed and Sedge Warblers and Cetti's called from the same area.
Bitterns were seen as we waited and we had views of several Cuckoo and Marsh Harriers along with single Sprawk, Buzzard, Kestrel and Hobby.

Sedge Warbler

A Kingfisher was feeding and more Bitterns were seen in flight along with a few Beardies. On the walk back we picked up the call of a Grasshopper Warbler to give me a year tick and for the Jims there first Garden Warbler of the year.

From Lakenheath we moved on to Brandon about five miles away and parking up in the narrow lane that is Gashouse Drove we walked down the footpath and into the woodland area where we heard the Wood Warbler calling and very quickly got eyes on it. Always in the dark canopy it was difficult to get  the camera on it but with a high ISO I managed a couple of shots.

Wood Warbler

Wood Warbler

A real Warbler fest including....Marsh,Wood, Cettis, Grasshopper, Garden , Willow, Sedge and Reed.

Year list now 236

White-winged Black Tern at Rutland

As I'm driving down the A1 today news came through of a White-winged Black Tern on Lagoon 4 at Rutland Water so I made the ten mile detour and paid the £5,70 entrance fee before walking out to Lagoon 4. I failed to find the Tern on the lagoon so starting searching other hides before finally finding it from Lapwing Hide. It returned to lagoon 4 to rest between feeds and I managed a record shot of it both in flight and sitting on it's roost stone.

White-winged Black Tern

White-winged Black Tern at Rutland Water

With Garden Warbler also seen today the year list now sits at 233.

Night Heron Dingle Park

On the way up north on Wednesday for a work thing I stopped off in Shrewsbury to look for the Night Heron that's spent a couple of weeks there. I Parked up at the entrance to Dingle Park paid the £3 for 2 hours parking and followed the signs for the Quarry and within seconds of walking through the gates I had seen the Night Heron sitting on the bank in full view. I took a few shots before it flew into deeper cover but after a while it flew back and landed on a small boardwalk giving ridiculously good views.

Black crowned Night Heron

Night Heron

Night Heron in a fabulous setting

Year list now 231

Day trip to Titchwell

We set off early this morning arriving at Choseley Barns at 7.30am where I scoped the Dotterel in the rain without too much help from the Jims who already had the tick from a recent twitch in Herts. Once I found the birds their mood changed and they jumped out to enjoy distant views along with Grey & Red-legged Partridge with Corn Bunting also adding value.

Red-legged Partridge in the rain

After putting news out we moved on to Titchwell where we found a few good birds......Turtle Dove in the car park, Spotted Flycatcher by the picnic area, Swifts over the reedbed before arriving at Freshmarsh where we picked out Little Stint and Little Tern.

Blackwit at Titchwell in cracking light

Cormorant taking on an Eel

Little Stint

Turtle Dove

Sedge Warbler

On the way home we diverted to Fen Drayton where a couple of hours gave only good views of a few Hobby but we failed the nail the Red-foot amongst them.

Year list now 230

Scotland 2017 best of the rest

A few more images from this weeks Scotland trip.

Wheatear on Handa Island

Arctic Skua

Bill after seeing his first Great Skua        "it was this big!"

Great Skua calling it's mate.

Bonxie

Great Skua

Findhorn Valley

Great Northern Diver

Mountain Goat in the Findhorn Valley

Mountain Hare Findhorn Valley

Snow Bunting at Cairn Gorm

Ring Ouzel on the footpath at Cairn Gorm

Orchid at Kilchoan  (Purple Orchid if I had to guess)

Pair of Ptarmigan at Applecross

In the middle of it all

Handa Island

Wednesday:

We headed north this morning for the small town of Tarbet where we found the ferry waiting for us on arrival. After the short crossing we landed on the sandy beach to hear the volunteer talk before heading up the hill on to the board walk that leads out to the stack.

Sitting on both sides of the track were several Great Skuas allowing some nice close up shots.
We had dozens of Bonxies flying around us and they were joined by four Arctic Skuas giving great close up comparisons.  At the stack we enjoyed yet more Skuas flying around the cliffs with two Artic Terns for company. Fulmar, Guillemot and Razorbill are numerous here and a few Puffin had already made it in to start pairing up. Black Guillemot and Red throated Diver made up the numbers from the beach but the big stars were the Bonxies with over thirty splashing around in a small pool and several displaying pairs it was an experience to be remembered.

Great Skua

Arctic Skua

Thursday:

A trip south today moving down the A82 through Fort William and crossing the Loch at Corran we headed along the Ardnamurchan peninsular towards Strontian were we picked up a brief view of the Black Duck in flight up river before heading further down to Kilchoan and a ferry to Mull. Lunch in Tobermory then we moved on to Fionnphort where we took the short hop across to Iona. The weather seems to have held up the Corncrakes with only two heard and one distant sighting a complete contrast to last years experience. The Island was spectacular and the weather great but with a long return journey we needed to cut short and head back north via the Fishnish/Lochaline ferry.

Song Thrush on Iona

Hooded Crow on Iona

Friday:

Spent the day in the valley watching Mountain Hares and Dippers whilst hoping for some Eagle activity. The Hares and Dippers performed well and a Peregrine showed well but any Eagles we could have got we missed. Reports of several Golden and a couple of Sea Eagles did nothing to make us feel better about the blank. An Osprey put in an appearance and a smart Woodcock walked across the path in front of us but took flight as soon as the camera came out.

Young Dipper

Mountain Hare in the Findhorn Valley

Year list now 222

Golden Eagle in the Findhorn Valley

Tuesday:

The day started with me running an early morning solo. The drive to Cairn gorm produced another Osprey sighting sitting out on a tree by the road side waiting to start his day too. The sun was up early so I decided to walk to the top of the mountain and bumped into three Ring Ouzel feeding on the foot path grit as I walked up. I had heard several Ptarmigan on the way up but at the top there were at least a dozen birds calling and flying around with more courtship going on and little scraps for territory. Meadow Pipit, Red Grouse and Wheatear were the only other birds at the top apart from a fly over Buzzard and Raven. Dotterel had been reported but I couldn't find any.

Osprey

Ring Ouzel at Cairn Gorm

Ptarmigan at Cairn Gorm

Following this I headed to a tip off location for Scottish Crossbill in the Glenmore area and found the birds feeding a short walk from the car park listening for the difference in call which I have to say I find very difficult to hear but the tip off was reliable so the short detour was rewarding.

The afternoon was spend chilling in the Findhorn valley where we are staying. A Sea Eagle flew over and a Peregrine kept us entertained while we waited for other Eagles to appear. A couple of distant Goldies were reported but they were too distant for me to confirm. As we headed back out of the valley we saw a large raptor climb and after pulling over to scope it we finally managed to firmly ID a young Golden Eagle as it flew low across the ridge giving much better views that the usual.

Sea Eagle in the Findhorn Valley

Another stunning day with the weather on our side the scenery here is just amazing.

The Findhorn Valley

Ptarmigan in the pass of the cattle

Monday:

We travelled across to the pass of the cattle road leading to Applecross today. The road snakes across the mountain taking you over 2000 feet high and leaving you a relatively short walk to the top where the Ptarmigan hang out. We walked up in glorious sunshine and managed to find a single pair of Ptarmigan right at the very top. We sat and watched as they went about their business which included some courtship display and even mating. These birds are great to watch as they have very little concern for people and as long as you don't make any sudden movement and approach from a lower level they are quite happy with you being around them.

Pair of Ptarmigan at Applecross "The pass of the cattle"

We headed back down the mountain and crossed onto Skye where we took a boat trip to feed the Sea Eagles. Good bit was that we saw three seperate Sea Eagles bad bit was they weren't hungry and didn't come down for the fish. We picked up Black Guillemot here along with Guillemot and Razorbill. Back on land I got my first Hooded Crow of the trip and a Rock Pipit. On the drive out we found a fresh Whinchat at Kishorn which ticked over the trip/year list.

Sea Eagle at Portree

On the drive out we spotted an Osprey on the loch side and grabbed a quick record shot.

Osprey

Finished a glorious day with a curry in Aviemore.