Borders Birdwatching Tours

Borders Birdwatching Diary

Spotted Redshanks
I stopped off at Leighton Moss RSPB for a short time on my journey back home from Lancashire. There was a Spotted Redshank just in front on the hide for short time, one of the distinguishing features on this bird is the long slender bill and the paler breast of the common redshank.
Posted: 2010-08-27 23:35:36	Entry No: 182

Kittiwakes at St Abb's
I went to St Abbs this morning hoping to find some juvenile kittiwakes with their very distinctive plumage flying around the stacks. But when I arrived they were still in the nest. I sat for a couple of hours hoping one or two would take their first flight, but......... they didn't. Instead I took a few pictures of the adults fighting, every now and again one would end up on the wrong ledge and in the wrong nest and a fight would take place. The birds tumble down the cliff face and it looks as if they are going to crash into the sea but they always mange to pull out of the tumble just in time.
Posted: 2010-07-19 22:34:16	Entry No: 181

White-tailed Eagle Loch Na Keal Isle of Mull Scotland
I had made a few enquiries about a boat trip I has heard of were you can get quite close to sea eagles on Loch Na Keal. The operator is Mull charters and they take you down Loch Na Keal and throw a single fish into the loch and wait for the white tailed eagle to come and take the fish. Mostly the eagle come to the fish, the count on the trip I was on was 37 to 3. That’s 37 times this season that the eagle came to the fish with only 3 time it didn’t. Mull charters can be contacted via their website which is on this ink http://www.mullcharters.com Martin and Judith Kalvers run the trips and he has a sound knowledge of the area and of the eagles, if your in the area the trip is well worth doing.
Posted: 2010-07-04 21:01:55	Entry No: 180

Redstart in the Borders
I have been looking for Redstarts for a few weeks now, I thought I was never going to find one this breeding season. I was driving through Hume and down one of the back-roads I stopped to view a section of woodland edge. After a few minutes I finally spotted a female picking up food. I watched for a abut two hours and took some pictures as they collected food to feed their young. Some of the images are here………….
Posted: 2010-06-02 23:12:03	Entry No: 179

Whitethroats in the Borders
This year has been a good year for breeding whitethroats, they appear to be widespread across the Borders. Virtually every hedge seems to hold a nesting pair. Good news for the population of this brilliant little bird
Posted: 2010-05-27 20:45:22	Entry No: 178

Blackcap at Gledswood, Near Melrose in the Borders
Was was sitting down a little country lane having lunch, I had a hour to kill ans started looking at the birds in the hedgerow, There were many species present. Nuthatch, longtailed tit, blackcap, great tit, cole tit, blue tit, siskin, willow warbler, great spotted woodpecker. Quite a rich area for birds and well worth the stop.
Posted: 2010-05-04 21:37:35	Entry No: 177

Skylarks at Cocklawburn
I went to Cocklawburn beach today. near Berwick upon Tweed to see skylarks, they were displaying in a mating ritual, I wanted to get some better pictures that I managed few days ago. This is an excellent area to see skylarks, with many pairs covering the grassy areas around the beach
Posted: 2010-05-02 22:18:25	Entry No: 175

St Abb's Head Nature Reserve
I was at St Abb's this morning at first light. Just having a general look at what is on the high stacks near to the lighthouse. There are quite a few birds around now, the kittiwakes are now sitting on the nest sites, there are a few guillemots on site and in amongst those are some bridled guillemots. I didn't see to many razorbills and there was a small group of fulmars flying around.
Posted: 2010-04-11 22:24:00	Entry No: 174

The Heron and the Flounder
I was sitting on the rocky outcrop at Salen Bay on the Isle of Mull watching the otters and hoping they would come off the first island towards me so I could photograph them. As I waited a grey heron flew in and started to fish in the kelp. Quite quickly the heron caught a flat fish , a flounder in fact. The fish was in the region of eight inches long and wasn't going to be easy for the heron to swallow. I watched the wader for about forty five minutes endeavoring to swallow the flat fish, it flew to the headland just in front of me and marched up and down dropping the fish, stabbing it, picking it up again and wetting the fish trying to swallow it. The heron would drop the fish and walk away from it, then turn and come back and stab it trying to break it up, then have another go at swallowing it. The fish would almost disappear in the birds mouth and then it would cough it up, wet it and try again. It did this many times and nearly lost the fish to a greater black back gull before a last ditch effort to get the fish down its long neck. More pictures on my wildlife photography blog www.wildlife-photography.uk.com
Posted: 2010-04-08 21:52:38	Entry No: 173

Whoopers near the Tweed
I was on the back road to Kelso from Berwick were there was large numbers of swans grazing in the field next to the River Tweed, I counted 76 mutes swans and a small family of whooper swans. It wont belong before they return to their nesting grounds.
Posted: 2010-03-10 14:47:43	Entry No: 172

Buzzards in the Borders
Whilst driving around in the snowy weather, I am seeing a lot of buzzards congregating near to busy roads. They are looking for an easy meal, looking for road kill. They are a stunning looking bird if you can get close them, the problem is they are very shy and will fly off as soon as you stop the vehicle.
Posted: 2010-02-07 09:29:53	Entry No: 171

Wagtails and water
I was on the banks of the River Tweed today, dippers were fishing and herons also. Goosander were floating down the river, I counted 9 including 3 males. An unusual sight was a little grebe, not normally seen on the river. Great Spotted woodpeckers were drumming in the tall trees on the far bank. There was a pair of Bulfinch near the fishing cabin on the river. It was a nice morning with the sun shining, it felt almost like spring had arrived.
Posted: 2010-01-28 21:33:08	Entry No: 170

Yellowhammers
I went out for a couple of hours birding this morning and found a sizable flock of yellowhammers along a hedgerow, I counted 55, in with them were 9 reed buntings, and 7 tree sparrows, buzzards congregating along the roadside looking for carrion in this very snowy cold spell, red legged partridges feeding under the hedgerows and now and gain grey partridges foraging for food. Its quite a good time during the cold spell to find the commoner species as they struggle to find food. On my feeding station in the garden, I have noticed the lack of goldfinch, greenfinch and long-tailed tits and very few siskins this year. Blackbirds have been in abundance along with song thrush with pheasant and red legged partridge visiting daily
Posted: 2010-01-22 10:10:05	Entry No: 169

Purple sandiper Little Beach Berwick upon Tweed
I went down to Little Beach for an hour over high tide, there was plenty of redshanks for a change, also 24 purple sandpipers. One of the sandpipers had colours rings on its legs, I have e-mailed the BTO to see if I can get some info on its origins, picture below
Posted: 2010-01-10 21:13:16	Entry No: 168

Red Legs in the snow
The cold weather brought the Red Legged Partridge in the my garden on Christmas day, so I got the camera out a got some pictures
Posted: 2009-12-26 22:45:06	Entry No: 167

Red Grouse in the Snow
I took a run up to the Lammermuir Hills yesterday to see the grouse in the snow, lots of snow and very cold (-4°C), nice and sunny at times and snow falling at other times. I watched them for a while scratching around in the snow before heading home.
Posted: 2009-12-21 21:48:25	Entry No: 166

Baird's Sandpiper Barns Ness Lothian
I went over to Barns Ness to see the Bairds Sandpiper, I didn't expect to get to close to the birds as they are usually quite shy. Not this one, it is a juvenile and it was quite obliging. The light was very good for viewing and for photography.
Posted: 2009-12-06 22:24:18	Entry No: 165

Gannets on Bass Rock
I cant get about at the moment, my wife had a operation to replace a hip last week which means I am grounded for a while, cooking and cleaning must (sadly) take priority over birding and photography. I have been looking through some old pictures of visits to Bass Rock where 120,000gannets breed there. It is a great experience to be there among all those birds. The smell leaves a lot to be desired but just being able to sit and look at these magnificent birds is great privilege. I remember the last time i visited the island seeing a very ugly bird, I looked through pictures and found one. Isn't this the ugliest bird you have ever seem?????
Posted: 2009-11-30 01:08:18	Entry No: 164

Borders NFU Competition Overall Winner
I entered the Borders Competition again this year and won the completion with this picture. The picture was taken in Skeleftea which is in north east Sweden. It was a opportunist picture, the bird landed on the tree in front of the hide for about five seconds. The temperature outside the hide was -25° at lunchtime.
Posted: 2009-11-12 10:43:19	Entry No: 163

Lesser Yellowlegs Aberlady Bay
I went back to Aberlady bay today, the lesser yellowlegs was still present, its been here now foe a number of months. It was quite close to the wooden bridge. Other species present were, teal, wigeon, re breasted merganser, curlew, redshank, greenshank, merlin, linnet, twite, pink footed goose, barnacle goose, long tailed tit, lapwing, heron.
Posted: 2009-11-05 21:31:18	Entry No: 162

Sabines Gull at South Shileds Fish Quay
The sabines gull was still present at South Shields Fish Quay today. It has been in the area for about two weeks. I was there ten days ago and missed it, so I was relived to see it immediately when I parked up. It showed very well for about an hour and then came back about an hour later. To see a full set of pictures see my wildlife photography blog. www.wildlife-photography.uk.com
Posted: 2009-11-04 19:13:18	Entry No: 161

Leighton Moss RSPB
I have been down in Cheshire for the weekend. On the way home I called into a old stomping ground of mine, Leighton Moss RSPB. I used to visit here regularly when I lived in Blackburn Lancashire. I couldn't stay too long so I went to the outer hides, the Allen Hide and the Eric Morecambe Hide. It was pretty quiet really, there was a large flock of black-tailed godwits redshank, there was eight little egrets present, a buzzard sat on a fence out on the marsh and two great white egrets which had been on the reserve for a while, they were a long way out on the marsh. Teal and wigeon were on the pools along with greenshank, a kingfisher put in a brief appearance in front of the Eric Morecambe hide. The black-tailed godwits were roosting on a small island and i new at some stage they would take flight. after a couple of hours wait, they did just that. Some pictures are below. Other pictures are on my website www.wildlife-photography.uk.com
Posted: 2009-10-27 00:55:37	Entry No: 160

Raddes Warbler Holy Island
A raddes warbler put in an appearance this afternoon on Holy Island. It was in the scrub behind the toilet block on the car park in the village. It was very elusive and showed sporadically. I managed to get my camera lens on it for less than a second, and only got two frame on images, this is one of them. It shows clearly the peach colored rump, a diagnostic feature of raddes warbler. Other birds of note on the island were pallas's warbler, firecrest, goldcrest, black redstart, barred warbler
Posted: 2009-10-22 20:16:29	Entry No: 159

Red-breasted Flycatcher Holy Island
I went onto Holy Island this afternoon to see the Red-Breasted Flycatcher which was on Chair Ends in trees in the Garden of the bungalow called Captains Garden. Ity was a tricky little bird to photograph, but I got some pictures which I think are a reasonable record. Also in the same trees were 2 or three willow warblers a couple of chiff-chaffs, 7 brambling and numerous redwings
Posted: 2009-10-14 18:34:38	Entry No: 158

Big Waters NR
There was a juvenile scaup present, and a male bullfinch showed itself on the feeding station. The sparrow haws interrupted the day a few times with the make showing twice and the female once. Neither of them made a kill. I was watching the goldfinch for most of the day, they were squabbling over the feeders, allowing me to get some flight shots. There is a good number of tree sparrows on the site. They have obviously had a good breeding season. Other birds present were b,ue tit, great tit, coal tit, wren, teal, wigeon, mallard, scaup, gadwall, mute swan, coot, moorhen, magpie, buzzard, grey heron, I even managed to get pictures of a wood mouse. More pictures available at www.wildlife-photography.uk.com
Posted: 2009-10-12 20:53:31	Entry No: 157

Firecrest Holy Island
I hd a couple of hours this afternoon and went onto Holy Island to seethe firecrest reported on Rare Bird Alert, got some good pics (see www.wildlife-photography.uk.com). Also on holy island, Yellow-browed Warbler, Radde's Warbler
Posted: 2009-10-10 21:10:18	Entry No: 156

Glossy Ibis and Buff-breasted Sandpiper
I went down to Druridge Pools again this morning for the glossy ibis, there was also a nice greenshank in front of the hide. My Rare Bird Alert pager went of and tere was a buff-breasted sandpiper at Cresswell just down the road. Both birds showed quite well and I managed to get some good pictures of them. More pictures at www.wildlife-photography.uk.com
Posted: 2009-10-07 21:21:50	Entry No: 155

Glossy Ibis Druridge Pools
I went to Druridge Pools this afternoon to see and hopefully photograph the Glossy Ibis. It was reported on Rare Bird Alert as being seen from the Bil Oddie Hide on the reserve. I arrived at 04:00pm. The bird was on the far left of the pool to far away to be photographed. A number of people were there watching it through telescopes. I inally made a move when a grey heron chased it aay from it feeding area. The ibis flew around for a while and landed in front of the hide. I stayed about three minutes then fle back to the far left corner again. But I managed to get these pictures. A pair of greenshank landed after the ibis flew and also a grey plover sat in front of the hide briefly
Posted: 2009-10-04 21:42:06	Entry No: 153

Trip Report to North Mallorca Septemder 2009
The trip to Mallorca for a couple of weeks produced a list of 81 birds. I have visited the brilliant reserve of S'Albufera in the north of the island near to Alcudia. Well worth a visit. Some good hides and lots of viewing areas and good facilities. The full trip report is here with pictures below. Borders Birdwatching Tours Mallorca Birding Trip Report – September 2009 The base for the trip is the beautiful villa of “Can Pou” which is to the south of Port de Pollenca and to the east of Pollenca old town. The villa is set in open countryside and itself supplied a nice variety of birdlife to the rear of the property. Species seen regularly here are sardinian warbler, spotted flycatcher, house sparrow, cetti’s warbler, stonechat, whinchat, little egret, purple heron, scops owl, little owl, sparrow hawk, black vulture, hoopoe, lots of passing migrants, with large flocks of goldfinch, swallows, Stonechat, Whinchat and greenfinch all passing regularly during our stay. It is worth pointing out that any of the back roads and adjoining land will produce birds in this bird rich landscape. There were large numbers of Goldfinch and Swallows moving through the area. The main area of concentration for the trip is the north of the island and in particular Villa Can Pou, Pollenca Sardinian Warbler Spotted Flycatcher Kestrel House Sparrow Sparrow Hawk Cetti’s Warbler Blackbird Woodpigeon Grey Heron Cattle Egret Little Egret Swallow House Martin Stonechat Whinchat Goldfinch Swift Black Vulture Hoopoe Rock Dove Stock Dove Scops Owl Booted Eagle Great Tit Collard Dove Raven Bocquer Valley: Booted Eagle, Black Vulture, Blue Rock Thrush, Elonora’s Falcon. Cuber Reservoir Black Vulture, Griffon Vulture, Red footed Falcon, Blur Rick Thrush, Blackbird, Stonechat, and whinchat. Port de Pollenca to Alcudia sea front: Black Headed Gull, Sandwich Tern, Audouins Gull, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper Formentor Point and the lighthouse area Elonora’s Falcon, Blue Rock Thrush, Pallid Swift, Crag Martin, Sardinian Warbler Spotted Flycatcher, Kestrel, House Sparrow, Stonechat, Whinchat, Goldfinch, Swift Albufereta and the Albufereta "Back Roads" Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Stonechat, Whinchat, Goldfinch, Green Sandpiper, Kentish Plover, Redshank, Snipe, Cetti’s Warbler, House Sparrow, Siskin, Greenfinch, Marsh Harrier, Osprey, Kestrel S’Albufera Nature Reserve: Audouins Gull Hoopoe Rock Dove Stock Dove Siskin Linnet Sardinian Warbler Spotted Flycatcher Kestrel House Sparrow Sparrow Hawk Osprey Marsh Harrier Purple Gallinule Cetti’s Warbler Blackbird Woodpigeon Night Heron Grey Heron Cattle Egret Little Egret Coot Crested Coot Moorhen Mallard Greenfinch Greenshank Black-winged Stilt Black Headed Gull Kentish Plover Snipe Swallow House Martin Redshank Little Grebe Gt. Crested Grebe Mustached Warbler Chiff-chaff Kingfisher Redstart Elonora’s Falcon Shag Cormorant Common Sandpiper Montague’s Harrier Yellow-legged Herring Gull Shoveler Grey Wagtail Wren Purple Heron Glossy Ibis Goldfinch Swift Squacco Heron Stone Curlew Stonechat Whinchat Teal Wigeon Fan-tailed Warbler S'Illot near Alcudia Kestrel Marsh Harrier Purple Gallinule Cetti’s Warbler Blackbird Woodpigeon Grey Heron Cattle Egret Little Egret Coot Crested Coot Moorhen Mallard Swallow House Martin Redshank Stonechat Whinchat Teal Shoveler Gadwall Yellow Wagtail Gt. Reed Warbler Raven The Full List Sardinian Warbler Spotted Flycatcher Kestrel House Sparrow Sparrow Hawk Osprey Marsh Harrier Purple Gallinule Cetti’s Warbler Blackbird Woodpigeon Night Heron Grey Heron Cattle Egret Little Egret Coot Crested Coot Moorhen Mallard Greenfinch Greenshank Black-winged Stilt Black Headed Gull Kentish Plover Snipe Swallow House Martin Redshank Little Grebe Gt. Crested Grebe Mustached Warbler Chiff-chaff Kingfisher Redstart Elonora Falcon Shag Cormorant Glossy Ibis Goldfinch Swift Black Vulture Griffon Vulture Blue Rock Thrush Squacco Heron Stone Curlew Stonechat Whinchat Teal Wigeon Audouins Gull Hoopoe Rock Dove Stock Dove Red Footed Falcon Siskin Linnet Scops Owl Ringed Plover Little Owl Fan-tailed Warbler Grey Wagtail Wren Purple Heron Booted Eagle Shoveler Gadwall Yellow Wagtail Gt. Reed Warbler Raven Montague’s Harrier Yellow-legged Herring Gull Sandwich Tern Barn Owl Starling Graylag Goose Common Sandpiper Pallid Swift Crag Martin Great Tit Chaffinch Collard Dove Grey Partridge Wheatear
Posted: 2009-10-03 18:45:56	Entry No: 152

Kingfishers at Big Waters NWT
I as up at 03:45 today to get down to Big Waters NR a Northumberland Wildlife Trust site near Newcastle. I was on site at 06:30 and at the hide by 06:45. I thought I would be first in the hide, but I wasn’t, John the resident photographer was already in place. We had a chat and waited fir the light to improve. The first bird we saw was a water rail, a very secretive little bird which was right in front of the hide, followed quickly by the kingfisher which made the first of several visits to the area just in front of the hide. By this time we were joined by Keith I stayed in the hide until 2:30pm and went home. I have to say I had a brilliant time in the hide meeting some of the locals discussing cameras and lenses and photography in general. I am already looking forward to going back to Big Waters.
Posted: 2009-09-17 20:48:10	Entry No: 151

Seahouses Starlings
I was going on a paleagic trip today, from Seahouses harbour but it was canceled at the last minute due to illness. I was walking around the harbour and the starling were very busy feeding on whatever they could find. The light was fabulous and it enhanced the colours of the birds dramatically, showing their great beauty.
Posted: 2009-09-13 22:11:59	Entry No: 150

Prurple Heron at Saltholm RSPB
I went to Saltholm RSPB reserve in Cleveland today to see the Purple Heron. It proved very elusive but I managed to get a picture of it as it flew away. The bird is a juvenile and blends with the reed stems very well. Other species seen today were, little stint, curlew sandpiper, ruff, little egret, greenshank, gadwall along with the commoner species found at the reserve.
Posted: 2009-09-08 00:46:42	Entry No: 149

Cresswell Pond early start
I had a morning at Cresswell Pond today. Cresswell Pond is a Northumberland Wildlife Trust site. I left home at 04:30 to get to the hide at 05:45, just before the sun comes up. I sat in the hide with my flak of coffee and my pack of sandwiches. It was a fine sunny morning and when the sun got fully up, the light was really good. There was a number of interesting birds, black tailed godwits, bar tailed godwits, dunlin, knot, redshank, and a few ringed plovers. There was about 270 lapwings. A peregrine came in mid-morning and flushed the waders as did a female sparrow hawk some time later. The star birds of the day were, a single wood sandpiper, four curlew sandpiper, three greenshanks and a very obliging adult mediterranean gull. Three ruff appeared briefly, and a single water rail made an appearance against the reeds on the far side. A merlin came flashing through putting the waders up again, its good to see the waders twisting and turning against the light and watching the patterns they make in the sky. Other birds seen were three mute swans, two wigeon, and around 10 teal, a single female pintail was rooting on the bank. just at the end of the session I was getting ready to go home a family of yellow wagtails appeared briefly on the spit to the right of the hide.
Posted: 2009-08-28 00:14:29	Entry No: 148

Juvenile Kittiwakes at St Abb's Head
I was checking out the cliffs at St Abb's yesterday. The guillemots and razorbills have now left with their young leaving only the kittiwakes with their young. I like to see the birds leaving the nest sites for the fist time and spreading their wings. Yesterday was just such a day. The only down side to this is that it shows that summer is passing us by very quickly.
Posted: 2009-08-06 07:50:19	Entry No: 147

Fulmar at St Abb's Head
I was birding again at one of my favorite spots again yesterday, St Abb's Head NNR. These was a good seabird passage passage going on. Many gannets to to and from the Bass Rock, fulmars, kittiwakes,common gulls, herring gulls and a pair of peregrines were also present, shags and cormorants. Linnets and rock pipits, meadow pipits, swallows and a few swifts. Its a great place for an afternoons birding this time of year, particularly as the autumn passage gets under way. It a geat place foe sea watching.
Posted: 2009-08-02 09:20:22	Entry No: 146

Lesser Yellowlegs Aberlady Bay
I went ot Aberlady Bay this morning to see the lesser yellowlegs. I stayed at a distance but showed all day. It never came close enough to get a good picture but I got this one with a geenshank and redshank for comparison
Posted: 2009-07-23 20:17:52	Entry No: 145

South East Scotland Birding Tour Saturday 11th July 2009
I picked up my clients form the Farmhouse Guest House at Yetholm Mill, Kirk Yetholm for a half day tour, they were four ladies Linda, Sophie, Di, Des. We went up to St Abb's Head Nature Reserve, calling into the Harbour first. We watched gannets diving for food just outside the harbour, good numbers where diving probably for sand eels as they were diving quite shallow. We moved up towards the lighthouse stopping briefly on the small car park to watch gannets fishing, kittiwakes, razorbills and guillemots, shags and cormorants.on the cliffs. Rock pipits and linnets were moving on the slopes. We went up to the lighthouse car park and sat n the cliff edge watching the colonies of kittiwakes coming and going, they were being disturbed from time to time by a pair of peregrines. jackdaws and common crows where also on the pinnacles. We got some very close looks at razorbills and guillemots and fulmar all nesting quite close to us through the telescope. Huge passage of gannets were passing just offshore going to and from Bass Rock. We watched the seabirds moving back wards and forwards bringing food in for their young. The sounds and smells made it a great afternoon of birding. We moved down to Eyemouth to take a look in the bay, It was the Herring Queen Carnival day and there was a large number of people all around the harbour. We watched the seals in the harbour for a while but there was no bird life in the bay. Not surprising really. We had time for one more st, so we went to the old harbour at Berwick upon Tweed, there was a large number of swans in the estuary during the morning somewhere in the region of 200. The ladies wanted to see them, and of course they had moved on. We drove over the old bridge and from there we could see into the working harbor and the swans were all in the harbour se we drove around to get a better look. We drove onto the harbour to take a better look at the swans. Its quite a site tp see, all those swans together.
Posted: 2009-07-19 21:33:48	Entry No: 144

Another Farne Island trip
We visited the Farne Islands again today, it's pretty much peak time at the moment, most birds are feeding young at the moment. We were on Stable Island looking at the guillemot’s razorbills, puffins and kittiwakes. Herring gulls were patrolling the pinnacles looking for an easy meal, a stray chick probably. Sure enough one dropped on the colony of guillemots and took a very small chick, not nice but it probably happens many times a day. The rest of the visit was spent watching the comings and goings of the feeding parents, kittiwakes, razorbills, guillemots, shags, puffins and fulmars.
Posted: 2009-06-23 22:17:06	Entry No: 142

Farne Islands
An afternoon visit to the Farne Islands aboard St Cuthbert III. This boat is owned by Hanvey's. I always use these because they are never as packed as Billy Shiel's boats and therefor more pleasurable. On the way out to Inner Farne we saw a number of gannets, lots of eider, guillemot, razorbill and puffin flying past. We saw good numbers of grey seals of a small island bobbing about in the surf. Kittiwakes and black headed gulls flying around. Cormorants and shags were also getting busy. We approached Brownsman Island and got very close to the pinnacles where there was large numbers of guillemots and razorbills nesting. Birds were also in the water with young making an enormous row. Puffins were resting on the rocks along with shags at their nests. We eventually landed on Inner Farne, as I stepped onto dry land an arctic tern pecked me on my head an crapped down my back, a good start. The terns performed well, fishing and feeding, most of the terns had young which kept them very busy. There are colonies of common tern, arctic tern and sandwich tern. Small numbers of eider duck nest here with good numbers of shags. Last year 50,000 puffins nested here and the numbers seem to be similar this year. The Farnes are a great day out for everyone, enthusiast or beginner birdwatchers alike, its a great family day out and full day trips are available and trips which tour around the islands without landing but still taking in the bird stuffed pinnacles.
Posted: 2009-06-22 22:36:10	Entry No: 141

Cross Boarder Birding Tour
I picked up two ladies from the Farm House at Yetholm Mill, Kirk Yetholm, who wanted to see the birds around the North Northumberland coast and South East Scotland. We drove down some quiet lanes to find yellow hammers in the hedgerow, we saw a magnificent male on top of a small ash tree. We moved on to Cocklawburn near Berwick upon Tweed were we saw a colony of sandwich terns (27) resting on a rock along with oystercatcher (6) and eider duck (9), gannets passed off shore along with lesser black backed gull, herring gull, common gull and a pair of common terns. In the field at the rear were linnet (2) ,and meadow pipit (4). We moved on to the causeway at Holy island. We saw very little, eider duck females were managing a raft of chicks on the water. Black headed gulls were numerous. We moved on again this time to St Abbs Head nature Reserve. W stopped at the small car park near the loch, a pair of mute swans were tending a nest with eggs and a couple of common tens were also present. We checked out the cliffs there and watched guillemots and razorbills flew to and from nest sites. Herring gulls were also nesting on the cliff face. Shags were sitting on eggs on the lower reaches of the cliffs and cormorants fished close in. The star birds of the day was a pair of peregrine falcon displaying overhead. We watched them for about 20 minutes before moving to the top of the reserve near the lighthouse. As we parked the car the heavens opened and the rain poured down. As we sat in the car we watched a stoat drag a full grown rabbit across the top of the cliff and down a hole. When the rain stopped we checked the cliffs out. Lots of kittiwakes, fulamrs, guillemots and razorbills. The razorbills were started feeding chicks. We spent a good hour watching all he comings and goings around the head. many gannets passed offshore We moved again for the lat time down to Eyemouth harbour, the seals were present as always, cormorants, great black backed gulls, common gulls, herring gulls and a single kittiwake were present. Eider duck were feeding in the bay outside the harbour. All in all not a bad day. I got Jennifer and Alison back to Kirk Yetholm in time to get to Melrose for the book festival. The picture shows the peregrines displaying
Posted: 2009-06-19 20:05:41	Entry No: 140

Slavoinian Grebe
There are as few as 30-40 pairs of slavonian grebes breeding in Britain, a good number are on Loch Ruthven RSPB Reserve in the highlands of Scotland and can be seen at this time of year more pictures on www.wildlife-photography.uk.com
Posted: 2009-06-15 22:56:39	Entry No: 139

Crested Tits on Speyside
I as on speyside near to Aviemore and managed to get some decent pictures of the crested tits there. I have visited the site many times but these are the best views I have had so far more picture on www.wildlife-photography.uk.com
Posted: 2009-06-15 22:51:44	Entry No: 138

Razorbills and Kittiwakes continued
Kittiwake flying
Posted: 2009-06-11 16:47:23	Entry No: 136

Razorbills and kittiwakes St Abb's Head
I went up to St Abb's Head just to check out what was happening with birds on nests an the situation with regard to hatching of eggs and feeding of young. They kittiwakes are sitting on eggs as are the razorbills, nothing feeding young yet. lots of comings and goings with great black backed gulls and herring gulls patrolling looking for an easy meal. Cormorants and shags sitting on nests. Stonechats and Linnets are busy at the moment as are jackdaws. Gannets passing in great numbers off shore
Posted: 2009-06-11 16:46:29	Entry No: 135

Woodpeckers in my garden
The woodpeckers in my garden have been successful again this year and have reared three young. This is the fouth yaer running they have reared three chick. Its an event I have com. to look forward to. More pictures available at www.wildlife-photography.uk.com
Posted: 2009-06-11 11:25:14	Entry No: 134

Whitethroat
I noticed as i was driving by on a number of occasions a pair of whitethroats carrying food. So I stopped for a while to watch and get some pictures.
Posted: 2009-06-11 11:17:36	Entry No: 133

Tawny Owl
I came across this young tawny owl last Tuesday evening, worth a picture I thought more pictures at www.wildlife-photography.uk.com
Posted: 2009-06-07 12:52:29	Entry No: 132

Trip Report. Southern Ontario Friday 15th to Sunday 24th May 2009.
Friday 15th May. Early evening flight from Manchester to Toronto, collected hire car, drove to hotel in Chatham arriving 0100. Saturday This report is also on my wildlife photography website with lots of colour pictures. I dont yet have the technology to add lots of picture here yet. www.wildlife-photography.uk.com The group, Andrew, Len, Dave, Brian. I am behind the camera 16th may. Saturday 16th May. A pre breakfast walk around the hotel produced starling, American robin, common grackle, chipping sparrow, mourning dove, red-winged blackbird, herring gull, house finch and three overflying turkey vultures. After breakfast we drove to Rondeau Provincial Park. The feeding station behind the visitor centre attracted Baltimore oriole (3), rose-breasted grosbeak (5), orchard oriole, brown-headed cowbird, American goldfinch, blue jay, ruby-throated hummingbird, white-breasted nuthatch, tufted titmouse, northern cardinal and house finch. The woodland edge around the Spicebush trail held wood thrush(2), swainson`s thrush, red-bellied woodpecker and black capped chickadee. 2 turkey vulture and 3 barn swallow flew over the car park. In the afternoon we walked part of the South trail in cool showery weather, our efforts were rewarded with yellow warbler (10), Wilson`s warbler (3), blackburnian warbler (5), Tennessee warbler, magnolia warbler (2), yellow rumped warbler, black-throated blue warbler, blue-grey gnatcatcher (4), eastern towhee (2), great crested flycatcher (3), Baltimore oriole, red-eyed vireo (2), eastern wood pewee, eastern kingbird (3), grey catbird (3), brown thrasher (2) northern flicker (2) and pileated woodpecker. After a coffee at the visitor centre we walked the Spicebush Trail and saw, scarlet tanager, magnolia warbler (2), yellow-rumped warbler (3), palm warbler, chestnut sided warbler (3), Tennessee warbler, blackburnian warbler, yellow warbler (2), black-throated blue warbler and northern waterthrush. 10 turkey vultures flew overhead as we walked the trail. Sunday 17th May. Bright and sunny with cool northerly breeze. Drove to Hillman`s Marsh, stopping en route to look at a small party of black-bellied plover and a horned lark in a roadside field. We also stopped to look at a male and two female turkeys wandering around a garden!! Hillman`s Marsh 0900-1400. 5 American wigeon and a blue winged teal were among a selection of commoner wildfowl. 70 bonapartes gull, 30 common and 5 caspian terns roosted on the marsh. The scrape held 150 each of black-bellied plover and dunlin along with 19 least and 12 semipalmated sandpiper, 12 short billed dowitchers, 2 3 turnstone and a whimbrel. Throughout our stay there was a steady passage of black bellied plover with several parties total c.1,000 moving directly north over us. We also witnessed a passage of hirundines through the marsh involving varying numbers of barn swallow, bank swallow, tree swallow, rough winged swallow, cliff swallow and chimney swift. Whilst watching the pools we had long range views of a red tailed hawk and the trees around the visitor centre held single yellow warbler, black throated green warbler and two pine siskin. En-route to Rondeau we had superb views of two bald eagles above the road as we watched they turned into the breeze and flew directly above us. At Rondeau we walked the spicebush trail noting yellow warbler (19) three each black and white warbler, chestnut sided warbler and American redstart plus a black throated blue warbler. We looked at an eastern screech owl at the nest near the maintenance yard also noting Carolina wren (2), magnolia warbler and red headed woodpecker. We also saw green heron on a small pond and two wood duck in the slough woodland. Monday 18th May. Cool early morning then becoming warmer throughout the day. Our journey to Blenheim was interrupted by the sighting of a northern harrier near Charring Cross, when we stopped the car we realised there were in fact a male and female. Further searching of the weedy fields revealed the presence of 10 bobolink. 2 eastern meadowlark and several savannah sparrows in the area. Blenheim Sewage Lagoons. 1000-12noon. A walk around the lagoons produced 3 redhead, a female bufflehead,2 black terns, a Bonaparte`s gull, 2 lesser yellowlegs, 2 spotted sandpiper, a least sandpiper plus a brief view of a pair of Wilson`s phalarope for one of our party. The settling beds proved more productive with c.100 dunlin, 8 least sandpiper, 6 semipalmated sandpiper plus single greater yellowlegs and stilt sandpiper. After lunch we drove to Rondeau. We walked the Tuliptree Trail and spent time waiting for the prothonatory warbler eventually seeing the bird after a two and a half hour wait. Other species seen included single magnolia, yellow rumped, black throated green, blackburnian, chestnut sided and Wilson`s warblers plus red eyed and white eyed vireos and northern waterthrush. An evening stroll around the car park produced 3 eastern kingbird, eastern phoebe, least flycatcher, American redstart, Canada warbler and 2 chestnut sided warbler. Tuesday 19th May. Early weather forecasts suggested that conditions may have been suitable for a trip to Point Pelee however when we arrived it was bright and sunny with a south west breeze. Despite the conditions we caught an almost empty tram to the point and decided to walk back to the visitor centre via the woodland trail. The walk produced 14 baltimore orioles, 9 orchard orioles, 5 yellow warblers, 2 canada warblers, 2 blue grey gnatcatchers, 2 great crested flycatchers, 2 carolina wren, 3 indigo bunting, 11 cedar waxwing and a warbling vireo. After lunch we walked around the boardwalk on the Marsh Trail noting 10 common yellowthroat, 12 black tern, 6 swamp sparrow, bald eagle and a great blue heron. The road around the onion fields produced 2 great egrets, 3 great blue heron, 2 spotted sanpiper, 2 American goldfinch plus 2 obliging indigo buntings that kept the photographers very busy. We followed the road around to Hillman`s Marsh. The pools held 2 green winged and a blue winged teal, 65 common and 5 caspian terns. c.100 dunlin, 7 short billed dowitcher, 6 least sandpiper, 2 semipalmated plover and 2 turnstone. A watch over the marsh revealed 2 bald eagles perched in a tree at the far end of the marsh. 3 great egret, 3 great blue heron and a sedge wren. Wednesday 20th May. Hot and sunny. Decided to try a couple of sites around Lake St. Clair. Between s Stoney Creek and Tremblay Beach. The sites were fairly disappointing but we did add pied billed grebe, black duck , American coot and marsh wren to our list. At Tremblay we watched a passage of blue jay involving 11 flocks total 216 birds moving over the marsh, we also had a party of four red tailed hawks drift over us. Driving between the sites we looked at a party of birds on a ploughed field holding 200 ring billed gull, 87 black bellied plover, 41 dunlin, 2 turnstone and 2 horned lark. After an early dinner we drove back to Blenheim, the lagoons held 3 redhead, 3 blue winged teal, 2 lesser scaup, 2 spotted and a least sandpiper. The settling tanks held c.100 dunlin6 least and 5 semipalmated sandpiper and single lesser yellowlegs and white rumped sanpiper. As we stood on the track between the lagoons a single nighthawk flew in and entertained us until dusk . Good old Blenheim saved the day! Thursday 21st May. Hot and sunny. We had another look at the fields around Charring Cross, no sign of the harriers or meadowlarks today but we did manage 15 bobolink, 8 savannah and 3 song sparrows. We continued to Rondeau arriving before 1000 am. And had a look around the maintenance trail noting red headed and red bellied woodpecker, two each of great crested flycatcher, eastern wood pewee and indigo bunting. We watched a Baltimore oriole building its hanging nest. Had another walk and watch around the Tuliptree Trail having fantastic views of a pileated woodpecker feeding on a fallen tree. Other birds noted included yellow warbler, 2 American redstart, warbling vireo and house wren. We searched around the campsite north of the visitor centre seeing the expected mix of species having good views of a singing eastern towhee, Indigo bunting and a pair of red headed woodpeckers. Another walk around the visitor centre/ Tuliptree Trail produced indigo bunting Canada and magnolia warbler and further views of pileated woodpecker. After an early dinner we returned to the dunes near to the visitor centre and watched American woodcock roding and flying around the dunes we also heard whip-poor-will. Friday 22nd May. We left Chatham at 0715 and headed for Windsor and Ojibway Regional Park. Hot and sunny all day. On arrival we discovered that the Visitor Centre was closed due to industrial action! We walked around the trail in the centre of the park, a couple of our group seeing green heron on a pool close to the path. We managed good views of singing scarlet tanager and blue grosbeak followd by amazing views of indigo bunting. Returning to the visitor centre area we sat and watched as a woodchuck moved two young from one nest site to another. The adult passed by very close to us giving our photographers a fair chance of a good shot. In the afternoon we crossed the road and followed the prairie trail gaining reasonable views of eastern bluebird and very good views of eastern towhee. We looked on a nearby golf course for American kestrel but settled for good views of 2 northern mokingbirds. We returned to Chatham via Blenheim and added pintail to our list, the white rumped sandpiper and lesser yellowlegs were still present. We opted for an early finish tonight before an early start tomorrow, our last full day. Saturday 23rd May. Hot and sunny. On arrival we decided to walk the entire south trail. The six and a half hour walk proved to very productive despite the quiet conditions. The highlight of the walk being a black billed cuckoo giving very close views as it sat near the trail. We managed ten species of wood warbler with yellow obviously appearing most with (31), common yellowthroat (11), Canada warbler (3), two each of magnolia Blackpoll and redstart plus single yellow rumped, blackburnian , bay breasted and ovenbird. Pileated, downy, red headed and red bellied woodpecker all put in an appearance as did 13 swainson`s thrush and a single grey cheeked. On returning to the visitor centre we sat with a coffee watching the feeders and added dark eyed junco to our list. We decided to walk part of the Marsh Trail logging 12 yellow warbler, 4 common yellowthroat, single black and white, blackpoll and redstart plus a green heron and a king rail that decided to leave the marsh and cross the trail behind us. From the observation tower we had amazing views of two sora as they charged about the marsh calling. We retired for an early dinner before returning to the start of the South Trail to listen for whip-poor-will and heard two birds calling as we arrived. The birds were very close to the trail and we saw one in fading light as it sped over the car park after moving the vehicle we actually saw a bird dash through the forest edge in the beam from the headlights. A fitting end to a very long, hot and hard day. Sunday 24th May. Cool and cloudy with drizzle turning to light rain. We left the Chatham after breakfast and set off for Toronto via Long Point, arriving at 1030, after watching the ringers process a black throated green and two magnolia warblers we had a short walk around the area before collecting information from the visitor centre. We set off for Toronto for our late afternoon flight, mulling over the previous weeks great birding and thinking about next year with a split trip to Long Point and the Chatham area. The trip report can also be seen on my photography website with lots of colour pictures www.wildlife-photography.uk.com
Posted: 2009-06-01 06:30:30	Entry No: 131

Red Spotted Bluethroat Holy Island 13th May 2009
A Red Spotted Bluethroat appeared to day at Holy Island, on Straight Lonan. There has been a couple down the coast, one on the Farne Islands and one in East Anglia. With the easterly wind this was always a possibility. It was a long way away about 80 metres and the strong sun was behind it, so the pictures are not the best, but you can see what it is.
Posted: 2009-05-13 18:49:49	Entry No: 127

Whitethroat at Creesswell Pond
This whitethroat was singing and displaying well and came close enough to get a decent picture of it.
Posted: 2009-05-12 21:25:10	Entry No: 126

Cresswewll Pond NWT, 11th May 2009
I spent the afternoon at Cresswell Pond again today. There wasn't anything unusual but there was a few passerines on view. Stonechat, male and female, whitethroat and sedge warbler, other birds present where meadow pipit and linnet. lapwing, greenfinch, goldfinch, reed bunting, barn owl, sandwich tern, common tern, shelduck, shoveler, stoat on the wall and a brown rat put in an appearance.
Posted: 2009-05-12 21:16:32	Entry No: 125

Wheatear at Cocklawburn
I was watching this wheatear quite close and got some nice pictures.
Posted: 2009-05-10 23:02:16	Entry No: 124

Cocklawburn
I went back to Cocklawburn this afternoon it was a bright day with a slight easterly wing which was quite cold. I was there mainly to watch the sandwich terns fishing. There was in excess of 50 sandwich terns on the rocks leaving periodically to fish just off shore. There was a small flock of oystercatchers also on the rocks in the region of 15 individuals. Gannets where moving out to see and two small groups of mute swans flying just off shore. A few arctic terns and common terns passed during the afternoon. all the commoner gulls passed at one time or another On the shore there was rock pipit, linnet, wheatear, starling, meadow pipit, jackdaw, carrion crow where all close. Its a good place to visit, its never too busy and there is usually some thing there to see and it is very accessible by car.
Posted: 2009-05-10 23:00:58	Entry No: 123

Cocklawburn
I spent a couple of hours at a local patch called Cocklawburn. Its a nice area with a beautiful beach, so not the place for birding at the weekend. The birds present where swift, swallow and house martin moving through. Blackbirds feeding young, A pair of stonechat where singing away on the top of scrub. There was a passage of meadow pipits going through along with Linnet and wheatear. Off shore there where sandwich terns feeding with small groups of oystercatcher moving though. Gannets passing both north and south going to and from Bass Rock just up the coast. There was a large flock of immature herring gulls resting on the sea. Kittiwakes, common gull, where also passing off shore. There also some big clumps of cowslips growing along the rough grass verges.
Posted: 2009-05-08 07:51:15	Entry No: 122

Sedge Warbler at Cresswell
I was in the hide at Cresswell Pond NWT its a bit quiet at the moment but there are some lovely common resident species there and I got some decent pictures of the Sedge Warbler next to the hide.
Posted: 2009-05-03 22:40:12	Entry No: 120

Marshside RSPB Southport
I was in Lancashire on business, and I had the time to go to a great little site at Marshside. Its run by the RSPB and the main hide is maned by volunteers. Its a site that guarantees you god close vies of avocet. There was four nests within twenty metres of the hide affording brilliant views of the birds. There was a coots nest very close to the hide, the birds where sitting on three eggs and they were very aggressive to anything which came close to the nest site to the point of a itched battle with another pair of coots which came within ten metres of their nest. There where linnets, redshank, lapwing and bar-tailed godwits in close proximity to the hide. The high light of the day was the cots protecting their nest, to very dramatic effect.
Posted: 2009-05-01 23:29:13	Entry No: 119

Holy Island in search of the Balck Headed Wgtail
News came through last night on the rare bird alert pager that there was a black headed wagtail in Holy Island at Crooked Lonnen. So this morning I went to the island, I couldn't get on until after eights o'clock because of the tide. I got to the car park and Colin a friend of mine was already there. We met at the site where it was last seen and guess what????? it wasn't anywhere to be seen, so we waited for a while and a couple of birders came an waited with us. We saw good numbers of pied wagtail, white wagtail and wheatear, lots of swallows and a lone fieldfare. We stayed until 11.30 then left, work beckons unfortunately.
Posted: 2009-04-27 13:59:57	Entry No: 118

College Valley Northumberland
I have an interest in College Valley which is in the Cheviot Hill in Northumberland. I have been looking for another barn owl to photograph. I have centered on Hethpool Farm at Hethpool. I know the Elliot's who farm there and they have agreed to let me look around whenever I want to find to try to find where the the owls hunt My wife Lynn and I went for the first visit at 6:45pm to take a look around the farm. It was a beautiful sunny evening with the sun starting to set. We had swallows nesting in out buildings and goldfinches flitting around the drystone walls and drinking from a small puddle of water. there was a wheatear at the end of the farm yard. Large numbers of wood pigeons were starting to roost in the trees and blackbirds singing the song they sing at the end of the day and a couple of oystercatchers feeding in the back field. In the old tennis courts which are heavily overgrown with scrub there was a spotted flycatcher, greenfinch, siskin and chaffinch. We drove up the valley and parked overlooking the small stream it seems a good area for the barn owl to hunt. Stonechat and dunock where present on the gorse. Sparrowhawk was hunting in the valley bottom with pied wagtail foraging against the stream edge the light was starting to fade now but still no sign of the barn owl. A pair of pheasants where feeding on the file edge, We gave it another twenty minutes and decided to call it a day, but there was still no sign of the barn owl.....may be next time
Posted: 2009-04-26 21:26:54	Entry No: 117

Borders Birding tour
I met Pat and Noel Pearman in Coldstream this morning to go birding. Pat is and Noel are from Duluth in Minisota USA Pat is a very keen birder and Noel goes with the flow. We went to St Abbs Head Nature Reserve up to the lighthouse. We watched guillemots, and razorbills at close quarters, many gannets moving offshore to and from Bass Rock. Other species present where kittiwakes, fulmar, shag, cormorant, rock dove, jackdaw carrion crow, wheatear, skylark, stonechat, meadow pipit and linnet. We moved down to the harbour at St Abbs to check it out, this is usually a 10 minute stopover just to look in the locality. There was a pair of sandwich turns at the entrance to the harbour which was unexpected, there was the usual gulls, herring, lesser black back, common and black headed. There was a single gannet in the bay diving for fish a very close range, also seven individual guillemots scattered around the bay. We moved on to Burnmouth. There was good numbers of blackbirds, and dunnock, robin, rock pipit, redshank, turnstone, curlew. lots of herring gulls and black headed gulls. The star bird of the day was a male pied flycatcher in the scrub up the hill from the harbour. We moved from here to the Lammermuir Hills above Longformacus to see the red grouse. We saw quite a few on the roadside in the heather along with red leg partridge, curlew lapwing, goldfinch, greenfinch. These birds seam very common to us but to Pat they are virtually all lifetime ticks
Posted: 2009-04-23 21:16:52	Entry No: 116

The Borders Coast Tour
I had a party of eight out today, from the Mill Farmhouse guest house in Kirk Yetholm in the Borders little bit of a handful but it was very enjoyable it always is when you meet good people. The weather was fantastic, brilliant sunshine but a cool off-shore breeze We started at St Abbs and watched the birds on the cliffs, kittiwakes, fulmar, guillemots, razorbills, the odd puffin. There was also a pair of ravens around the cliffs. It was a busy scene with birds coming and going, lots of squabbling and noise. Over the sea the where thousands of gannets. We checked out the picturesque harbour area for migrants, black redstart and yellow wagtail have been seen here in the past. We moved down to Eyemouth to check out the gull in the harbour and the bay. Common gull, herring gull, lesser black back gull, eider duck, cormorant and some very colorful starlings. On to Burnmouth to look for waders, the usual redshank, turnstone, oystercatcher where present along with rock pipit white wagtail. and a very obliging wren. There was also a very funny goose which looked like a white greylag. Allin all a good trip, nothing startling but the weather was good and the views of the birds better.
Posted: 2009-04-20 08:11:08	Entry No: 115

St Abbs Head again........
I was working this morning so I went to St Abbs Head again this afternoon. I never tire of seeing this fabulous nature reserve. The cliffs and the sea are just stunning. The birds present today are probably the same as every other day at this time of year. I just sat on the grass and viewed the following birds:- Common gull, herring gull, great black Backed gull, lesser black backed gull, black headed gull, kittiwake, fulmar. There are thousands of guillemots and razorbills with a few puffins, raven and rock pipit on the tops of the cliffs along with stonechat and a single ring ouzel near the lighthouse gates. Out at sea gannets and cormorants where passing. Red throated divers where also offshore
Posted: 2009-04-18 20:41:45	Entry No: 114

Seabirds at St Abbs NNR
Gannets flying past St Abbs Head. The razorbills and guillemots are settling on the stacks along with kittiwakes. Good numbers of common gulls are also present. I noticed ravens also on the cliff faces. Fulmars where also flying c lose to the cliffs searching for nest sites, I'm sure they are there but I couldn't pick out any puffins on the water or on the cliffs. It was a fine warm sunny day and the scenery looked fabulous. If you are traveling to the area you must go to the nature reserve up near the lighthouse but please park carefully. There is also a good little cafe near to the information centre with craft shops and an excellent art gallery caled Number 24 gallery, check it out its well worth a visit.
Posted: 2009-04-16 21:23:24	Entry No: 113

St Abbs Head
I took a trip up to St Abbs Head this morning. It was a beautiful day very sunny and warm for a change. The birds are back on the stacks here with thousands of guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, common gulls,,shags, fulmars, gannets moving to and from The Bass Rock. Its good to here the hustle ad bustle of the birds on the cliffs and of course the familiar smell of guano wafting past my nostrils. Its an exciting time for birding on the coast with the nesting season coming upon us, it will be time to make the first of what I am sure will be a number of visits to the Farne Islands very soon.
Posted: 2009-04-12 22:48:54	Entry No: 111

Garganey at Druridge Pools
My Rare Bird Alert pager went off ant noon, it told me of a pair of garganey at Druridge Pools in North Northumberland. I had finished what I had to do so I went down to see them and hopefully photograph them. It took an hour to drive down and I parked up got the gear ready and went to the nearest hide. It was gettng quite windy I scanned the first pool and there they where, a little distant but a magnificent pair of garganey. I watched them for a while and took some pictures of these lovely ducks. The little egret was still present again a little distant but showing well. Other species present were teal, shelduck, heron, snipe, redshank single black-tailed godwit sheltered behind a tussock from the wind. A pair of magpies were feeding around the hide and a small flock of goldfinch ere feeding in the field. There has been a large influx of meadow pipits recently and there was good numbers around the pools. The site is manged by the Northumberland Wildlife Trust and they keep it very well.
Posted: 2009-04-09 21:02:30	Entry No: 110

Little Egret at Druridge Pools
I spent the afternoon at Druridge Pools, There was a number of species present, redshank, teal, widgon, shelduck, gadwall mallard, heron, meadow pipit, skylark, starling and a splendid little egret. There was a report of two garganey but I couldn't find them Not a bad haul for an hours birding.
Posted: 2009-04-07 22:10:55	Entry No: 109

A day in the Scottish Borders
I was up very early this morning, 4:00am. I wanted to get some pictures of hares boxing. I had been watching a area for some time and new it held a large head of hares. I got on site at 5.15am in the dark got myself set up and waited for the hares to turn up. It was a nice morning the sunset was beautiful. hares came and went, just singles and that was the norm all morning. I got some shots but none of them boxing. Whilst I ws waiting for the hares to appear, yellowhammer came along with grey partridge again. I havnt seen greys for years then I see two in consecutive days. I managed to get some good shots at close quarters after crawling around in the hedgerows. At 11.30am i gave up on the hares and went up to the Lammermuir Hills at a place called Horseupcleugh to hopefully get some flight shots of red grouse. I have posted the results of the day below. All this and a packet of custard creams and a flask of coffee
Posted: 2009-04-05 20:55:37	Entry No: 108

Grey Partridge
I was traveling between Galashiels and home late this afternoon, I was watching yellowhammer and reed bunting on a hedgerow. In the field, I saw some partridge, I took a look thinking they were red legs, bu they were grey partridge which is a first for me across the borders.
Posted: 2009-04-03 22:56:39	Entry No: 107

First Day of Summer
The clocks went forward last night, I went to bed early to get up at 4:00am or was it 3:00am... any way I was at Cresswell Pond at 5:45am at first light hoping to get a sight of the barn owl. The weather for the lase few day has been very windy with rain just the sort of weather the barn owl doesn't like. So my thinking was that the owl would be starving because is won't feed in a gale or the wet because it feathers aren't waterproof. It should be out feeding at first light and through the morning. I sat in the hide until 12:30 and saw no sign of it. But I did see a lot of common species and in the early morning sunlight they looked brilliant. The teal with it bright green stripe on it's head The red breasted merganser with it's brilliant colours and the plume of feathers on it's head, displaying trying to impress his lady. The shell duck very aggressive, the golden plover starting to get it's breeding plumage, the lapwing calling, snipe secretive in the reeds, little grebes catching small fry and the cormorant catching larger prey and all the time there was a back drop of noise made by the black headed gulls squabbling and fighting. ,' A nice morning and I have the hide to myself until mid morning. I think some people didn't put their clock forward.
Posted: 2009-03-30 23:07:32	Entry No: 106

Saltholm RSPB Reserve
I have been away in Yorkshire Working for a few days. On my way home I called in at the new visitor center at Saltholm which id just north of Middlesborough. The center is very good has a nice cafe and shop and very pleasant staff. The reserve is bit new with bare ground and newly filled pools. I am sure when the reserve starts to mature it will be a special place. Of course there is the original pools with the birds. It was a very windy day with rain and hailstones to contend with The hailstones came down like bullets and fair rattled my old ears, so I had a coffee and a couple of custard creams and let it pass. I walked around the site the hides are very good b ig windows and the traditional open hide type windows. The birds present where the usual tufted, shoveler, mallard, snipe, curlew, redshank, coot, moorhen mute swan, graylag goose, canada goose, blue tit, coal tit, reed bunting, dunock, etc, etc, etc. The photography was proving difficult out side the ide because of the wind, it virtually impossible to keep the 500mm lens steady, which limited me to the hides which were full of people, some of them very noisy which pushed the birds further way from the hide. I was watching a pair of reed buntings feeding down a bank, keeping out of the wind and manged to get some reasonable shots. It was getting very sunny at times which caused some exposure problems and compensation of 1.5 stops was required to get the whites right.
Posted: 2009-03-27 19:10:22	Entry No: 105

Water Rail Cresswell Pond
Water Rail at Cresswell, a little distant but not a bad record shot
Posted: 2009-03-21 22:31:38	Entry No: 104

Whooper Swans Cresswell Pond NWT
Whooper Swans
Posted: 2009-03-21 22:29:57	Entry No: 103

Another trip to Cresswell Pond NWT Northumberland
I had another run down to Cresswell Pond again today. The weather was great dry and sunny and even a little warmth from the sun. The first thing I saw was a flock of whooper swans, fifteen in total along with twp mute swans. The light was fantastic and the swans very obliging. The other star of the day was a water rail seen at a bit of a distance it was at the foot of the reedbed with a few snipe. There was a small group of Dunlin present and the local pair of little grebe, lots of teal and wigeon also sunning themselves, redshank, curlew three herons causing havoc amongst the waders. Good numbers of lapwing making their row. A small flock of greylag geese where on the fields at the top of the pond. There was no sign of any raptors which is unusual. There was a pair of gadwall in front of the hide. o sign of the bittern, they havn't been seen foe a few weeks now.
Posted: 2009-03-21 22:10:44	Entry No: 102

Great White Egret
Another view of the egret
Posted: 2009-03-11 09:27:28	Entry No: 101

10th March 2009 Great White Egret
I got news on my pager from Rarebird Alert of a great white egret near to Strathaven in the Clyde region. I don't normally go this far for a single bird but the weather forecast was good with sunshine most of the day so I thought I would risk it. The drive was 3 hours and I got there at 1.30pm. The site is was on is at Gilmourton Pools which is 4 miles south west of Strathaven. I got out of the car just in time to see the rrear end of the bird disappearing down Avon Water. Marvelous......... So I had a cup of coffee and a custard cream or two and waited... and waited... and waited. To other people turned up and we all waited... and... waited and after another hour the egret came back and few around over our heads and settled on the wetland giving us good views although a little distant. Other birds present were teal c70 wigeon c24, mallard, buzzard, redshank, lapwing. So at the end of the day it was worth going to see the bird and I managed to get some good pictures of it.
Posted: 2009-03-11 09:25:57	Entry No: 100

10th March 2009 Great White Egret
I got news on my pager from Rarebird Alert of a great white egret near to Strathaven in the Clyde region. I don't normally go this far for a single bird but the weather forecast was good with sunshine most of the day so I thought I would risk it. The drive was 3 hours and I got there at 1.30pm. The site is was on is at Gilmourton Pools which is 4 miles south west of Strathaven. I got out of the car just in time to see the rrear end of the bird disappearing down Avon Water. Marvelous......... So I had a cup of coffee and a custard cream or two and waited... and waited... and waited. To other people turned up and we all waited... and... waited and after another hour the egret came back and few around over our heads and settled on the wetland giving us good views although a little distant. Other birds present were teal c70 wigeon c24, mallard, buzzard, redshank, lapwing. So at the end of the day it was worth going to see the bird and I managed to get some good pictures of it.
Posted: 2009-03-11 09:23:31	Entry No: 99

Harbour Porpise Blyth South Harbour, 8th March 2009
This is a picture of the harbour porpoise in the south harbour at Blyth today
Posted: 2009-03-09 19:07:36	Entry No: 98

8th March, Glaucous Gull, Blyth South Harbour
among the many gulls at Blyth south harbour was a 3rd Winter glaucous gull and at least two iceland gulls. I had photographed one of the iceland gulls a few weeks ago and I thouugt I would be woth a trip to locate the glaucous gull. The weather was extremely cold with a strong westerly wind blowing. I had to wait about hours before the gull turned up but it showed well once it appeared. Te iceland gulls were present most of the time. It was good to be able to make the comparison between the two. Whilst I was waiting a harbour porpoise put in an appearance, it took a tour of the harbour and then departed.
Posted: 2009-03-09 19:05:39	Entry No: 97

8th March, Glaucous Gull, Blyth South Harbour
among the many gulls at Blyth south harbour was a 3rd Winter glaucous gull and at least two iceland gulls. I had photographed one of the iceland gulls a few weeks ago and I thouugt I would be woth a trip to locate the glaucous gull. The weather was extremely cold with a strong westerly wind blowing. I had to wait about hours before the gull turned up but it showed well once it appeared. Te iceland gulls were present most of the time. It was good to be able to make the comparison between the two
Posted: 2009-03-09 19:04:30	Entry No: 96

Musselburgh continued.............
Male wigeon in the same area.
Posted: 2009-03-06 01:24:40	Entry No: 95

Femal wigeon Musselburgh
Wigeon on the river in Musselburgh
Posted: 2009-03-06 01:23:47	Entry No: 94

Musslburgh and the lagoons
I was in Edinburgh this morning and I had a couple of hours spare so I went to Musselburgh and the lagoons. The was a small flock of snow buntings on the west active pool which was a bonus for me. I managed to get a few pictures of them. On the foreshore there the the usual redshank, dunlin,lapwing the usual gulls, black headed, lesser black baked and herring, wit a few common gulls there as well. In the river mouth there as a small flock of wigeon c15 pairs with mallard and goldeneye (2 pairs). A number of skylarks were also on present. On the lagoons there was single barnacle goose which is worth a mention. I would have liked to stay a little longer but time wouldn't allow on this occasion.
Posted: 2009-03-06 01:15:10	Entry No: 93

1st March 2009
White rabbits, white rabbits, white rabbits, better to be safe than sorry. I went down to Cresswell Pond again today, it was a little quite. from the hide I saw golden plover c200, lapwing, dunlin, curlew, wigeon, teal, shovlar, mallard, kestrel, pink footed goose, c500. Pintail x2, whooper swans x 7. Good numbers of stonechat where in the field next to the car park
Posted: 2009-03-01 21:53:54	Entry No: 92

Iceland Gull
Another picture of the Iceland Gull at Blyth South Harbour
Posted: 2009-02-25 20:57:33	Entry No: 91

Blyth Harbour 25th February 2009
I had a trip to Blyth today, there has been a number of sightings of white winged gull at the south harbour so I thought I would go and see if I could get some pictures I arrived at 11.00am and had a walk around the harbour, not many gulls of any kind to be seen, lots of herring gulls and lesser black backed with a few kittiwakes which I was surprised to see. Black headed gulls also present. After an hour and a half an iceland gull flew into a small flock of herring gulls following a small fishing vessel. I watched it for a long time.it was too far away to get a picture. After another hour or so it flew into the yachting club part of the harbour which is private. After a long search I could see the bird sitting on the water but couldn't get near it. I asked a man if I could get into the pier belonging to the club and he agreed and let me in. This gave me better nearer views of the bird and I managed to get the shots I was looking for.
Posted: 2009-02-25 20:55:59	Entry No: 90

Friday 13th February 2009
Cresswell Pond was the venue this afternoon, it was a bright sunny day quite pleasant really. Th birds showing were wigeon, teal, shelduck, whooper swan x2, redbreasted mergansers, curlew, golden plover, redshank, dunlin, with an odd knot. Little grebe. In the field near to the parking area near the hide there was a mixed flock feeding, starling, redwing, fieldfare, golden plover meadow pipit, goldfinch an green finch. The resident kestrels were displaying well as usual and a peregrine put in an appearance briefly. It was the North Northumberland Bird club meeting in Bamburgh and a presentation was given entitled CACHE OR CARRY? STORING FOOD FOR TOUGH TIMES Tom Smulders The talk was very interesting and amusing.
Posted: 2009-02-15 12:02:52	Entry No: 89

Sweden Ravens
At the end of the day the sun came out and we had a a great sunset and so did the ravens
Posted: 2009-02-10 18:02:16	Entry No: 88

Golden Eagle continued.....
The pair of golden eagles foraging for food More pictures at www.wildlife-photography.uk.com
Posted: 2009-02-10 17:59:53	Entry No: 87

Golden Eagle Skelftea Sweden
Another picture of the Golden Eagle chasing the Ravens
Posted: 2009-02-10 17:51:57	Entry No: 86

Sweden Sunday 8th February
We entered the hide again at 05:30 it was a good bit warmer today. It was a balmy -15... tropical i'd say. The ravens come again and at just after noon the eagle followed them in we viewed the eagles for the rest of the day until it went dark. They performed well chasing the ravens and flying around the area in front of the hide in blizzard conditions (over 12 inches of snow fell during the day). I made photography difficult but I managed to get some pictures. It was a fabulous trip very cold but very worthwhile and the snow was amazing with drifts of over 8 feet in places. More pictures can bee seen at my photography website www.wildlife-photography.uk.com
Posted: 2009-02-10 17:46:20	Entry No: 85

Skeleftea - Great Spotted Woodpecker
The great spotted woodpecker visited the hide regularly during the two day trip
Posted: 2009-02-10 17:10:45	Entry No: 84

Thursday 6th February, Sweden...........................
Traveled to North Eastern Sweden to Skeleftea via Stockholm. The weather was a balmy -22 which made my nostrils freeze up as I left the plane. My friend Andy Riding and I were visiting Conny Lungstrom who has spend the last 18 years photographing Golden Eagles on his farm land. Conny picked us up at the airport and took us to a small hostel which was nicely heated, thankfully. We didn't expect to see many brd species as we were there to see the magnificent golden eagles.We got into the hide on Saturday morning 7th February at 05.30 the temperature on the gauge was -23 degrees it was a little on the cold side. During the first day we say the ravens which flocked together during the day to 47 in number. They are a fascinating bird to watch they squabbled around all day fighting over food. There was resident pair if grey headed woodpecker which came to the hide and was pecking nuts at about 2 feet distance, we saw them very well but couldn't get a picture because they were so close. We saw willow tit, great tit, and great spotted woodpecker but no eagles.A good day, studying the ravens and hopefully we get the eagles tomorrow.
Posted: 2009-02-10 17:08:19	Entry No: 83

3th February 2009. Purple Sandpiper Little Beach Berwick upon Tweed
The rain cleared at lunchtime and the sun came out. the light was brilliant so I went to my local patch at Little Beach Berwick. There was a few sanderling at the tide line with a couple of bar-tailed godwits, redshank, turnstone, ringed plover one or two rock pipits and a pair of stone chat, probably the ones I saw last week. I got some good pictures of the purple sandpiper. Not a bad afternoon considering the weather this morning.
Posted: 2009-02-04 01:11:08	Entry No: 82

2rd February 2009 Lammamuir Hills Lothian Scotland
We had a lot of snow so I though I would o up on the heather moorland of the Lammamuir Hills near Longframacus to see some more red grouse. It was a bit tricky getting up there even in a four wheel drive.There was a number of birds quite close to the road but they kept ducking down to get out of the wind and driving snow.. I watched them for a while feeding on the young heather shoots. There was also a small flock of mixed birds. linit, chaffinch and brambling moving across the moorland feeding on seeds etc.
Posted: 2009-02-04 00:15:39	Entry No: 81

Snow Bunting
Snow Bunting Cairngorm
Posted: 2009-01-30 17:53:02	Entry No: 80

Snow Bunting Cairngorm, Highlands
I was in the Highlands visiting my mother for a few days> went to Boat of Garten to see the crested tits, very difficult to get good vues but I did see them, there was also buzzard and the usual its in view, great, cole, blue. The weather was very windy and cloudy. I thought I would go to Cairngorm and try to see the Ptarmigan. I got to the car park and the the wind was so bad gale force 6/7 and the authorities would not let people go on the hill for safety reasons. I sat in my car having a coffee wondering what to do next when a small flock of snow buntings can by the car and I got these pictures. So, crested tits, snow buntings but no ptarmigan.
Posted: 2009-01-30 17:52:14	Entry No: 79

More Red Grouse...
Red Grouse in flight
Posted: 2009-01-22 20:00:40	Entry No: 78

Lammermuir Hills Lothian Scotland
It was a pretty bad morning with heavy rain and strong winds. It cleared after lunch so I went up on the Lammermuir Hills which is an area of upland moorland. Not much about except red grouse. I used the car as a hide and sat and waited as they came closer. I saw about 15 at quite close quarters. It was a pleasant change from the coastal areas I usually frequent.
Posted: 2009-01-22 19:56:44	Entry No: 77

Cresswell Pond .................
Sparrowhawk ....
Posted: 2009-01-22 12:16:07	Entry No: 76

Cresswell Pond .................
Barn Owl, I like the barn owl...you probably realised
Posted: 2009-01-22 12:12:35	Entry No: 75

Cresswell Pond .................
Redbreasted Merganser, male
Posted: 2009-01-22 12:07:41	Entry No: 74

Cresswell Pond 20th January 2009
I visited Cresswell pond again this morning at first light yesterday was a vary wet and windy day and my thinking was that the barn owl would be out feeding because they don't like wind and rain. I sat in the hide form 08:30 the ;pond was very quiet. It as a cold but sunny morning the light was very god and in front of the hide was a female golden eye. I watched for a while then two males appeared they were competing for her affections displaying very well. Two pars of redbreasted mergansers drifted from the left out of the edge of readbed, flocks of redshank flew in then dunlin and a few knot a large skein of pink-footed geese can and lane on the far field near to the farm house probably near to 500. In the reedbed edge were snipe and four little grebes were feeding. The customary heron flew past and perched. A pair of scaup on the far side of the pond. Wigeon ,teal mallard were in good numbers. A single sparrow hawk perched briefly against the reedbed on a old post then flew away again. There was a nice flock of golden plover on the spit to the left and were very flighty but looked vibrant in the sunlight. The around 10:30 the barn owl cam out and perched on a post near the road on the right and promptly got mobbed by 2 crows who chased i away. The rain came for about an hour then cleared and the sun shone again. There was a buzzard briefly on the telegraph pole on the left but it moved on. no sighn of the bitter, locals were saying it hasn't been seen since the turn of the year an no sign of the otter today. I left the hide at around 2:00pm an went back to the car and the barn owl came out again and displayed well a.ong the sand dunes. Not bad for a quiet day.
Posted: 2009-01-22 12:01:31	Entry No: 73

Black Redsart North Berwick
I moved on to North Berwick for the Black Redstart. The bird is a female and it was around the Seabird Centre on east beach. The bird was elusive but after searching the headland I finally found it. Other birds seen here today were eider, long-tailed duck, purple sandpiper, redshank, turnstone and rock pipit.
Posted: 2009-01-13 21:35:02	Entry No: 72

Thrush Mussleburgh
This is one of the thrushes which was chasing the waxwings
Posted: 2009-01-13 21:28:13	Entry No: 71

Mussleburgh and North Berwick
I was on a photo trip todaay to Mussleburgh for the waxwings and then onto North Berwick for the Black Redstart. The waxwings were in great form, there was around 30 of them sitting in a sorbus tree feeding and basking in the brilliant sunlight which was great for the photography. I have posted a picture here but the rest are on my photography website www.wildlife-photography.uk.com There is an active link on the front page. The waxwings were being chases by two thrushes showing great aggression.
Posted: 2009-01-13 21:24:31	Entry No: 70

Little Beach Berwick upon Tweed
Sanderling feeding on the shoreline, little beach.
Posted: 2009-01-09 00:39:45	Entry No: 69

Little Beach Berwick upon Tweed
As the sun was shining went to the local beach o view the waders. I was only there fir an hour and watched sanderling, purple sandpiper, bar tailed godwit, dunlin, oystertcatcher, ringed plover, redshank and curlew. Not bad for an hour. I manage to get myself wet through, I was taking photograph lying down on the beach to get a low angle on the sanderling and I got swamped by a large wave. My wife wanst imprssed, but then again she never is.
Posted: 2009-01-09 00:38:58	Entry No: 68

Golden Plover at Cresswell 3rd January 2009
A good flock of golden plover at Cresswell Pond today.
Posted: 2009-01-03 21:24:47	Entry No: 67

Cresswell Pond 3rd January 2009
An afternoon at Cresswell Pond NWT I saw the barn owl at close quarters on the pond itself was teal, wigeon, golden plover, lapwing, dunlin, Red Breasted Merganser, scaup, The light was fabulous and the bird colours was superb and water rail. No sign of the otter today.
Posted: 2009-01-03 21:23:36	Entry No: 66

Glaucous-winged Gull.... Cowpen Marsh Cleveland
I went to Cleveland today to see the Glaucous-winged Gull at Cowpen Marsh. The gull is an American bird rarely seen here in this country. I stood around for hours before it turned up half a mile away. When the news broke it was like a Le-Mans type racing start as everybody ran to their cars and raced down the road. I'm quite pleased to have seen it but it was a lot of fuss about a gull.
Posted: 2009-01-02 20:22:46	Entry No: 65

Stonchat Straight Lonnan Holy Island
Stonechat in scrub field on Holy Island
Posted: 2009-01-01 16:43:01	Entry No: 64

Holy Island 31st December 2008
The last trip of the year was to Holy Island. I was a very cold dull day with no wind, a day for short eared owls perhaps. From the car park I scanned the pools towards the castle. There was teal, wigeon, black headed gull, herring gull, snipe, redshank, curlew and a flock of around 80 dark bellied brent geese. I checked the bushes on Crooked Lonnan but nothing there, the bushes smetimes hold long eared owls roosting but not today. I walked back to Straight Lonnan to check out the bushes there, robin, wren, dunnock, blackbird, male and female reed buntings hopping from tree to tree. In the fields to the left was a large number of curlew c35 and a scattering of oystercatchers and at the end scrubby field at last we saw a single short eared owl. This was the target species for the day, they tend to gather at coastal sites during the winter because food is easier to find. Stonechat, green finch linnet where in evidence although distant. The owl flushed a merlin and a kestrel from roots around the periphery of the field. A stop on the causeway on the way off the island brought curlew, bar-tailed godwit, grey plover,redshank, dunlin and turnstone. A pleasant day some nice birds not bad for a couple of hours. If you are going to visit Holy Island please study the safe crossing times at the entrance to the causeway, dont get stranded on the island and don't take risks crossing if the tide is over the causeway
Posted: 2009-01-01 16:36:16	Entry No: 63

Ringbilled Gull in Dundee
Ringbilled Gull in Dundee
Posted: 2008-12-30 19:42:43	Entry No: 62

Ringbilled Gull in Dundee
Ringed Bill Gull in Dundee
Posted: 2008-12-30 19:40:54	Entry No: 60

Ringbilled Gull
The ringbilled Gull at Dundee
Posted: 2008-12-30 19:37:29	Entry No: 57

King Eider
King Eider
Posted: 2008-12-30 19:36:08	Entry No: 56

King Eider at Ellie Ness
King Eider was among common eider off Ellie Ness
Posted: 2008-12-30 19:34:01	Entry No: 55

Fife and Dundee 29th December 2008
I had a trip up to Fife and round to Dundee. There was some nice birds reported on Rare Bird Alert. Iceland gull at Anstruther Harbour, king eider at Ellie Ness, great grey shrike at Lower Largo and the long staying ringbilled gull at Dundee. An early start got me to Anstruther at first Light, a quick cup of coffee and I was out around the harbour. I saw the iceland gull almost right away it was at the foot of the outer harbour wall. A juvenile bird, it was very obliging. Also in the harbour were eider duck the usual gulls, common, herring, lesser black backed and black headed. Wader present were Dunlin, redshank, oystercatcher, curlew, ringed plover and turnstone. Lower Largo, up the A915 St Andrews Road looking for the Great Grey Shrike. There was already six birders looking for the same bird, after an hour of looking with no joy we all moved down to Ellie to search out the king eider. The day was brightening up by the minute and when I got to Ellie Ness it was quite sunny but very cold c0 degrees. The king eider was found pretty Quickly as there was about eight birders looking for it. The bird was in a small flock of common eider preening and splashing about. I managed to get some reasonable pictures of the bird. Also there was four common scoter in the same flock of birds. Some sanderling on the beach here as well. Moved onto Dundee next to get some more pictures of the ringbilled gull. I was there on Christmas Eve, but with the bright weather I thought the pictures might be better. Judge for yourself
Posted: 2008-12-30 19:30:02	Entry No: 53

Stonechat at Berwick upon Tweed
One of four stonechat on scrubland at Berwick upon Tweed on Christmas Day
Posted: 2008-12-25 20:03:21	Entry No: 52

Christmas Day Little Beach Berwick upon Tweed
Merry Christmas, I've been blowing the cobwebs off before the big lunch, Lots of sanderling c70 feeding at the shoreline. Other birds present were Red Breasted Merganser 3 pairs, many eider and a single very distant red throated diver and 2 pairs of stonechat on scrubland at the rear of the beach
Posted: 2008-12-25 19:51:17	Entry No: 51

Ringbilled Gull in Dundee 24th December 2008
Another picture of the Dundee ringbilled gull
Posted: 2008-12-24 18:11:23	Entry No: 50

Ringbilled Gull in Dundee
A trip into Angus was rewarded with a view of the ringbilled gull on the small car park west of the railway bridge near to the cafe amongst the black-headed gulls
Posted: 2008-12-24 18:07:15	Entry No: 49

Otter at Cresswell Pond NWT
The otter put in an appearance todau tho briefly
Posted: 2008-12-15 20:11:50	Entry No: 48

15 December 2008
Cresswell Pond NWT, A nice bright day Bittern, barn Owl,Merlin, Sparrowhawk, red breasted merganser, teal, wigeon, lapwing golden plover dunlin, redshank, goldeneye, mute swan grey heron, water rail. The otter also put in an appearance Not bad for a couple of hours
Posted: 2008-12-15 20:01:44	Entry No: 46

Even more Joppa waxwings
Fedding on Rowan Trees
Posted: 2008-12-10 21:24:50	Entry No: 45

Joppa Waxwings
More Joppa Waxwings
Posted: 2008-12-10 21:23:34	Entry No: 44

Waxwings at Joppa Lothian
The long staying waxwings a Joppa were still present this afternoon. The count today was 169 and the numbers are increasing as the week has gone on. The birds were present in Joppa Gardens and Joppa Terrace
Posted: 2008-12-10 21:22:39	Entry No: 43

December 9th Cresswell Pond
A good day to day but very cold. The bittern was showing well again with lots of teal, wigeon, golden eye, mallard, scaup, shoveler, mute swan. three herons were lurking about. at the edge of the reed bed snipe were present and the water rail put in an appearance briefly. Waders included redshank, dunlin, curlew, golden plover and lapwing. Highlight of the day was a merlin which flew across the pond and landed on the old stump o the right of the hide
Posted: 2008-12-09 23:11:23	Entry No: 42

Cresswell Barn Owl
Barn Owl Cresswell Pond
Posted: 2008-12-07 07:20:37	Entry No: 41

Cresswell Barn Owl
The barn Owl at Cresswell Pond
Posted: 2008-12-07 07:19:24	Entry No: 40

6th December a brighter day.......
The weather took a turn for the better with sunshine replacing the wet dreary weather. I took a trip down to Cresswell Pond targeting the bittern which had been seen during the week. The bitter where present, two of them along with Merlin, female scaup, and the barn owl put in an appearance
Posted: 2008-12-07 06:55:00	Entry No: 39

Brambling
The cold weather brought a few brambling into my garden. This is a first for my immediate area. The weather was very cold around freezing point. Two females visited my garden and one of them got into a spat with a male chaffinch.
Posted: 2008-12-07 06:48:39	Entry No: 38

Waxwigs
Huge numbers of waxwings are around the area, mainly in south east Scotland. The Edinburgh area appears to be the centre with flocks of 400, 250, 40, 30 and double figure groups around the area.
Posted: 2008-11-29 07:30:06	Entry No: 37

November 24th
A trip to Holy Island saw some fierce weather, driving wind and hailstones. Condition were difficult to see things but I managed to see merlin, little egret and peregrine falcon. dark bellied brent geese (37) and numerous bar-tailed godwits, dunlin, redshank and gray plover during what was one of the wildest days I can remember.
Posted: 2008-11-24 19:27:55	Entry No: 36

November 23rd
Lots of waxwings around the east coast, flocks of 1-2 hundred isn't uncommon. Dunbar has had a few flocks pass through the area. The latest being only 6 at West Barns in Bielside Gardens. There seem to be a small influx of rough legged buzzards along the east coast along with a few iceland and glaucous gulls. There has been a large flock of twite on the dunes at Druridge Bay for a few days moving up and down the coast and the bittern has put in another appearance at Cresswell Pond recently
Posted: 2008-11-24 07:36:08	Entry No: 35

Chiff-chaff
Another Phyloscopus warbler present was the chiff-chaff
Posted: 2008-11-14 07:03:16	Entry No: 34

Goldcrest
Good numbers of Goldcrests were present throughout the island
Posted: 2008-11-14 06:59:32	Entry No: 33

Short Eared Owl
Short Eared Owls were showing well at Straight Loaning on the 13th
Posted: 2008-11-14 06:44:09	Entry No: 29

Red-flanked Bluetail
The Red-flanked Bluetail stayed through the middle of the month and was showing well outside the Lindisfarne Hotel. This picture was taken on the 13th
Posted: 2008-11-14 06:37:14	Entry No: 27

November continued..........
Novembers is becoming the month of the waxwing. They spread widely throughout the region with flocks of as many as 200 in places. The Red-flanked Bluetail remained at Holy Island it moves between the vicars garden and the Lindisfarne Hotel staying for a few days at a time. Else were on the island short eared owls (6 on the 13th) were showing well at the end of Straight Lonnen along with Marsh Harrier periodically. Many Goldcrests and Chiff-chaff were present around the island notably in the bushes on Crooked Lonnan, the church yard and the vicars garden. A Black Redstart was seen briefly in a ploughed field at the entrance to the village on the 11th
Posted: 2008-11-14 06:32:29	Entry No: 26

9th November Desert Wheatear Newbiggin on Sea
The Desert Wheatear was again on the beach between the golf coarse and the sea shore to the south of the power station, the bird was flighty but once found showed very well. Also in the area at the Mound in Newbiggin was a Humes Yellow Browed Warbler and a Yellow browed Warbler in a flock of long tailed tits with goldcrests
Posted: 2008-11-09 21:30:29	Entry No: 25

November 6th Red-flanked Bluetail
A Red-flanked Bluetail was present in the vicars garden all day showing well, also present was a pallas's warbler with woodcock passing overhead.
Posted: 2008-11-08 21:18:13	Entry No: 24

5th November Pallas's Warbler
Pallas's Warbler at Torness Power Station near the car park at the visitor centre in the bushes. There was also a Peregrine Falcon and goldcrest present.
Posted: 2008-11-08 09:13:02	Entry No: 21

November
Rustic bunting and radde's warbler in Cleveland on the 4th with large numbers of waxwings mainly in Scotland and North Nortumberland and a Pallas's Warbler at Torness Power Station in Lothian near Dunbar
Posted: 2008-11-08 09:13:02	Entry No: 17

October comtinued.....
The month continued with skeins of geese, pink footed, graylag and brent geese with the odd Greenland whitfronted goose with them. Whooper swans continued to enter the area. The pond at Cresswell again flooded and the water levels rose to a height which chased the waders away. It seems that the levels cant be controlled unless the road gets flooded. There must be a way to be able to control the levels of the pond. When the level are right for waders. during September there where many species of wader present on the pond including baird's sandpiper and buff breasted sandpiper, pectoral sandpiper, curlew sandpiper. These birds along with other scarce species in the area brought many visitors to the area which can only be good for the local economy. So come on Northumberland Wildlife Trust, lets do some thing to the water levels and managed pond for for the good of the wildlife, the local economy and visitors to Northumberland. The back end of the month was disappointing because of the changing weather systems and there was very little of interest around the sites.
Posted: 2008-11-05 10:32:13	Entry No: 16

October comtinued.....
The month continued with skeins of geese, pink footed, graylag and brent geese with the odd Greenland whitfronted goose with them. Whooper swans continued to enter the area. The pond at Cresswell again flooded and the water levels rose to a height which chased the waders away. It seems that the levels cant be controlled unless the road gets flooded. There must be a way to be able to control the levels of the pond. When the level are right for waders. during September there where many species of wader present on the pond including baird's sandpiper and buff breasted sandpiper, pectoral sandpiper, curlew sandpiper. These birds along with other scarce species in the area brought many visitors to the area which can only be good for the local economy. So come on Northumberland Wildlife Trust, lets do some thing to the water levels and managed pond for for the good of the wildlife, the local economy and visitors to Northumberland.
Posted: 2008-11-05 10:29:32	Entry No: 15

October comtinued.....
The month continued with skeins of geese, pink footed, graylag and brent geese with the odd Greenland whitfronted goose with them. Whooper swans continued to enter the area. The pond at Cresswell again flooded and the water levels rose to a height which chased the waders away. It seems that the levels cant be controlled unless the road gets flooded. There must be a way to be able to control the levels of the pond. When the level are right for waders. during September there where many species of wader present on the pond including baird's sandpiper and buff breasted sandpiper, pectoral sandpiper, curlew sandpiper. These birds along with other scarce species in the area brought many visitors to the area which can only be good for the local economy. So come on Northumberland Wildlife Trust, lets do some thing to the water levels and managed pond for for the good of the wildlife, the local and visitors.
Posted: 0000-00-00 00:00:00	Entry No: 14

Sooty Shearwater
Sooty Shearwaters showing well along the east coast during October
Posted: 2008-10-10 09:24:04	Entry No: 13

Arctic Skua
Arctic Skua on passage along the east coast
Posted: 2008-10-10 09:22:24	Entry No: 12

Sooty Shearwater
Great views of sooty shearwaters along the east coast
Posted: 2008-10-10 09:20:41	Entry No: 11

October comtinued.....
The month started slowly and has continued in that vein. Arctic skuas, pomarine skuas, sooty shearwaters, manx shear waters have been seen along the coast on their migration path. A few pectoral sandpipers, spotted redshank and curlew sandpipers have been seen along the coastal sites notably Aberlady Bay and Mussleburgh Lagoons and Kinneil. Pale bellied brent geese and barnacle geese also at Aberlady Bay and a sprinkling of little auks have been present along the coast, notably Burnmouth in the Borders. In fife pectoral sandpiper at Rossie Bog Auchtermuchty A white thrush was seen briefly coming off the sea at Hartlepool Headland and disappeared along the coast to the west on the 7th. Large skeins of barnacle geese, pink footed goose, brent geese have been seen all along the region.
Posted: 2008-10-10 09:10:17	Entry No: 8

Whooper Swans
Whooper Swans along the Lothian coast
Posted: 2008-10-10 08:50:25	Entry No: 7

October
The skua passage continues with arctic, great and pomarine skuas passing the Lothian peninsula's, manx and sooty shearwaters with the odd belearic shearwater in attendance. On the 3rd 8 whooper swans at Queensferry also barnacle geese med gulls and scaup
Posted: 0000-00-00 00:00:00	Entry No: 6

Ocober 2008
The month started with some very large skeins of geese passing trough the region. On the 1st 20,000 barnacle geese stayed at Budle bay for a while were a notable number, 400 pink footed geese at Queen Elisabeth Country Park on the 2nd and 500 barnacle gees at Cresswell Pond also on the 2nd. The Bittern was till at Cresswell on the 1st.
Posted: 2008-10-04 08:38:49	Entry No: 5

Little Egret
The little egret put in a brief appearance at Cresswell pond on the 22nd September
Posted: 2008-10-03 14:16:08	Entry No: 4

Bittern Cresswell Pond
A bittern was first spotted on the 21st September at Cresswell Pond
Posted: 2008-10-03 13:58:00	Entry No: 3

Juvenile Little Gull at Druridge Bay, Creswell Pond
The juvenile little gull was a brief visitor to Cresswell Pond
Posted: 2008-10-03 13:58:00	Entry No: 2

22nd September 2008
Welcome to the first of what I hope to be many entries to this diary. September saw a large influx of migrants along the eastern side of the country. Northumberland and southeastern Scotland fared very well. Redstarts, pied flycatchers were prevalent around the area throughout the first half of the month along with ruff, greenshank, knot and dunlin On the weekend of the 6th heavy rain and northeast wind brought drop of birds to areas such as Cresswell Pond, Druridge Pools, Low Newton and Hauxley. The month began with a red-backed shrike at High Newton, Beadnell, with little egret and marsh harrier at Cresswell Pond and green sandpiper at Holywell. Mediterranean gulls where see regularly around the area with a sprinkling of spotted redshanks. Little egrets were seen at Amble and Alnmouth on the 3rd and the first of a large number of honey buzzards was at Sook Hill. A sea watch on the 5th saw Balearic shearwater, manx shearwater (92) and arctic skua (6). An icterine warbler was seen on the 6th at Tynemouth near to the pier. On Holy Island wryneck, pied flycatcher and redstart were present, and at Druridge Bay Country Park icterine warbler, wryneck and wood warbler. For the next few days after the heavy rain and northeasterly wind brought in many sightings of icterine warbler, wryneck pied flycatcher whinchat lesser whitethroat, reed warbler whitethroat and garden warbler and barred warbler. Red-breasted flycatcher, red-backed shrike, common crossbill and dottrel. Greenish warbler was the star bird at this time at Low Newton and Newbiggin-by-the sea on the 8th. The 9th saw a sabines gull at Tynemouth. The 10th saw the first sighting of the very obliging buff-breasted Sandpiper, which was last reported on the 15th. Pectoral Sandpiper, curlew sandpiper, little stint and ruff displayed well at Cresswell Pond. Wryneck were spotted at Cambois and Druridge with a Bluethroat and black redstart also at Cambois. Curlew sandpipers were widespread around the area notably at Budle Bay, Alnmouth and Druridge Pools with a black-throated diver off shore here. A black tern was seen at Cresswell. The greenish warbler was still present on the 13th at Low Newton. Good numbers of hey buzzards were seen along the coastline throughout the month. Ospreys were seen at Marsden and Holy Island on the 15th along with long eared owl, short-eared owl, redstart, pied flycatcher, redstart and lesser whitethroat. Another greenish warbler was found at Earsden on the 16th. A yellow browed was showing well in a hedge at Woodhorn on the 17th. A honey buzzard flew over Cresswell Pond briefly on the 18th. An influx of white wagtails was noticeable at Prestwick Carr. A wryneck was showing well at Seaton Delaval at Hallington Drive and showing well. A notable sighting was a ringed necked parakeet at Ashington. The 19th saw a yellow-browed warbler in the bushes behind the hide at Cresswell Pond, at possible baird’s sandpiper was seen by a reliable source briefly also at Cresswell. A flock of pink-footed goose (72) were seen flying over Cresswell and Earsdon also on the 19th. There was a flock of barnacle goose (85) at St Mary’s Island on he 20th, with 13 curlew sandpiper at Budle Bay. In Lothian at Dunbar a Greater Sandplover was seen near the golf coarse although it proved elusive. Sea watching continues to produce arctic skuas, great skuas and long tailed skuas with a very large passage of gannets moving down the east coast as the month comes to an end little auks are turning up in small numbers notably Dunbar and St Abb,s. Small numbers of roseate terns have also been recorded.
Posted: 2008-10-04 09:19:44	Entry No: 1

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