Black grouse.

 A day out with our host Simon. Simon is not only a genorous host but an excellent birdwatcher with an extensive knowledge of the Highlands. We  visited severa spots and this blog covers some of the highlights. Stuart needed red and black grouse for his year list.

We saw 32 in total including one on a telegraph post! Next target bird was a red grouse, which we disturbed as we drove along. White-tailed eagle sat on the top of a distant tree.

Sadly no divers but another beautiful place.

Not the best of weather but the autumn colours are stunning.

One last stop as the light was starting to fade and the mist was rolling in.

A brief glimpse of a crested tit

Dipper on a stream.

Another year tick for Sturt. An excellent days birding thanks to Simon. 

Sadly our last day. Many thanks to Simon and Fiona for their excellent hospitality, I hope to return for another visit next year.

Thanks to Stuart for his brilliant company.

Trip list total is under review but I think is about 80 birds, plus red squirrel and red deer.

RSPB Insh Marshes.

 Day two of our trip to Speyside.

One of the feeding stations at where we were staying. Lots of coal tits and a new bird for our trip list a great spotted woodpecker.

Time for a walk in the forest. Again lots of coal tits but nothing bigger to be heard or seen.

A fleeting glimpse of a crested tit.

Julie who used to work at Blacktoft is now at Insh marshes so we went to meet her.

First stop was the Lookout. Fantastic views.

Whooper swans, mallard, a sparrowhawk chasing the birds on the feeders. Several buzzards and a red kite "hanging" in the wind across the valley.

We drove with Jlie to Feshiebridge we we looked for a waxwing that had been reported, No luck.

Time to say goodbye to Julie as we were going out for a meal with our hosts Simon and Fiona.

RSPB Loch Leven

 Day two of our journey north. We stayed overnight near Musselburg and drove to RSPb Loch Leven.

We had a pleasant chat with the staff in the centre before visiting the hides. We added anothere 10 birds to our trip list including whooper swans

Pochard, pintail, goldeneye and little egret. On our way back to the car we caught up with this little chap.

An excellent reserve, well done.

Musselburgh

 Stu and I are having a stop over on our way to Nethy Bridge.

Our first stop was at Musselburgh where we walked to the sea wall.. Nice sunny day, but the blustery wind had a cool edge to it. Eiders, slavonian grebe, great crested grebe, red throated divers, wigeon, shelduck and mergansers on the sea.

As we walked along the path we disturbed 2 twite, (a year tick for us both) and several goldfinches.

We exchanged news with other bird watchers, and all remarked about the absence of scoters.

We then visited the lagoons.

Lots of greylag geese, a smaller number of pink footed geese. Curlew

oystercatchers were asleep.

Mallard, gadwall, teal, mute swan, linnet and redshank helped lift out trip to 52.

Old Foss Beck

 

October half term. My "winter" started on Sunday when BST ended and my summer will begin on December 22nd when the sunsets get later.

In the mean time I am walking my daughters dog everyday this week.

Still plenty of colour in the hedgerows and lots of birds to be seen.

25 birds on my list for this mornings walk.

Scotland on Sunday

Homestead Park, York.

 

Lots of autumnal colour on display in the park on a sunny October day.

I visited the park prior to considering holding a BGBW event next January.

Wheldrake Ings

 Barbara and I visited Wheldrake Ings today in preparation for a local group walk in the area on November 9th. The car park at Bank island was full, as the contractors are still working on the new building. We drove down the lane to Wheldrake Ings and parked near the river.

As we walked along the riverside path towards Bank Island we saw lots of bullfinches,mostly males. ^ were sat close together on the top of one bush. Goldfinches, blue and great tits were also flitting from bush to bush.

The hide at Toms Ponds has been the home to an owl, lots of droppings and owl pellets on the floor. No water in any of the scrapes in front of the hide. Cheesecake hide has been extended and a ramp walkway added. This hide has also been home to an owl. A small pool of water remains, but only carrion crows near it. Lots of woodpigeons feeding in the fields and a jay flew towards us but went into the hedge. We stayed in the hide while a rain shower passed overhead.

We then walked back to the car and walked over the Bailey bridge onto Wheldrake Ings. The farmer was gathering his sheep together, so there was some disturbance.

From the Tower hide was saw a male reed bunting and a pair of stonechats. We then walked to the pool hide. Just outside the hide were a party of redpolls.

Still some water in the pool, but it is not very deep. A cormorant landed and soon found itself stood up not swimming! We heard but did not see a tawny owl.

These green sandpipers were the highlight of our visit. As we walked around to Swantail hide we heard the sound of swans flying and saw mute swans flying in the distance. we also heard pink-footed geese but were unable to find them.

There is some water in front of Swantail hide, but it is partially covered by vegetation. 3 teal appeared briefly while a marsh harrier hunted over the fields behind the hide.

A pleasant day with a list of 29 birds.