Some Nice Rarities on my 200 quest!

Back to some birding following lots of work involving Hogganfield Park and The Friends of Glasgow's LNRs.

At the start of 2015, I set myself a 'target' of seeing 200 bird species in a year in Scotland and in recent weeks have been creeping slowly towards this total - so no option but to try some twitching!

On the 4th, I travelled through to Torness again by public transport and despite the poor weather managed to add Black Redstart to my total ...

One of two males - Black Redstart - Torness Power Station

 

Yesterday we travelled north, cheers Stephen, and thankfully the weather forecast was correct - mainly dry with some bright spells.

 

We started in Pitlochry with this superb male Ring-necked Duck ..

 

 

and this Dipper, with a sadly deformed left foot ........

 

 

We then headed off to Loch of Kinnordy RSPB Reserve .....

 

Loch of Kinnordy - 9 November 2015

 

and were rewarded with a magnificent birding spectacle; the highlights being Bittern and Great White Egret ...

 

Great White Egret - 9 November 2015

 

This Red Squirrel was also a nice find ...

 

 

 

So another great day with the Scottish Year Bird List standing at 195 - only 5 to go!

 

Finally, some recent sightings from Greater Glasgow, courtesy of the SOC Clyde Grapevine:

 

Sunday 8 November 2015
Two Stonechats still at Cathkin Marsh.

Wednesday 4 November 2015
A Jay in Top Wood, Linn Park, Glasgow.

Tuesday 3 November 2015
Two Ravens over Linn Park, Glasgow.

Monday 2 November 2015
Two Ring-necked Parakeets over Westwood Road, Pollokshaws.
A pair of Peregrines and a Raven on Stobcross Crane, Finnieston, Glasgow.
A late Swallow at the River Kelvin in Garscube Estate at 1230 hrs.