Orkney

We spent 6 days up on Orkney and were not disappointed.

Much of our time was spent on Orkney Mainland visiting RSPB Reserves, historic buildings and sites of archaeological importance such as Skara Brae. However, we managed to explore Shapinsay, Rousay and South Ronaldsay whilst also sailing to, but not landing on, Hoy and Flotta.

Hide at RSPB Birsay Moors, Mainland

RSPB Marwick Head, Mainland

Fulmar - RSPB Marwick Head, Mainland

 

St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall

 

Skara Brae, Mainland

 

View from hide - RSPB Mill Dam, Shapinsay

Hedgehog - Shapinsay

 

Rousay

 

Some of the best bird sightings, however, were found at the Peedie Sea and Boating Pond in Kirkwall ..........

 

Peedie Sea and Boating Pond, Kirkwall

Common Tern - Peedie Sea and Boating Pond, Kirkwall

 

... with, amazingly, Roseate Tern and up to 8 Long-tailed Ducks present during our stay ........

 

Long-tailed Duck - Peedie Sea and Boating Pond, Kirkwall

 

It was our first time on Orkney and we saw lots of 'hoped for' birds such as Hen Harrier, Great and Arctic Skua, Great Northern and Red-throated Divers, Cuckoo, Twite and Stonechat. Travelling was easy with excellent information available from the tourist information centre and adjoining travel centre - buses and ferries generally ran on time and provided a good integrated public transport service.

The weather was pretty good, the only 'criticism' being the wind which did make it feel a bit cooler than it really was. The food was really good and the people friendly and welcoming - so, if you haven't been, give it a go!

Year Listing and Exhibitions

At the beginning of 2017, like lots of people, I wondered how many birds could I see, in Scotland, in a year. Needless to say this takes a lot of planning, goodwill and luck; it also helps if you are retired!

So on Sunday (14th) I headed off to Baron's Haugh RSPB reserve on the River Clyde and the nearby Carbarns Pool to try to add to my list. The reserve was busier than usual with a good few folk all trying to see the reported Great White Egrets. I was lucky. After about 5 minutes one came into view - it had been feeding in a channel not visible from the hide - stood for a few moments and then flew off!

I managed this awful record shot of it flying towards Merryton .................

From Baron's Haugh, I walked along the River Clyde walkway towards Carbarns Pool and saw a distant wader. I was told by other birders, standing next to a large electricity pylon, that it was the Wood Sandpiper that we had all been hoping for. I always like to be sure about bird sightings and managed to get a closer look from the other side of the pool without disturbing any of the birds. Again, an awful record shot but enough to convince me I was looking at a Wood Sandpiper .......

On walking back along the river bank, towards the other birders still at the pylon, I was pleased to find my 'own' Garden Warbler, which meant 3 'new' birds for the day and year list of 181.

On Wednesday, we joined the RSPB Glasgow Group on their trip to Sallochy - thanks to Judith and Mike. I didn't take my camera on this trip and as usually happens when I do this, we got good views of Wood Warbler, Redstart and Pied Flycatcher!

The facilities at Sallochy have been improved and there are toilets and a range of interpretation signs - phone photos follow ...

 

On Thursday I popped down to the Kibble Palace in Glasgow's Botanic Gardens to check out the 'Kelvin in the Kibble Exhibition' and the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs display ..

 

 

The exhibition runs until 30 May 2017.

Finally, on Friday, I was invited by the RSPB Glasgow office to the launch of the 'Dear Green Futures' exhibition, this time in Kelvingrove Museum. It was good to meet lots of like minded people and applaud the winners of their photographic competition.

Otter on Mull

As promised, here is the link to a short video of the Otter I filmed on Mull

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxTotL-bBxI

Please view at HD 1080

Also another photo of this marvelous mammal ............

Otter on Mull

Mull and Iona

We travelled up to Fionnphort on Mull last Wednesday to stay a couple of nights in the superb Staffa House B&B. The current owners do a wonderful job - Gillian and Ali are very welcoming, provide excellent breakfasts and their accommodation is comfortable and spotlessly clean. We also really admired their environmental ethos. Sadly they hope to move on and the business is currently for sale.

We were joined by Mike and Judith and on the Wednesday afternoon we walked from Fionnphort towards and around Fidden. We had a  good start with a small flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plover followed by c30 Whimbrel and 9 Black-tailed Godwit.

Ringed Plover and Dunlin

 

Other Highlights included Great Northern Diver and Twite not to mention a calling Corncrake! The Mountain Hare was a good sighting, as well............

Mountain Hare

On the Thursday we spent most of the day on Iona where, after a poor start weatherwise, it soon turned into a spectacular beautiful day.

The colour of the sky and sea kept changing - blue through to turquoise - whilst the white sandy beaches could have been from the Caribbean.

Lots of waders - Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Sanderling and Whimbrel; more Twite; a Peregrine; confiding Skylark and Wheatear; and an actual sighting of a Corncrake! There are apparently only four on the island just now so we were privileged to see one. Hopefully, more will arrive over the next day or so.

Whimbrel

Wheatear (female)

Skylark (video grab)

On our last day we travelled back to Craignure and birded in and around the local camp site and woodland. On the way, however, we had a surprise encounter with a male Hen Harrier - the first time I've seen one from the local bus!

At Craignure, the Bluebells were stunning ...

.... and we added lots of 'small' birds to our list with Wood Warbler, Goldcrest, Lesser Redpoll and Siskin just some of the many species seen. The key moment, however, was the sighting of an Otter by Mike. We watched it for a few minutes before it started to swim ashore. We got in position and had cracking views as it rolled amongst the rocks and seaweed. Watch out for a video which I'll be posting later.

Otter

Back in Oban we got close views of a Black Guillemot - up until then we had seen lots of these birds but all at a distance ...........

Black Guillemot

....... a perfect end to our 3 day adventure.

Birding - near and far

A busy week and lots of miles on the road - thanks to Peter and Stephen - and lots of birds. Indeed between 1 May and 7 May 2017, I saw or heard 116 different species!

Starting on the 1st, we travelled to the Trossachs and Loch Lomond. I concentrated on birding so the camera remained in the rucksack but I found this 'art installation' in the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park intriguing .............

 

We then spent three days up in north east Scotland. On the Wednesday, we called in at the Ythan Estuary ...

 

 

 ........ Bullers o' Buchan .....

 

 

... and Loch of Strathbeg RSPB Reserve ..

 

View from Starnafin Farm Visitor Centre

 

On the Thursday, we concentrated on the Strathbeg area, visiting the visitor centre and three hides ......

 

View from the Bay Hide 

 

.. as well as the St Coombs area and Rattray Head .............

 

Rattray Head

 

The birds were superb and I was pleased to be able to get record shots of Little Gull and Corn Bunting ..

 

Little Gulls with Black-headed Gull in foreground

 

Corn Bunting

 

On the Friday we travelled along the Moray coast and then headed home via Lochindorb.

 

It was back to earth today with a 2 hour visit to Dawsholm Park LNR. The main task was to check the Friends of Glasgow's LNRs nest boxes but I still managed 25 different species.

 

So 116 species in a week - Scotland's Wilds Better!

 

Other bird sightings from around Greater Glasgow, courtesy of SOC Clyde Grapevine, include:

 

Saturday 6 May 2017
Swift records were of four Calderglen Country Park, East Kilbride and two at Battlefield and "near" Shawlands, Glasgow
A pair of escape Ringed Teal on Kilmardinny Loch, Milngavie.

Thursday 4 May 2017
The Osprey still at Gartloch Pools in the morning.
64 Pink-footed Geese at Bridgend Farm Pool, near Kirkintilloch, also seven Shoveler (four drakes).

Wednesday 3 May 2017
The Osprey still at Gartloch Pools, catching a fish this morning.

Monday 1 May 2017
An Osprey over Gartloch Pools, also a Dunlin there and now seven reeling Grasshopper Warblers between the Pools and Bishop Loch early morning.
A ring-tailed Hen Harrier at Bonnyton Moor, Eaglesham.