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.