A Four day trip to Scotland

Hooded Crow

My  grandson Michael came over with Brian to give us a lift to Stanstead Airport and we are off on my first vist to the Highland's. A one hour flight to Glasgow and we are in the hire car for the 2 1/2 hour drive to Fort William a great drive along the bank's of Loch Lomond. Magical view's to take your breath away. Soon we  are at the cabin called Robin's nest underneath the highest mountain in Britian Ben Nevis,What a sight looking up at the snow capped summit.Once inside the cabin we start to unpack when Brian call's out there is a Hooded crow in our garden. Jimmy & I rush to see it and get a lifer within 2 minute's of being here. Brian has alway's wanted to see a Hooded crow and we are feeling really good with the tick, we did not know that by the end of the trip we would have seen many many Hooded crow's.

We want to start birding straight away so we take a short car trip before we find  a place to eat , not a lot about so hunger take's over and we head for a pub meal, on the way  we see a dark shape by the side of the road ,we pull up and follow it as it run's into the grass, it is a nice Black Grouse & we then see 3 more this is great as we all need it for a life tick, now to eat and get ready for tomorrow as we will be up before light so we will give it a real go tomorrow. Day 2 up by 4 o'clock and Brian cook's scrambled egg on toast and I make the tea.
 And we are off  to get on the Corran ferry.We pay the £7 ferry fare and a few minutes later we are on our way to the first stop Ardery, We see Mergansers, Shags, Eiders and 7 Seals, not to much about so we set off for Adnamurchan. To get there we drive along 12 miles of single track bendy roads, we stop at a information centre with a cafe, Brian gets a nice ham toasty , Jimmy & I have a sausage in a roll with a mug of tea. Brian gets he's first and it is nice, he finishs it before ours come along,when it arrives it looks nice a massive big round toasted roll but the smallest bit of sausage meat stuck in the middle, the old girl who cooked  it came out to see if we needed sauce I said yes please , so I wait a little time and no sauce arrives so I start to eat, when I look up and see Brian with tears in his eyes due to him having a fit of laughter at my effort to try and get to the filling in the roll , it start's us off in a fit of uncontrollable laughter. you know when you don't  know what your laughing at but you get tears in your eyes and it starts everyone off, we get control of ourselves and I finish the roll, but I am still looking for the  filling when the old girl turns up with the sauce, Brian & Jimmy leave the table as quick as they can, I think to myself maybe if I ever come back this way I could use it then. 
Off we go nearly fed to try to see the Golden eagles that someone had told us about nesting near by,we get to a car park down in a valley and start to scan the sky with scope, no luck for a couple of hours and its starting to drag a bit as we really need to see these birds its the  main .reason we came.Then Jimmy calls Eagle we all get a sight, but its very high up , it is starting to get closer  now.Jimmy has it in his scope all the way and he calls it as a White tailed eagle, we now can all see the white on the tail another life tick a great spot by Jimmy. 
We head down to see the lighthouse at the most westerly point in Briton.We take a different path to Brian this seems to happen a lot but it gives us more chance to see something, as is the case this time when he calls out for us to get to him quick as he has a 30 foot Basking shark feeding in the bay. We get a great view when we find it  after a few mins, that was not what we thought we would see when we set out today, so a right bonus, never seen one before so a life time great for us all. Going back we stop to talk to a birder who is set up with a scope, He tells us he has a Eagle nest, so I cop a quick view in his scope just as the bird sets off, a view but want a better view.We hang about for ages and I get a bit tired and have a sit in the car, the head was nodding a bit when  the cry goes up eagle, in all we see 5 Golden eagles all in flight and high up but the target bird is in the bag.Off home to the cabin now.    Day3     Up early again we are off to Loch Garton for the Capercaillie, on the way we stop off at Laggan dam because the book we are following tells us  we can  get Twite here. A beautiful place to see and after 10 minutes we  see the Twite and carry on for the target bird. 

Brian & Jimmy

We get to Loch Garton  just after it is open and the man takes our money and says the bird is on his camera, so off we go maybe 100yds and see birders  who tell us the bird has just flown off, not to worry it we be back we tell ourself, How wrong can you be, we stay until  10 o'clock when the centre shuts for a couple of hours.We move on to Abernethy forest and get another lifer when we get a Crested Tit a very quick view on the tree and in flight but a ticks a tick. Back to see if any sign of target bird, a bit of a stay with some nice people to talk to,I like that side of birding as much as seeing the birds. 

This site is best known for the nesting Osprey's and we get good views in the scope. But no sign of our target so lets give up maybe we can try tomorrow if time allows.As we come out of the vistor centre the Red Squirrels are running about playing. It's really nice to see. On the way back Brian calls a Red grouse Jimmy & I did not see it so we get the scope out and scan, not long before Jim spots 3 more ,we get great views and another lifer to tick. A really great day fantastic views across the lochs & mountains a lot of birds seen and a couple of lifers and as the boys said it beats working any day.         Day4 up and packed ready to load the car we have to be at the airport at 5 o'clock. We plan to stop off and do more sight seeing and birding along the way.  Good-bye Roybridge, sad but time to go.

  

We stop and look for some butterflys at Allt mhuic,   but a waste of time as theres not a single one about due to the weather not being to nice.We head down into some woods and get a nice Tree pipit, then a Wood warbler is heard so the chase is on to trace it for a view,Jimmy soon finds it and I get the best view I have had of it , nice.   

We travel a bit nearer to the airport and stop to get views of a Black guillemot that the boys already had ,but I as usual had missed it when they first got it so it is nice of them to take the time to get the old boy another lifer.



reflection



Paying respect



High up but the best I got.White-Tailed Eagle




                                                                                                 



                                                       



Wood warbler

 Off to see the commando memorial, it is very sad when you see the plaque's laid just this year for soldier's that are still giving their lives so we can be safe.It really makes you stand for a while and reflect on the sadness of it all.

One last stop and Brian get's us a spotted flycatcher, we need it for a year tick so a nice finish to the trip.



Time is going fast now so we head to  the airport .


A great trip,with over one hundred bird's seen.seven lifer's
                                                                                                      
                                      Golden eagle,   White tailed eagle,    Crested tit,    Hooded crow,   Red grouse  Black grouse,    Black guillemot.

   Also lovely place's. that  we saw.       GLEN ROE. FORT WILLIAM . ROYBRIDGE. INVERNESS. LOCH LINNHE. LOCH MALLACHIE. AVIEMORE. LOCH LOMOND. MORAY FIRTH.CAIRNGORNS.ABERNETAY FOREST. FINHORN VALLEY.ADNAMURCHAN BAY.LAGGAN DAM. PLUS MANY MORE.AND A VIEW LOOKING OVER THE ISLAND OF MULL.
                                    MAGICAL, FANTASTIC.      

Also  Red deer,   Otters,  Red squirrel,  Basking shark.



world famous Neptune's staircase





Red deer
one of many









Next day Dinas

                                                            Dipper




Dipper



Pied Flycatcher

Marsh Tit

Up early as we are going to the fantastic RSPB reserve at Dinas a favorite place of us all. We get there nice and early only to see Brian & Sue sitting in the car park and as usual Brian has got a bird for us to get on straight away a nice Pied Flycatcher, We saw a lot more as we walked round by the river.It's a nice day for a change as it is nearly alway's raining when we come here. Robert set's up with his camera to wait for the Dipper's to come to him, not to long a wait as they fly up & down here and rest on the large bolder's which are a feature of this wonderful place. we all get great view's, not so many  here today which is not the norm. Brian & Sue are sitting on the boardwalk when they call a Tree pipit, I was nearer than Jimmy and got on it quick Jimmy got to us just in time to get a view  which was good as he & I needed it for a lifer, Brian already had it on he's list ,but he is alway's happy to spot it for us. We got Treecreeper in the same spot plus Nuthatch.Sue then started to shine by calling a great view of Redstart for the boy's to see but I missed it.We have had a long time here so it is time to head back to the car as we have a five hour drive home to Essex as our break is over, If  Brian was driving it would only take four hour's to get home.As we get near the car we have a look around the picnic area and I pick out a Redstart in the thicket, It pop's out on to the fence to give me a really good sighting. There is also a Marsh Tit coming to the bird table in the picnic area. So a good end to the vist. It's off home now so it's good-bye to Brian & Sue and to wish them a good time on the rest of their anniversary holiday.

May Bank Holiday in Pembrokeshire



puffin at Scomer



Wheater at Deer Park

 


Red kite

 


chough  at Deer park.

 


 

Red kite





Glossy Ibis at Martin Sands

 Robert , Jimmy, and myself set off for a long weekend toWales we will meet brian and my daughter- in- law sue who are already down there for their 30th wedding anniversary they stay in a very nice cottage just outside Tenby. Robert alway's come's every year to wales but find's it hard to do the local stuff he like's to see the rapture's and big bird's. Rob booked a travel lodge, a bit cramped but not to bad. On the way down we stop off at the red kite feeding station, a man put's food out at 3 o clock every day , and you pay £3 to see a great show of maybe 30 or so red kite's swooping down very close in front of you, a really wonderful sight, On to camp down for the night we have to get up early tomorrow as we are going to our favorite birding place Skomer Island. Up and off to meet up with Brian he would not let us go without him and we like to be all together for this trip. we get  to skomer early and finger's crossed hope to find that the boat can go over today, It's a nice day but the boat will not alway's go because it's down to how strong the wind  and how rough the water is.Bingo we are told the boat will go over to the Island. we have a couple of hour's to wait,  so we go round deer park because we know we will get a few year tick's here. first off we see Wheater and think nice, but as we go round we see Wheater everywhere we look ,each time a bird pop's up it seem's it's a Wheater. after a while we start to see Stonechat  a lot. then the reason we come here, Chough start to fly in off the sea and fly around our head's nice view's, about 48 counted, then up pop's 2 raven's. Rob and myself are now back to the booking office for the boat is nearly ready to sail, no sign of Brian and Jimmy and we get a bit worried they may miss the boat, starting to stress now, but just in the nick of time over the hill they came  a smile on their face's, pushed that to the limit we say, no good timing was the reply, yes but we could see sweating on their brow's.Off we go on to the boat for the 10 minute trip over to the island . After a short talk about the island and to tell you what you may see, it's off to paradise. we start off looking for owl's but dip out, not to worry we know what's round the corner.looking out to sea it is full of Kittiwake, Gullimot, Razorbill, Fulmar,Gannet,and Shag, everywhere you look hundred's of them. Also at the bottom of the cliff we see seal's swimming about and laying on the rock's in the sun. Rob has parked up as he has to carry a very big camera len's with him , so he plonk's himself down and just click's away. That is what he like's to do anyway. It put's a smile on his face once he is settled down  as I said paradise.Now round the island to the other side to see what most people come here for, the wonderful sight of the puffin's.They walk about so close to you you have to be sure not to tread on them.Rob's with us again now and we sit down and just look and look till it's time to get the boat back. we miss first boat because they have to cut down on how many they can take as the sea has got rough. About 30min's wait and we start to load up the boat. I get a nice seat out of the wind, Brian think's we can do better and ask's the boatman where is the best place to sit, he say's go a bit more down the boat as I stand up the boat rock's and I go flying, FUNNY, but I was the only one on the boat that didn't see it that way, The thing's I do just to give the boy's a laugh and they did laugh, I think I did get "are you alright" but it was said with tear's rolling down their face's.The 10min trip feel's like 30 the boat is really rolling about now, It tilt's over on my side of the boat and a great wave soak's all of us on that side.It never spoilt a really great day.Back on dry land it's of to feed our face, I think a beer may go with that and to get  a early night ready for Dinas tomorrow. On the way back Rob wants to go to Martin sands to see a Glossy Ibis, so not being to far away we go there. We head to the hide where it has been seen already today, and we see it as soon as we get there, this is the best view Robert has ever had so well worth the detour.

Three lifer's in one day in march 2012

After seeing a reported Rose-Coloured Starling on bird guides Jimmy get's a call from Brian to meet at a silly time in the morning. Off we go to hant's and arrive after a couple of hour's we are in Hordle and locate the post office where the bird has been reported. There are a lot of birder's here, but nobody has seen it yet. We spread out to give ourself a better chance, as alway's Brian call's out he's found it starting a mad rush by the horde, you don't realize how many birder's are here until the bird is called.A really nice bird with great long view's of it. Now off we go to Pagham harbour to get the Paddyfield Warbler, we went down to get it last week, it was the coldest day of the year and I mean cold, there was a lot of  birder's there then and nobody got a sighting, The feeling was it had died because of the cold.but it came up on bird guide's again during the week so here we are again.maybe a hundred birder's are here but not a sign of it. we hang about for 3 hour's or more no luck, so we have had enough and set of along the bank to go, For some reason we take one last look back and see all the people running down to one spot, so back we go and and there is the Paddyfield Warbler we all get a view, so we tick another lifer being there so long we get talking to a few other birder's who tell us to go to Worthing to see a Yellow-Browed Warbler. We get direction's and head for the Swan pub where the bird has been seen. We park up and find a small public garden and set ourself down to wait. After a short wait another birder call's from the other side of the road,over we go and sure enough it's there a great little bird we all get really good view's of it. Not bad 3 lifer's in one day.

march 2012 Back to Dungeness

Bleak

My lovely wife on her first visit,  She loved it here

A boat left behind

We seem to end up at Dungeness a lot as Brian like's it a lot. A bleak cold resort that has a charm all of its own.We alway's go up on to the beach when we get there to see what's passing through, today not much, just Sandwich Tern flying with the commoner gulls, So off to the trapping area, Nothing had been trapped yet but we look around the gorse bushes and get lucky when we see a Firecrest flying in and out then notice five more, I love to see these tiny birds I think  one of my favorites.The warden comes over the hill from the observatory and up pops a nice Woodcock We get a great view as it fly's right over our head's. We look round the wire fenceing and get two Black Redstart's. Willow Warbler heard plus Chiffchaff. The week before when we was down here a nice Glaucous gull was on the shingle by the boat's. A few birder's about looking at it when Brian & jimmy call a Caspian gull a lifer for us so great. Up on the beach looking out to sea we get Guillemot, Little gull., Kittiwake, Artic skua, Black throated Diver, RazorBill, On the way out we look over the water both side's of the road and get a nice Great White Egret, we then pick out a Long-tailed Duck, I say we but I mean Brian & Jimmy tell me it's there. Off home, 99 miles as we get near rainham Brian says do we want to see the short eared owls , we did not turn down the chance to see owls, Brian got them the night before on the way home from work, we did not wait long before 3 flew  up and came right toward us a great sight as one turn's into the light the marking's stand out fantastic. A face we see now and again Nick Croft is here as well nice to see fellow birder's. A great day now home.

Gwent day trip for Yellowthroat in march 2012

Long billed Dowitchers

Brian asked do we want to go to Wales to get the Common Yellowthroat? Answer you bet, So meet up at 5am for 180 miles to Gwent. Got there at 7.30 and drove around a bit then asked a local to steer us in the right direction, very helpfull bloke. we climb a big grass hill and 3 birders are looking at a bush and we think great but they tell us it's not been seen for a good hour. So we spread out round the group of bushes after a litte while Brian calls out he's got it, Round we go and get really nice view's a really nice little bird a lifer for us all. Jim & Brian want to go and get the Lesser Scaup . So off we go it's 15miles so we stop on the way at a nice river and get Grey Wagtail I already had one this year but the boy's needed it for a tick, Jimmy then spotted a nice Dipper going in  & out of a nest, alway's nice to see dipper's.

Lesser Scaup

On  to Cosmerton Lake Glamorgan. we are told at the vistor centre it 's not been seen today but we don't give up that easy we go on to the second lake and Brian find's it right away, he's good at spotting is Brian, just as well because I never see anything first. Back to good old England we do 90 miles to Meare Heath because we hear some long Billed Dowitchers are there, As we walk along we see a few guy's with telescope's looking out and when we get up to them we're pleased to find 2 Dowitcher's walking about in full view. Now time to head home, What a great day we also saw at least 28 buzzard's and a few red kite's on the trip. Got home about 5 o'clock tired but ready for the next trip.

Hoopoe at last.april 2012

After three years going here there and every where and about sixteen dips the  target bird for myself and the boys a Hoopoe, Was seen at Horsey in Norfolk.What a great sight to see it fly up and land on the path by the beach ,We all had fantastic views with great joy and high fives with the boys. Job done. Also seen were six ring ouzels, one osprey,some common Tern, Wheater, and Stone Curlew. A great day made the drive home seem much shorter than normal . At home the wife was as pleased as all of us, as I think she had given up hope of us ever getting home and saying got it.