More little Gems.

Some good shots of a flock of 250+ Waxwings in Forres today not far from the train station.  Lighting was beautiful for a change!

What Whoppers!!

 Ooooooo that feels good!

                                              

 Whooper Swans

Adult and Juv Whooper Swans

Colour ring B6U

A lingering party of Whooper swans, 9 Adults and 3 Juvs not far from Auldearn in Moray.  New way to digiscope used today, because of the really strong winds I ditched the tripod and worked off the roof of the car with a beanie bag, works extremely well and can see me using this method more often!  Ringed bird B6U was nice to see as well, will post details of ringing when I get them back.

More Waxwings!!

                                                 Waxwing showing red "wax" on wings
                                                       

                                                                            Waxwing

                                                               Male Long Tailed Duck

Bad hair day Waxwing

Another superb day, 6 waxwings at Lochindorb along with two drake Long tailed ducks on the loch!  Findhorn valley 5 Raven and about 300 Fieldfares in field just across from end car park.

Pinkers

Out looking for a family party of  Whooper Swans that have been in the area, no sign of Swans but thousands of Pink Footed Geese.

Burghead

Redshanks

Long tailed Duck

Eider

A beautiful day weather wise, not at all the forecast which was for heavy rain and gales!  The sea had a magical quality it seemed thick and oily and gave a brilliant back drop to some digiscoping.  No sign of the King Eider however the majority of birds where far out in Burghead bay.

Waxwing-tastic!

Some quick snapshots of part of a flock of 45 on the Grantown road in Forres.  Highly mobile but really nice to see them.  Looks like a massive influx country wide this weekend.

Findhorn Valley

Dava Moor

Dipper

Distant Raven

A cold and bright Autumn day up here, with the first snow of the season!  Nice drive over Dava moor under a beautiful blue sky and on to the Findhorn Valley.  Highlights of trip were 5 Raven up near Coigafearn at the end of the driveable road and a photogenic Dipper.  Met a nice couple from East Yorkshire whilst watching the Raven so if you read this I hope you saw the Dolphins!!

Winter migrants

                                                             First Fieldare of the season

                                                    One of two Whooper swans on Loch

                                                  Dabchick feeding in heavy rain shower

                                                                          Knot roost

Bar Tailed Godwit

Horrendous weather up here in Moray, and scuppered the plan for getting the King Eider, however the day wasn't wasted and a general birdwatching day in the area was a complete success and thoroughly enjoyed by the client.

Cresties, Crossbills and Capers

A glorious day weather wise here in Moray and a morning well spent in the woods.  Arriving at the usual parking area the Crossbills were still in the area, feeding high in the tree's with a suspected Crested Tit calling nearby, quite unusual for this site.  Walking up a forest track a female Capercallie came off some nearby trees and made a quick get a way. A frustratingly brief view but better than none at all.  Returning to the car a mixed tit flock was in the vicinity Coal, Great, Blue and two Cresties. Also present Goldcrest and treecreeper, jay and the Crossbills.  Brilliant morning in the field.

Crossbills and coffee. (No Capers though)

Capercallie and Crossbill wood, minus the Caper!

The minute we got out the car the Crossbills were calling all around us, the bad light made photography impossible, however the birds showed well feeding at the top of pine trees.  In total 15 birds were observed and proved to be highly mobile making appearances for most of the morning.  The first Redwings of the season arrived in force at about 10:00 with a flock of about 40 pitching in to the trees from a good height, just arrived?

Damp and Driech

Bottle nosed Dolphins

Just a half day tour today, out to Burghead to pick up the King Eider.  Bird was present in Burghead bay but not showing as well as Sunday.  Nice bonus though was four bottle nose dolphins in the Moray Firth, light was shocking but got a couple of record shots.  Weather stayed grey all  morning but brightened up after lunch allowing a quick jaunt into local woods looking for Crossbill, got one stonking male so not a wasted trip.  Off to try for Capercallie and better views of Crossbill in the morning.

Birding weekend

King Eider (male eclipse)

Sandwich Tern

Turnstone and Black headed Gull

A brilliant tour this weekend, making the most of the local Moray coastline.

Highlights included an eclipse drake King Eider at Burghead, hundreds of Gannets dive fishing very close to the shore at Findhorn and stunning views of Turnstone and Sandwich Terns, a late Wheatear on both Saturday and Sunday was also nice. 9 Barnacle Geese at Lossiemouth Estuary with one un-identified coffee colour goose for company.

Strangest bird of weekend was a full plumaged drake Mandarin Duck in flypast with flock of Eider at Burghead!