Canada 2011

Just sorting through Lyndas pictures and came across this little selection.

Spot the American Pipit!  This was actually taken in America , from the Waterton boat trip stop off in Montana, brilliant boat trip.

Close encounter with the Grizzly kind, we parked up to let this beast pass.  Just wandering down the middle of the road. One of the highlights of the whole trip.

Male Harlequin Duck, at the foot of the waterfall in Waterton Park. Hard to photograph owing to dull weather and fast flowing river so she done a far betterjob thean I did in getting this pic!

Ahhh the view from the fifth wheel first thing in the morning!  My ideal life would be to bird through Canada and America in a Dodge truck and a fifth wheel.

Labyrinth - bloomin-itis

Still feeling very dodgy, even typing this, seems to be getting worse not better.  Have had to cancel two half day trips and one workshop owing to the fact I am unfit to drive, I cant even bird in the garden as any head movement is very unsettling.

The pics below are just a few from recent outings, nothing special I just think they are nice!!

Six Spot Burnett Moth

Bow Fiddle Rock - Portknockie

Lesser Black Backed Gull

The answer to the last mystery picture was Cedar Waxwing, note the pale undertail coverts and vent area.

Away to lie down again !!



Not so easy!

Sitting here wallowing in self pity with an inner ear infection, and looking through my bins makes me feel even worse so no driving, working or even birding for the next few days.

Thanks for the replies to "feeding frenzy" and yes there where three species, Siskin Greenfich and two Goldies hiding.

Now this one is slightly more tricky, a hint is "it is probably not the one you think it is"

Right I'm off for another session of self pity!

 

Feeding Frenzy

Good numbers of Siskin in the area at present, caught 16 in one catch this morning with many many more in surrounding tree's.  How many would I have ended up with had it not started raining?

So how many species can you spot?

Common Rosefinch

A very quick snapshot of the Nethybridge Rosefinch, really brief views before it scarpered!

Top weekend!!

Gannets at Troup Head RSPB reserve 

 Dolphins at Aberdeen



"Ooooo thats a long way down"  Puffins at Fowlsheugh RSPB

What a top weekend!  Right from Friday when I drove down to Dyce via Troup head and Strathbeg, Saturday watching Dolphinns the visiting Fowlsheugh (one of my favourite reserves) then a return to my childhood with a visit to Cadona's Beach amusements in Aberdeen on Sunday!  Happy days.

Holidays are over!

Just back from a holiday of a lifetime in Alberta Canada, what a place and some really stunning wildlife, on the mammal front Black and Grizzly bear, Moose, Elk, Beaver, Gopher, Ground Squirrel and Chipmunk birdwise I have not fully listed all species but looks like about 45/50 lifers! And from a technically non-birding holiday thats pretty darn good! More details to follow:

 Western Kingbird

 White Crowned Sparrow

American Robin

Atmospheric (aka driech!)

Brilliant tour today, good company but rotten weather!

Nice views of Red Throated Diver on Loch en-route to Findhorn Valley but no sign of the Black Throats.
Two Golden Plovers at Lochindorb, one bird in full plumage was a nice bonus sighting. as was the Ringed Plover on the Lochside.

Ringed Plover 

Various Mountain Goats  

Ram-Note the holes in tips of horns, for ear rings? 

Juv Cuckoo, was being fed by Meadow Pipit

It rained all day in the valley, sometimes heavy, sometimes light, but always wet.

A brief fly-by of an immature Golden Eagle was nice seeing as it was an Eagle and Ouzel special, however the Ouzels were to let me down once again!  I really will have to source a new area for these on workshops!

Burghead in Summer Brrrr!

Freezing.... sums up today!  Back into gloves and wooley hat!  Strong Westerley wind kept a lot of birds far out in the Firth and NO terns of any description all morning.

Still somethings where of interest:

Grey Heron 

 Purple Sandpiper

Common Seal pup

Purple Sandpiper

The seal pup was a bit of a surprise which led me to think it was sick, it did however return quite happily to the water and was seen throghout the visit.

Vetted!

Been a very busy week with workshops and the many summer migrants arriving have given a whole host of new species for folk to look at and come to grips with.

Burghead has been the most popular destination again and with the White Billed Diver still on offer and many lingeringing winter sea ducks still in the area it was clear to see why.

An important meeting for me as an individual and Birding Ecosse as a business was the "vetting" given by Kirsty and Katy from the excellent Birdwatching and Wildlife Club based in the Grant Arms Hotel in Grantown-on-Spey, after a whirlwind tour and explanation of each my workshop locations  I am glad to report the outcome was positive and they have accepted Birding Ecosse as one of their recommended tour companies, to say I am over the moon is an understatement!

The diary is still healthy with new workshops getting booked and the regulars returning to see the familiar locations in a new season, I try to impress on people that once the three workshops have been completed it doesn't mean they have to stop!  The seasons are ever changing as is the birds that visit these locations, even some of the same birds change their appearance so if you  if you like a particular birding spot and want to visit more than once, then just get in touch!

Katy and Kirsty from the BWWC