Winter returns to Morayshire!

Out on a workshop today, but the weather was absolutely atrocious.

We did however get some good birds with the highlight of the day being a Ross's Goose just outside Forres.

Still hundreds of Long Tailed Ducks and Common Scoter at Burghead, unfortunately no sign of the White Billed Divers.  Gannets were putting on a good show close to shore.

Gannet



From Norfolk to Scotlands West Coast!

Well folks the last two weeks have been quite manic, but in a highly enjoyable way! Greate locations, great company and brilliant birds.

I will update the blog as I go along but so much has happened it will be  spread out over a few weeks but for now a few habitat shots of the places I have been.

Cley -Norfolk

Torridon Area -Scotland

Poolewe - Scotland

Gruinard Island - Scotland

Torridon Area - Scotland



Spring Holidays are here!

Off to Norfolk tonight for a few days birding and visiting friends, keep watching this space for reports or follow me on twitter @birdingecosse.

Be back soon folks!

103 Species and 14 lifers!

Just completed a fantastic three days guiding in Scotland, covering the West coast, Scottish Glens and Moors, the Moray Coastline and North to Loch Fleet and the Cromarty Firth.  Even though this was not a concentrated "how many species can we see" exercise we still managed to notch up a total of 103!

Applecross area

There is something really satisfying about getting people their target birds, sometimes it is a bird they have seen in a book as a child or a bird they have been longing to see for a very long time but have just never connected with it.  Today  Rab's bogey bird that had haunted him for sixty years was unblocked in grand style when I was able to present a whole telegraph wire full of them! I will leave the species a mystery so let your minds run riot!

Golden Eagle (one of three)

A little taster of what was seen:  Bean Goose, Scaup by the 100's Long tailed duck by the 1000's both summer and winter plumaged birds, Red, Black and Great Northern Divers all in summer plumage,  Ptarmigan, Black Grouse Lekking,Slavonian Grebes summer plumage, Red Kite, Ringtail Hen Harrier, Golden Eagle, Osprey, Purple Sandpipers in summer plumage, Iceland gull, Black Guillemot, Hooded Crow, Twite and Crossbill.

Two satisfied clients, 14 lifers between them and one very very happy "Birding Ecosse" Guide! 

Mountain Goat

Another cracking day

Another full day guiding this time across to the Applecross peninsula with Andrew.

The day got off to a good start with Dipper just outside Dulnain bridge, a good gaggle of Greylag Geese in a nearby field.

Heading into the highlands we stopped at a roadside layby to witness two Red Throated Diver going through their display ritual and giving their haunting calls, not to be outdone a nearby Black Throated Diver answered back!

Up over the "Pass of the cattle" we were treated to some stunning views but not even these could compare to the high flying Golden Eagle (a lifer for Andrew which he picked up himself)  and Ptarmigan (lifer number two) as it sat in full view on top of a rock calling it's heart out.

Applecross itself proved a valuable stop with six Slavonian Grebes, Common Scoter, Razorbill and two Great Northern Diver, a flyby Iceland Gull was a nice addition to the day list as well.  Also a distant Black Guillemot (lifer 3!)  however we did pick up a closer Black Guillemot nearer to the Sheildaig area.

Weather all day was superb, once again great company and most of all some stunning birds!

Roll on tomorow!!

Three lifers Andrew

Great Northern Diver (nearly full plumage)

Sheildaig Area

What difference a week makes!

Well this time last week we were basking in summer sunshine, a temperature of +24 and not a cloud in the sky.  Today, 7 inches on snow!!  Add to that no power from 04:30 until 13:00 and a chest infection it's been a swell day!



Early morning Dive(r)!

Day two started where yesterday left off. Stunning clear blue skies not a breath of wind and the temperature at 0800 of +14, a grand day to be out and about.

First port of call was a local inland loch, the water was flat calm and lighting was perfect.  The usual Greylag Geese where loafing about on the shore and lochside fields, but amongst them a smaller bird was pointed out by Bill.  Scoping this bird we revealed a beautiful summer plumaged Red Throated Diver.

The Red Grouse where absolutely everywhere today, every tussock of grass and heather seemed to have a male bird sitting there enjoying the sun.

Male Red Grouse

A short drive down the side of the Loch we were soon viewing the quarry for the day, two stunning Black Throated Divers.  The birds showed well as they cruised about preening and fishing, sometimes approaching very close to the shoreline, an ideal way to end two half days Guiding provided by "Birding Ecosse"

Black Throated Diver

Grousing around, the big four!

Well it was one of those days that started off good and ended great!

First up was a male Capercaillie, in full display mode in the half light of morning.  This bird was right in the middle of the forest path and gave stunning views through the scope, it was reacting to something in the grass both sides of the path so perhaps other males were in the vicinity but these were not seen.  Once again strict rules were adhered to and the bird was only viewed at distance.

Next was a trip to a local Black Grouse lek, and straight away, on leaving the car, the haunting bubbling call and hisses of Black grouse displaying could be heard.  Views were distant but it is surprising just how far the calls carry.  Two males were observed fighting and displaying, but at least four other birds were heard in the area, one grey hen put in a very brief appearance.

Spot the Black Grouse!

Onwards and upwards, to the Ptarmigan Restaurant and the top of Cairngorm.  After a very brief search a stunning male crept into view, still mainly in it's white winter plumage it remained in view for well over twenty minutes and created quite a queue of people wanting to use my 'scope!

Ptarmigan

Last was the return journey and my banker location for Red Grouse, one male in particular was very confiding giving Bill a great opportunity of some stunning pictures.

Three lifers before lunch time for Bill!

Add to the birds: good company and the weather hitting a new record temperature for March it turned out to an absolutely top days birding!

A beautiful spring morning on Speyside.

Crossbills, Capercaillies and a cracking sunrise!

Out well before daylight today to check up on my local Capercaillies.  Mindful of the strict "Caper code of conduct" I drove to the local area, staying on the main road that winds through the forest and sat comfortably in my car with the windows down and engine off, drinking a coffee.

Just as dawn was breaking (and about 30 minutes after arrival) a male gave a low flypast over the road heading deeper into the forest and, almost immediately, in the opposite direction another male started calling (this bird was not seen and no attempt made to track it down)

It was a great way of Caper counting and it is brilliant news that there are at least two males in the area.  The local Gamekeeper thought only one male and one female were remaining. 

  

A beatiful Scottish morning, frosty and calm.



Driving to another location, away from the Caper area, I stopped for breakfst and a bit of general birding, the pace was alive with Crossbills, some in full song, others fliting around from tree to tree all the while "tchuup tchuup tchuuuping" to each other, it's a pity they never seem to carry on like this in full sunshine when I stand a chance of digiscoping some decent images!

Add to the cast Red Squirrel, Great Spotted woodpecker drumming, treecreeper and Siskin, it was a lovely way to start a Friday!



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