2014

Here we go again with another year and another Patchwork Challenge. The weather is not the best but I still managed to get a few birds on the list to start the list off - 35 species on the 1st. Highlights were Otter, WT Eagle, Golden Eagle, Black Guillemot, GN Diver, BT Diver and quite a few Kittiwake. No chance of any photos in the dull conditions but I did take a few snaps through the window of the visitors to the feeders. There were Blackbirds and Redwing in the field next to the house and three Dunnocks were on my side of the fence.

A couple of Coal Tits were the most frequent visitors to the feeder...

...and a single Robin was spending most of it's time skulking at the bottom of the Willow tree.

The weather was a bit calmer today and, strangely, most of the birds had cleared off! A superb view of a Greenshank was had...

...and four Otters were seen too.

PWC - 43 species.

Free and easy

That seems to be it for the season so I'm free and easy now so the posts might be a bit sporadic depending on whether I'm out or not. A rainy day didn't produce very much inspiration but there was plenty of entertainment provided by the Greenshank chasing each other around.

The following day I was heading to the shop and noticed a couple of large lumps across the marsh - two WT Eagle having their breakfast.

I've been trying to get a few more birds on the list for the Patchwork Challenge but it's hard going. Nothing new was found while I checked out a flock of Chaffinch on the shore. A couple of Rock Pipit...

...a Dunnock...

...an Otter fishing in the distance and a fly past by a Great Black-backed Gull.

Is that it?

Well, it looks like the tourist season is coming to a close so the tours are drying up but I'll still be getting out there. The nice weather has hung in for a while which makes some things look better...shiny Starlings for instance...

...but not so good on a back lit Raven!

Great Northern Divers are starting to appear in numbers now with some of them still in their summer dress (there will be more).

The Adders are soaking up the last of the sunshine and should be visible up to the end of the month...depending on the weather of course.

There are plenty of Robins singing their hearts out at the moment so it's nice to just sit and watch them now and again.

Dunnocks may be overlooked as they are skulking in the undergrowth but they are well worth a look if you can find one.

Tribe.

The fine weather continued for the first couple of days of March, even the Brown Trout were enjoying the good conditions.

The number of birds on the feeders are starting to grow but there is nothing to shout about just the usual Blue, Great and Coal Tit along with numerous Chaffinch. The three Skylarks are still hanging around but not near the garden at the moment and I have heard a few singing birds too. Meadow Pipits are still tough to get but it won't be long before you can't avoid them - a flock of seven birds was nice.

Dunnocks normally creep around in the undergrowth but they do like to show off now and again - looks good in the sunshine...

...and so do the flowers!

Long-tailed Tit is a difficult bird to get at times - some days they are easy and others days you can't find one to save your life (bird race bogey bird). I was happy with a view of a backside the other day...

...but where there is one there is usually more. A group of Long-tailed Tits is called a tribe - I had a tribe of two!! Looks like a Tribble (remember them?) with no beak

It never came out into the open and it was soon following the other half of the tribe.

December.

Only short trips out again for the beginning of December but the wildlife just keeps on showing. A trio of Otters were on the loch side when I was driving past...

...and a Sparrowhawk had made a kill.

Garden birds are thin on the ground but visits from Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Dunnock...

...Blackbird, a couple of Meadow Pipit, Blue Tit....

...and fly over/past Woodcock and Barn Owl. I finally captured one Blackbird but it was still too far away!

The Hen Harriers are still showing well - I found this one when I stopped for a Dipper.

A young Red Deer stag was standing at the side of the river but no sign of the Dipper.

Another Hen Harrier was performong as I headed for home...

...and a male Stonechat posed well...

...while the female was a bit more active and I never got a second chance at it.

A quick dash.

Just a quick run out for this batch of photos. The rain was slackening off so I grabbed a few snaps of the waders on the shore - Dunlin...

...and Turnstone.

This one could have been nice but the grass was in the way - the humble Dunnock.

While looking at a couple of GN Diver a WT Eagle flew over the top - nice!

I was hoping to come across some Long-tailed Tit but the best I could manage was a couple of Coal Tit, 1 Blue Tit and a Great Tit.

I finished the day off nicely with a Golden Eagle as I walked home.

Three days worth.

The internet has been off for a couple of days so it's three days squeezed into this post with the highlights as photos. The Adders continue to perform well with the best find being a young Adder with a Newt in it's mouth...

...and a nice adult posing in the sunshine.

There are still plenty of waders around with the likes of Redshank with young, Ringed Plover, occasional Dunlin and the Oystercatchers too.

The WT Eagle chicks are growing well and they were ringed on Thursday. I've not seen any Hen Harrier fledglings yet but we have heard them calling along with seeing the adults performing the food pass. Golden Eagles are always good to see but we've had to wait for them at times.

Wood Warblers are still singing in the woods, Spotted Flycatchers seem to be in good numbers, a flock of 30 Common Crossbill were a good find and odd ones on the beach have been Chaffinch...

...and Dunnock.

The Otters are still elusive with one sighting out of the three days. There are still plenty of Short-eared Owls on show. With a bit of patience you can get some stunning views of the birds when they land. This photo was taken in the rain and filled the view in the scope - awesome!

The House Martins at the shop don't have any nests built yet so they may not breed this year but other pairs are doing well, the Swallows should have chicks on the go by now but I haven't seen any signs yet.

The Orchids are starting to come into flower with Fragrant, Northern Marsh, Early Marsh and Heath Spotted all on show at the moment. Butterflies have been difficult to get to grips with but Small Pearl-bordered and Common Blue are seen regularly. This Common Blue was fresh out.