A quick trip

A quick trip out on what was supposed to be a nice day was just one shower after another. A small group of Whooper Swans had dropped in but they will soon be on their way north to their breeding grounds.

One that was difficult to see was this Buzzard that was having breakfast.

There are plenty of pairs of Mistle Thrush around at the moment but it always seems to be dull conditions when they pose for a photo - they don't call it the Stormcock for nothing!

The dull conditions can't spoil a decent view of a Lapwing.

Squat

Here's a one for ya - Sunny day, 8C not a sign of a snake anywhere. Sunny day, 3C and there is an Adder! Only a fortnight late but it was nice to see a sign of spring instead of being wet.

The rain was back the following day but you can't let that stop you. If you don't go out you will see squat and even going out I got squat - Squat Lobster, caught and eaten by this Otter.

A Black Guillemot was still in winter plumage...

...while the Otter decided to come a bit closer - quality!

Another couple of Otters were seen after this but with the tide out it's better to find a place to have lunch. Found a spot but there was also a WT Eagle sitting there so no lunch.

A couple of Golden Eagle were briefly seen, a young WT Eagle was watched as it checked out a nest site while the owners were away and the runt Otter has definitely gone as the mum and single cub were seen. The Mistle Thrush will sing in the rain so they can cheer up a dull day but it's even better if you can get close to them - stunning bird.

Back to the old favourites after that - goose or heron? The Grey Heron is just looking tremendous at the moment so it wins hands down.

Smart

The survey that asked whether WT Eagles should be controlled came back with 92% against the idea - see more HERE. Thanks to everyone who took the time to enter a vote.
With no let up in the rain the photos are getting fewer but the sightings are still there. I'm seeing the WT Eagles on most days but we don't seem to be in the same area at the same time! There are not many days that I haven't seen an Otter this month with the top sighting being a mum with two cubs.

I'd like to get a bit closer to the Black Guillemots as they are coming into their summer dress now - I'll keep trying. The thrush population seems to have moved out onto higher ground as the most regular sighting is of the Mistle Thrush.

The Oystercatcher are just loving this wet weather though - this one is having a rest from paddling about in the fields for worms!

I've not come across any white-winged gulls yet but there is still time for them. I'm not a great fan of gulls but they are always smart looking birds when you get a close look - Herring Gull, smart.

I waited for this GN Diver to drift a bit closer to where I was but as it got closer the rain came down harder - ho hum.

Blue.

No change in the chilly conditions but there was a bit of sunshine. Just as I was leaving the garden a couple of Blue Tit turned up at the feeders so I hung around for a bit. It was difficult to get a clear shot at either bird when they left the feeders but I managed a couple of decent ones.

The Golden Plover were a bit closer to the road but with the blustery wind it was never going to be easy to get some shots. Not the of best of shots but it was nice to get the Lapwing flying past too.

Most of the GN Divers are starting to sport a bit of summer plumage now.

I have noticed there is a distinct lack of frogspawn this year. There is still time for them to appear but at the moment there is about a 50% reduction of spawn in the pools. The only Frog that I came across was in the talons of a Buzzard - it's not just people that eat frogs legs!

The Buzzard was taking it's time to eat it's meal so I headed off.

It was nice to catch this Mistle Thrush on a post as they are normally on the ground or perched in a tree.

Bird of the day had to be the Treecreeper that hung around long enough for me to get the camera and grab a couple of shots.

Cool.

Bit of a slow start on this one and you didn't want to spend too long out in the cool breeze. A couple of distant WT Eagle got the day off to a reasonable start and followed that up with a distant Otter. A Kestrel perched on the wires was the first chance of a photo but the bird was facing the wrong way.

A family party of Otters were next on the list but they didn't stick around for too long.

Another Otter on it's own was seen a mile or so further on while a Raven was having it's lunch.

It's not very often that you just see one Raven so here is the other bird that was watching the proceedings with interest.

Quite a few Mistle Thrush around at the moment but it's always nice to get a close one.

A Buzzard on the move...

...Grey Heron in the grass...

...and a scan round the ridges eventually turned up a couple of Golden Eagle. The only thing missing was a Hen Harrier - not a single one through the day. Lucky this one turned up to complete the day.

Tucking in.

It feels like I've hardly been out in November but the month is over already. The Waxwings are still flitting about so I thought they would be a good bet before the rain came in. Two thrushes sitting on the wires as I drove past were good enough to stick around while I turned around. The Mistle Thrush only stayed long enough for a couple of snaps...

...and the Fieldfare stayed for a few seconds longer.

Four Waxwings flew in and landed in a tree but the camera wouldn't focus on them. They were back in flight before too long so I took a few flight shots from a distance - I never saw them again!

A large flock of Fieldfare appeared but they wouldn't land so I snapped away at a smaller bird in the flock - it turned out to be a Redwing.

There must have been sixty Fieldfare with just a single Redwing.

I found where the Fieldfare were feeding but they were unapproachable, the Blackbirds were flighty so the only other birds to be seen were the Chaffinches tucking in to the Rowan berries.

Wet and dry.

Another dreich day turned up some quality sightings but low on numbers. We started the day by having a look at the roosting Tawny Owl.

A top quality Otter sighting next with the beast coming ashore almost immediately after finding it...

...and then having a good clean.

Another couple of Otters were welcome sightings as we travelled in the rain as were the three WT Eagles sitting it out. The Mistle Thrush flocks are busy plundering the berry harvest at the moment...just look at the rain though!

We also had a superb sighting of a Sparrowhawk perched up. As you can see it was there long enough for some photos.

We managed to find a couple of Hen Harrier but bird of the day, for me, was my first Bar-tailed Godwit of the year - 151 for the list.

A much better day for the next tour which gave us a good start too. An Otter was spotted plus the BT Diver put in another appearance.

Male Hen Harrier - need I say more?

The sightings kept coming with Golden Eagle being mobbed by Common Buzzard, Mountain Hare, another male Hen Harrier, three Whooper Swan and this Golden Eagle that was checking to see if we had any food!

A grand day out.

Monday was a grand day out with kids on board. The weather was good so we got things off to a good start with a Skylark and a few Mountain Hare. Eider ducks, Adders and some Red deer were soon to follow. The first of the big sightings was a Golden Eagle sat on a hill top and we managed to get some cracking views as it flew off. A very obliging Otter showed at close quarters and performed well while we had lunch.

A WT Eagle youngster was seen on the nest before we picked up one of the adults flying to a tree. We moved closer for a good view - awesome!

We picked up the other adult flying to the nest with food and a male Hen Harrier circled above us. The next big idea was to head off to look for Basking Sharks. There was some disappointment that we didn't get any but the Minke Whale and two dolphins made up for that! Another view of a male Hen Harrier seen us back to base.
Tuesday was attempting to replay the previous days magic. It never works out that way but they are all special in their own way. A squad of four Dunlin were a good find at the start of the day.

Mountain Hare, Shelduck and Lapwing were all expected but the Green Sandpiper we found on a small pool was a cracking bird. Next up was a small flock of about 2000 Manx Shearwater, lots of Gannet, an adult WT Eagle and a Minke Whale! A visit to the WT Eagle nest produced both of the youngsters and decent views of a young Golden Eagle. When one of the young WT Eagles took flight I took the chance to get a few snaps of the event.

We'd seen quite a few Red Deer already but a hind with a spotty youth was a real treat.

An Adder and a Common Lizard were seen nearby but the two stags we came across stole the show.

A Mistle Thrush that was crouched in a field staring at the sky was just enjoying the sunshine and not looking at an eagle!

We finished the day off with a group of four Adders and two Golden Eagles that gave a superb display.