Black throated Diver

Just received this superb picture of a Black throated Diver we saw on our recent Scottish trip taken by our guide Dave Slater of Birding Ecosse. There isn't much to beat a summer plumage diver on a remote loch in the Highlands.

Dotterel

Female Dotterel with Golden Plovers at Cartworth Moor near Holmfirth. Distant record shot

Spring in Scotland

What a fantastic long weekend we had in Scotland. The weather was great and we ticked off all the Scottish species except for crossbill. First full day and we saw Capercaillie at Caperwatch at Loch garten and also another bird lekking in a nearby tree. Also see was a Crested Tit on the feeders. The next day we went up to the coast and had good views of White-billed Diver at Portsoy along with Red throated and Great Northern Diver. On the way back to our base in Nethybridge we bagged the King Eider at Black Dogg near the Ythan estuary. The following day was spent with our guide Dave Slater of Birding Ecosse and he delivered with Black throated Diver at Loch Indorb and Golden Eagle plus Ring Ouzel in the Findhorn Valley. In the afternoon we up Cairngorm and had brief views of Ptarmigan. On Monday we managed to see Black Grouse on Tulloch Moor and we went back to Findhorn valley for crippling views of an adult Golden Eagle and further Golden Eagles one fighting with a White tailed Sea Eagle. Our last day involved a long driver to Iona where we heard and saw Corncrake. Other highlights of the trip included Hooded Crow, Tree Pipit, Redstart, Slavonian Grebe, Cuckoo, Twite, Peregrine, Eider, Long tailed Duck and Artic tern

Red Grouse

Saw this very showy male Red Grouse on Saddleworth Moor from the road today in the warm and sunny spring weather