Great Northern Diver

Quick look at the Diver on lower Castleshaw reservoir

Scotland Snowy Owl!

What a spectacular trip this year's Scotland trip proved to be. We spent 2 days in the Cairngorns and had good views of Black throated Diver on our first day in the evening. An Oystercatcher was nesting by the roadside! Red Grouse were abundant and we had a close encounter with a Red legged Partridge. The following day we headed to Findhorn valley and saw Golden Eagle and White tailed Eagle being mobbed by a Peregrine. On our last morning in the Cairngorns we went to Loch Garten and viewed a Capercaillie on the tv monitor but sadly it was out of direct sight. We failed to see Crested Tit but heard one in the Loch Garten car park. Being here a couple of weeks later than usual had made a difference as birds were dispersed not displaying at leks or sat on eggs and were harder to see.

We then headed to Skye and had a fantastic close encounter with a White tailed Eagle coming down to the boat for a fish. We also saw our first Hooded Crows of the journey as we headed west.

Getting to North Uist revealed 4 skuas on the ferry 2 definite dark phase Arctic Skua and 2 possible Pomarine Skuas. The Outer hebrides proved to be the real gems of the trip. stunningly beautiful, wild and unspoiled. Nature was everywhere. The sound of Cuckoo and Corncrake, drumming Snipe, displaying Dunlin, wing clapping Short Eared Owls was wonderful. The first bird we saw on our first morning was a stunning male Hen HarrierThe real highlight though was a Snowy Owl that finally revealed itself after 3 attempts and several hours of searching and all credit to Dave Evans who found it after I had given up and started on the wine!

Other highlights were Black Guillemot, Rock Dove, Reb breasted Merganser, all three species of Diver, Corn Buntings and yet more Golden Eagles on North Uist. One being mobbed by a Merlin

                                     

     

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