Lochore Meadows

 So after the Outer Hebrides we went for a walk down to the Meadies on a bright Monday afternoon.

It was great to hear all the birds singing, but most stayed pretty elusive. But here are a few that did show themselves:

Mind you while sitting on one of our favourite benches for a coffee stop of course, Tina spotted two birds dropping into the top of a tree about 50 metres away. Crossbills!!

We have been all over Scotland and only found them once before! But delighted to get a pair on our local patch!

Our list for the afternoon:

Moorhen,
Carrion crow
Mallard.
Teal,
Rook,
Robin,
Great Tit, 
Blue Tit,
Woodpigeon,
Magpie,
Buzzard,
Chaffinch,
Jackdaw,
Crossbill,
Siskin,
Grey Heron,
Blackbird,
Mute Swan,
Coot,
Great Sotted Woodpecker,
Cormorant,
Coal Tit,
Great Crested Grebe,
Goldfinch,
Pink Footed Geese.

Heard only:
Goldcrest,
Chiffchaff,
Wren,
Redwing and
Jay.

Loch of the Lowes (October)

 A few highlights from a visit to Loch of the Lowes (SWT) with Jo & Jimmy a couple of weeks back:

Great views of Red Squirrels on this visit,

and Great Crested Grebe, now in their winter plumage,

Goldeneye on approach,

undercarriage down,

touchdown.

A quick turn around and off again!

A female Goldeneye cruising by,

the the Grebe came in for its close up.

The sun on the far shore of the Loch.

More Squirrel action:

A mean looking Nuthatch.

Fly by by two Whooper Swans, photos courtesy of Tina (I was on the loo!!)

And finally the Grebe catching its supper in the fading light.

As always a lovely day out at the Lowes.

Somerset.... mainly Ham Wall RSPB

 So still catching up with stuff from June! We booked a week in Somerset in between visits to Birmingham. Ham Wall is one of our favourite reserves in the UK, mind you we do have lots of favourites 😂

Ham Wall:

Marsh Harrier

Dragonfly, not sure of species,

Growing up fast! A young Great Crested Grebe,

Great White Egret,

Broad-bodied Chaser,

Glastonbury Tor,

Dragonfly (species?),

At Westhay Moor, Great Crested Grebe, with chicks,

Dad bringing lunch home 

that was way too big! Eventually 'mom' had to eat it

Marsh Harrier back at Ham Wall,

Tufted Duck,

Little Grebe with two youngsters,

Merlin!

Black-tailed Skimmer (female),

Swans on one of the channels.

Black-tailed Skimmer (male),

Plenty of female Mallard, theres a few Gadwall in there too.

Grey Heron,

Mallard young at Chew Valley.

Gatekeeper Butterfly,

Common Blue Damselfly,

Broad-bodied Chaser,

Little Egret,

and a very distant blurred shot of a Bittern! We had quite a few Bittern sightings at Ham Wall but this is the only photo that is vaguely identifiable 😌