Loch of the Lowes and Seafield (Kirkcaldy)

 We took a drive up to Dunkeld and the SWT Reserve at the Loch of the Lowes, bad planning though, we neglected to check if the visitor centre was open and it wasn't!! One hide was open though, so we spent some time in there, but also popping out to check the feeders from time to time.

It was a good job a hide was open because the weather was a lot worse than we expected, very drizzly! So as you can see the light was poor over the Loch, but the Wigeon didn't care,

neither did this Nuthatch,

or the Goldeneye.

Other highlights were Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker. Sadly the Red Squirrels we usually see there didn't put in an appearance.

A couple of days later we had some errands to run in Kirkcaldy, so went for a little walk along the sea at Seafield. The tide was way out, so all the birds were pretty distant and there was very little activity in the scrub on the other side of the path either. Having said that we were delighted to see three Long-tailed Ducks off shore always brilliant to see.

There were tons of Redshank about, these were a few of them catching the last bit of sun:

as was this Heron:

Other waders seen were Turnstone, some Purple Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, a couple of Black-tailed Godwit and a final flurry from some passing Curlew:

Finally on the way back to car this wild Rabbit posed nicely:

It's been a while!

 Well it's been a very busy summer with one thing and another, so there's been very little time for birding as such. We have been away a few times but not on birding trips. 

We had a spectacular 10 days in Switzerland and we did see some birds on our travels, notably a Nutcracker and Alpine Swift from a cable car near Zermatt and Alpine Chough at Jungfraujoch:

Otherwise plenty of Red Kites seen from the car plus plenty of common UK species.

Back on our home patch we have managed a couple of walks recently, firstly Seafield (Kirkcaldy), this is a favourite walk and one which we have neglected, so it was great to get back there.

Nothing out of the ordinary on a very dull day, but here are a few photos:

There were 3 Wheatear on the sea wall,

Some Redshank,

Ringed Plover,

Cormorants,

plenty of Seals on the rocks just past the tower.

and a Kestrel on the hunt.

Also  seen were Twite, a solitary Curlew, Eider, Sandwich Tern, Purple Sandpiper, distant Gannets, a Fulmar, a Merganser and plenty of Gulls

 

We followed that up with a walk at Portmoak Moss a couple of days later, the highlight was a Spotted Flycatcher who was to quick for a photo and a Red Squirrel way up in one of the conifers munching on cones:

Otherwise plenty of birds about, but all too shy for any photos; Bullfinch, Great Tit, Siskin, Chaffinch, Wren, Chiffchaff, Goldfinch, a mass of Swallows by the small car park and a distant Kestrel perched on a tree in the peat bog.

We are off to the Isle of Bute soon so hopefully I might have something to post after that.

TTFN

That was January!

 So one month down already. I've just a few things to wrap up for the month.

We went for another look at the Waxwings at Sighthill in Edinburgh before they move on (in fact they are still there as of yesterday) The day was very dull and they weren't about. Of course someone else had seen them earlier, but thanks to Facebook we learnt that they had relocated a few hundred yards down the road, where there were still some berries, so off we went. As I said it was dull day so not the the best photos:

This Mistle Thrush tried to drive them off from the berries and succeeded at first but gave up after a while.

Elsewhere:

Lochore Meadows ("The Meadies")

Another dull day and quite quiet, Goldeneye and Teal being the highlights;

A walk at Seafield (Kirkcaldy),

Pied Wagtail,

Long-tailed Tit

A Ukranian Patrol Boat, presumably training in the Firth of Forth,

The Tower in the sun,

Gulls and Oystercatcher,

our first Red-breasted Merganser of the year,

Redshank having a stroll,

and Redshank having a get together!

Finally a very very quiet walk at Burleigh Sands with just a Goldcrest jigging about in the pines.

A Bit of Birding in Suffolk Part 2

 After our B&B we moved to a flat in Aldeburgh for 4 nights, it looked a bit grotty from the outside (the website pics must have been taken years ago!), but was perfectly fine on the inside.

We decided on pastures new on full day 1, as some birders at the Hen Reed Beds had recommended RSPB North Warren, just outside Aldeburgh. There are no hides, just a platform overlooking reed beds. However it's a lovely circular walk, with plenty of benches to stop and have a coffee and just see what happens.

Not many pics from here just the one, showing our first Wheatear of the year:

Not bad to watch while having a coffee. The other highlight was discovering a Nightingale singing, then finding it for a brief view, the first time we've actually seen a Nightingale in the UK (The only other sightings we've had have been on Lesvos... 6 weeks to go😃) , heard them before, but always hidden.

So 24 species seen at North Warren, but the Nightingale, Wheatear, Kestrels, Marsh Harriers, Skylark and a Bittern Booming were definitely the highlights. Oh and a Roe Deer in the reeds, mustn't forget that.

So Next day and on to Minsmere. From our previous visits when we've had good views of Bittern, Bearded Tits and Hobby, we were looking forward to seeing them again, but this time sadly not, even though we were patient and spent all day, it was not to be, apart from a 3 second glimpse of one Bearded Tit popping up and quickly disappearing again. But of course Minsmere has loads to offer, it's a delight to watch the Sand Martins to and froing to their 'burrows'. 

Plus we saw our first Avocets of the year:

and Black-tailed Godwit,

Teal,

Gadwall,

Shoveler,

Black-headed Gull, nest building,

Kittiwake,

Sandwich Terns aplenty!

A Catepillar!

Redshank,

Shelduck,

Cormorant,

Pochard,

Courting Shelduck,

Greylag Goose,

more Avocet,

Little Grebe

and plenty of Prey.

We saw 43 species in total, with some notable birds not seen, but that's birding for you.

Finally the next day we spent some time at Dunwich Heath, with the sole objective of seeing Dartford Warbler, this time mission accomplished. Plus our first Stonechats of the year as well.

TTFN!