Local Birding (Loch Leven, Loch Ore, Seafield & Kinghorn)

 We are so lucky to have some great places on our doorstep. Loch Ore is a 10 minute walk, Loch Leven is less than a 15 minute drive, then Kinghorn and Seafield are about 25 minutes in the car. So here a few pics from all of those that we visited in the second half of July.

Kinghorn:

We are in process of joining Shorewatch, this is a group of volunteers that monitor Cetaceans  (That's Dolphins, Porpoise and Whales to you and me!) on the east coast of Scotland and Kinghorn is one of the watch points, as it affords fantastic views over the Firth of Forth. So recently we have been going there a lot, but as yet we have come up with no sightings, we have been terribly unlucky as others have seen them at all times of the day! However there is always plenty to enjoy there. Watching Gannets and Terns fishing offshore. The nesting Fulmars on the cliff face less than a hundred yards from where we sit, so we have been watching the chicks grow up from tiny fluff balls to now quite large fluff balls!

A Fulmar on the nest, I have some chick photos still on the camera, so will add those when I get chance in a new post.

Some views from Kinghorn:

Inchkeith Island,

a distant Bass Rock,

and Kinghorn Harbour.

Lochore:

As I've probably said before Loch Ore Meadows is only a short walk from out house, it has a small nature reserve, with a (poorly designed) hide, which we visit as often as we can as you never know what turns up:

A couple of Snipe among the Lapwings. (it was a dull day so the photos are pretty poor)

Lapwing,

Curlew:

Elsewhere around the Loch there's always plenty to see:

Great Crested Grebe,

Greylag Geese,

Black-headed Gulls,

Jackdaw

a young Robin,

Great Spotted Woodpecker,

and a Grey Heron.

Loch Leven:

Loch Leven is big! It's about 13-14 miles to walk around, compare to just 3 for Loch Ore. But we have lots of different spots that we go to around it. The following photos are from the RSPB reserve at Vane Farm on the Loch.

Wild flowers at the reserve,

Orchid,

Goldfinch & Redpoll,

Young Swallow,

Goldfinch,

Little Grebe

That will do for now, I'll do Seafield (near Kircaldy) in the next post!

TTFN!

Musselburgh - Lagoons & Seafront

 In between celebrating my Birthday we paid a visit to Musselburgh, spending a while in the left most hide as that was where the majority of the birding was to be had, then finishing off with 15 minutes or so at the sea wall before heading off for some Prosecco!

The lagoons were dominated by the large number of lapwings, but among that lot there were some great birds.

Black-tailed Godwit;

Ruff;

Some distant Snipe;

and Green Sandpiper;

There was also a solitary Wigeon, some Teal and the odd Curlew dropping in and out. There was also 4 or 5 Grey Heron, the most I think we have seen here.

At the sea wall, there were plenty of Guillemot and Razorbill close in, more evidence of this strange phenomenon going on this year all along the coast. Going fishing 😊;

 Further out apart from the Gulls, Gannet and Goosander were seen, plus great views of three Velvet Scoter through the scope, much too far for the camera, this is when I had an adapter so that I could digiscope with the phone.

As we walked back to the car some Little Grebe were seen on the boating pond, as well as a large flock of small birds heading into the trees. These turned out to be a mix of Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit and a solitary Willow Warbler.

So a nice couple of hours.

Cullaloe NR - Fife

 We drive nearby a lot but have never ventured on the the reserve until last Saturday, it was lovely and quiet, with great views of the lake from the viewing screen, there was even a bench, which was a bonus!

As regards birding, there wasn't a lot but there were a couple of stars:

Black-tailed Godwit (and a Teal!)

and spot the Snipe.

Other than those a Sparrowhawk flew through, a Buzzard circled in the distance, the there were the Mallard, Mute Swan, Grey Heron and a couple of Moorhen. A bird was singing (kind of of!) in the trees but we couldn't find it and we are useless with bird song, you think after all these years we would have it sorted!

As we left a Rook was having a go at a Kestrel.

This is only 15 minutes or so from our house, so when we don't have a lot of time, it's the perfect place to visit.

Loch Mey, Caithness

 On our trip up to Caithness we paid two visits to the Loch of Mey. This has a great hide overlooking the loch. It's an 800m walk from the road to the hide through a couple of gates at the start and some rather aggressive looking (but not!) sheep.

The walk to the hide can be muddy and rough, so wear suitable footwear! On the walk there were plenty of Skylark:

and Meadow Pipit:

On and around the loch were, Lapwing;

Curlew;

Some Pink-footed Geese dropped in on their way to Greenland,

Plenty of Roe Deer,

Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Common Gull, Black-headed Gull, Reed Bunting and a solitary Snipe:

There are also good views of Dunnet Head,

and Castle Mey,

Oh and some of the aforementioned Sheep!

A Kingfisher Afternoon at Upton Warren

On Thursday we had a couple of hours spare in the afternoon and I was keen to see the work that had been done at Hen Brook. We very rarely used the Hen Brook hide when visiting, as in recent years you are just confronted by a wall of reeds blocking any views.

The transformation is spectacular and within minutes of sitting down a Water Rail put in an  appearance, popping out briefly on two more occasions before we moved on down to the Flashes. It was way to quick for me to get a photo, but seeing is the main thing. A big well done to the Wildlife Trust for making what looks like a great habitat for the coming winter and spring.

The flashes were pretty quiet, still a single Avocet in residence, plus I counted eleven Curlew out on the scrapes.

There were a good number of Shovelers and Teal about.

 A few Lapwing, a Little Grebe and of course plenty of Black-headed Gulls. After our obligatory coffee, we walked back to the car and the short drive over to the Moors, seeing this feller on the way.

A resting Red-veined Darter.

The weather was getting quite dull when we arrived at the Moors, we watched the activity on the feeders at the North Moors for a while, but only Blue, Great and Coal Tits were seen, with little on the water except for some Mallard and single Mute Swan.

So we carried on to the Lapwing Hide, the main interest at the start were two Mute Swans harassing another Swan, wherever it went, they headed towards it and proceeded to have a go at it. This is the main aggressor in attack mode,

 then the chase. This went on for a good 30 minutes.

Meanwhile there was a lot to see:
Little Grebe,

 Snipe,

 Lapwing,

 Grey Heron

 and Shoveler.

But the start of the afternoon was the Kingfisher, it came along and perched on a stick in front of the hide, making five fishing attempts, being successful four times. The photos are a bit grainy as it hard turned very dull and was also starting to rain.

 I wasn't quite quick enough to follow the dive,

 but got his return.

 Looking up as a raptor got the Lapwings up.

 Off he goes....

A great afternoon!