A bit of Birding on the Isle of Arran

 We have recently returned from a week on the Isle of Arran. We managed a few days birding, as we had other things planned and also the weather intervened. Also for the last bit there is a lack of photos as my camera started doing weird things and over exposing everything I took. I have been on to Nikon support but they can't come up with a reason why it's doing what it is, so they want me to send the camera in!

Anyway here are the edited highlights; I'm going to start with a Red Squirrel fest at Brodick Castle, there were at least five seen from the Squirrel hide:

A few birds seen there too:

Robin,

Chaffinch,

Siskin,

Pheasant

and Coal Tit

as well as Blue and Great Tits of course.

We saw Male Hen Harriers on a number of occasions, one even flewpast the back garden of the cottage we were staying in, didn't have the camera handy for that one, but did get some shots up on 'the String'

Elsewhere, there were lots of Ringed Plover about,

nesting Common Gulls,

Herons,

Herring Gulls,

Black Guillemots,

Song Thrush,

a Whimbrel,

Oystercatchers,

Turnstone,

Nesting Oystrercatchers,

Common Gull again,

and Rock Pipit.

We saw loads more but by now my Camera had packed up completely. Our first distant Cuckoos of the year, Wheatear, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Meadow Pipits, Swallows, House Martin, Red-breasted Merganser, Shelduck, Eider, Common Sandpiper and Hooded Crow, plus all the other garden birds of course.

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!

A Bit of Birding in Suffolk Part 1

After a very complicated visit to Birmingham last week, we had a few days in Suffolk before the looooong drive back to Scotland. Our plans were completely changed over Easter due to someone in the family testing positive for the dreaded 'Vid'. We already had 4 nights booked in Aldeburgh, so we hastily found a B&B for 2 extra nights.

On the way we popped into Ickworth NT and came across our first Egyptian Geese of the year, with goslings!

We found that we were near a reserve that we had visited in previous visit, this is the Suffolk Wildlife Trust's Hen Reed Beds reserve, we paid three visits over the two days. More Goslings, this time Greylag Goose,

Marsh Harrier over the Reeds,

and one of the many Twite that were about.

We also saw our first Swallows of the year here, collecting mud for their nest, as well as Cetti's Warblers, they just wouldn't stay still for a second, so no chance of a photo. Little Egrets put in a few appearances but liked to hide away from us or had reeds in front, so this is the best photo I could manage:

and finally a solitary Lawing:

Oh! I nearly forgot, we had a very very brief sighting of a Bittern as it flew over the reeds! In total just 24 species, but a great place to sit, chill and get sunburnt!