Scotland Trip - Day 1

For the whole of last week, we all went to the Scottish Highlands to try and get some of the Scottish specialities onto my life list. We arrived Saturday afternoon, and Sunday was our first day's birding. We thought we would go and look at the cracking Harlequin Duck in Aberdeenshire on the Sunday, as a mini twitch! 

On route to Seaton Park, we passed a place called Tomintoul, an area of heather moorland. We were told to scan here for Red Grouse. Well, it didn't take long to get this bird on my life list. They showed really well quite close to the road...

When we arrived at Seaton Park, we parked the car, and set off. Walking down the River Don, we got great views of 2 Dipper, which were singing really well! 

Further along the river, we located the target bird, the cracking Harlequin Duck, showing unbelievably well on a rock about 15 yards! What a stunning creature!

On the way back to the car, we noticed a couple of ducks sitting in the river, which turned out to be a redhead Goosander and a couple of drake Goldeneye...

Near the car park we saw a lot of splashing in the water, so we thought we'd go and investigate. Turned out to be a cracking Otter showing really well!

We then moved on to our final destination of the day, Meikle Loch, near the Ythan Estuary. Our target bird here was a drake American Wigeon that had been seen there the previous day. The weather conditions were appalling. From where we were parked, facing the flock of Wigeon, we had had 40mph head-on winds, rain and cloudy murk that lingered over the roadside pool. I got out, and the Scope nearly flew into the near-by field it was sooooo windy! I was out there for about 10 minutes, and still no luck, but I was determined to find it. Suddenly, I thought I saw it, but it soon went behind a Wigeon, but then, no it couldn't be, yes................................. A DRAKE AMERICAN WIGEON! My hard work paid off, and we were rewarded with decent views and pictures!

What a great opening day to our holiday. The following days will be on the blog soon!

Happy Birding!

Christchurch Park!

Yesterday afternoon Dad and I went to Christchurch Park. We parked near the Wilderness Pond, and didn't see the Goosander, but saw 3 of the cracking local Mandarin Ducks....

We were surprised to see the numbers of rats running around the pond - pretty disgusting really. We then went and tried to find the Tawny Owl. We didn't know what tree "Mable" roosts in - the Tawny Owls name. We searched most trees, but gave, up so we went in the visitor center and asked for help. She pointed out the exact tree on the map, and within 5 minutes, we found the Owl, with Barry Woodhouse - nice to meet you Barry! This was my first daytime Tawny Owl - what a treat!

We then went back to the Wilderness Pond, and found the Goosander, and it showed really well.

We couldn't stay here long though, because we had to go and see my Grandma in hospital, who is now walking, which is great news! Hope she is out of hospital soon!

Happy Birding!

Lackford Area

Mum, Dad and I went around the Lackford area yesterday. As I was on 90 for the British Year List, my target for the day was to get to 100. Day started off well with a Green Woodpecker in Norton, and a flock of Grey Partridge at Stowlangtoft. We then arrived at our first destination, at West Stow CP. We parked up, and asked a birder for directions for the Crossbills that have been showing extremely well in the puddles. He said "they're right behind you!" I said "it's not a panto mate!" LOL. Anyway, got all the optics set up, and waited for the Crossbills to come to the puddle. Loads of noise and traffic, so its surprising that they a re this tame. We got some great pictures of them in the trees....

They then came down to the puddle...

We then moved on to Lackford Lakes. As it is winter, the Bitterns should have returned to the reserve. I have never seen a Bittern here before, so it would have been great if we were to see one here. We started off with Marsh Tit, Shoveler on the year list, and a cracking male Goldeneye....

We then got a superb Kingfisher in the double decker hide...

We then got a flyover Grey Wagtail as we headed to Steggals Hide. On the way we got a pair of Egyptian Geese on the golf course

We arrived at Steggals and found 4 Red-crested Pochards showing incredibly close!

I then started scanning the reedbeds at the back, and blow me down I spotted a distant Bittern sitting in the reeds!!!!!!!!! OMG! A bit distant for photos, but the digiscope got some decent pics....

An incredible first for the reserve from my perspective. We didn't think the reserve had much else to offer, but we got 6 very distant Goosanders, including 3 drakes.

Finally, we went to Bess' Hide, to see the gull roost, and the hope of picking up something rare. We got in there and had the hide to ourselves. There was about 100 Lesser-black Backed Gulls on the lake, with a lone Barnacle Goose, 3 Goldeneyes and several other common water birds. I started scanning through the gulls and picked up about 3 Yellow-legged Gulls, and a adult gull that looked very suspicious. Either Herring or another Yellow-legged Gull. Maybe a hybrid????

What a great day. Reached 100 species!!!! We never have a bad day. So lucky!

Happy Birding!

55 species - not a bad start to 2014

Missed out on the action on New Years Day, because:

1. The weather was atrocious
2. Dad's van has conked out - the van isn't moving anywhere.

However, Dad has just come back with a hire van to get us out and about for the rest of the school holidays - yipeeeeeeeeeee very pleased.

New Years Day bought 16 species to our garden, so it was a steady start to 2014. But yesterday, Mum, Dad and I went to Alton Water, to see if we could crank up the year list further. We got 55 species, the highlights being Goosander, Goldeneye and a Barnacle Goose? Probably an escape.....

I reckon there was about 60 Great-crested Grebes on the reservoir.

 Plenty of Greylag Geese at The Wonder - this was were the Barnacle Goose was.

A Heron flew over Larchwood

Several Little Grebe were present.

The darker duck on the left I think is a female Pochard, but the the Mallard on the right shows the darkness in contrast between the duck on the left. Possibly a hybrid, or a Pochard????? Poor picture I know.

These were definite Pochards around The Wonder, lingering with the Coots.

A Shelduck was a nice surprise at the Sailing Club.

Several Tufted Duck were present around the reservoir

And Mum hit the Jackpot with a sunlight on water picture. What a range of colours.

Finally, plenty of Wigeon were present to, especially at Larchwood.

Here's how 2014 has gone so far.....

1. Collard Dove
2. Woodpigeon
3. Black-headed Gull
4. Blue Tit
5. Great Tit
6. Common Gull
7. Herring Gull
8. Greenfinch
9. Goldfinch
10. Rook
11. Jackdaw
12. Carrion Crow
13. Starling
14. House Sparrow
15. Chaffinch
16. Robin
17. Magpie
18. Song Thrush
19. Blackbird
20. Mallard
21. Cormorant
22. Pied Wagtail
23. Red-legged Partridge
24. Kestrel
25. Pheasant
26. Great-crested Grebe
27. Coot
28. Moorhen
29. Great Black-backed Gull
30. Lesser Black-backed Gull
31. Tufted Duck
32. Goldeneye
33. Teal
34. Greylag Goose
35. Barnacle Goose
36. Little Grebe
37. Rock Dove (feral pigeon)
38. Pochard
39. Gadwall
40. Long-tailed Tits
41. Wigeon
42. Coal Tit
43. Siskin
44. Goldcrest
45. Lesser Redpoll
46. Bullfinch
47. Yellowhammer
48. Treecreeper
49. Redwing
50. Dunnock
51. Wren
52. Goosander
53. Jay
54. Heron
55. Mute Swan

Not a bad day. Hoping to go out on Sunday, now that we have a new van (it's a heap of junk really). At least we have some wheels to move about in.

Happy Birding and Happy New Year!