Isle Of Mull - Day 1

Finally, I can get started on sharing our Holiday with you guys. On the journey up, we didn't get much apart from a couple of Raven and a couple of Tree Pipit. We stayed in the B&B called Avoncraig.

Where they had a massive cat that got very pally with me. LOL.

This place held a nice but brief male Bullfinch, Siskins, Lesser Redpolls and Linnets.

Siskin

Rock Dove or Feral Pigeon

The following morning we got the Oban Ferry at about 11:30am to Craignure. 

Sightings on the boat included new Black Guillemot and Razorbill plus a lone Kittiwake onto the year list. A mixed flock of Common and Arctic Tern was a good sighting.

We got off the ferry and headed to Grasspoint. Driving down the road to Grasspoint, Dad spotted a distant White-tailed Eagle on the top of a hill. On Lochdon, about 4 Whimbrel were still lingering to add to the year list, and plenty of Hooded Crows too. The afternoon was moving on, so we decided to move back towards the hotel. Driving through Glen More Mountain Range, one of the resident Golden Eagles put in a appearance - also new for the list. Going round Loch Scridain, at least 4 Great Northern Divers were about.

8 new species on this day, plus 2 on the drive up, so 10 newon's on the first couple of days.

The 2nd Day will be hopefully posted in a few days, possibly tomorrow.

Happy Birding!

Update

Hi All. From the 24th May to the 1st June we had been on holiday to - once again - the Isle of Mull in Scotland. I have now finished editing my pictures, but there are still about another 200 of Mum and Dads to edit too! I shall try to do some blog posts about each day as soon as possible! I have also been sooooooooooooooooooo busy doing school work this week. Every night it's non-stop!

Last night, we all went down to catch up on one of my patches. We saw;

• L-R-Plover                                                  Common Tern
• Nightingale                                                 Garden Warbler
• Bullfinch                                                     6+ Grey Wagtails
• Reed Warbler                                              Banded Demoiselles
• Sparrowhawk                                              Hirundines

LRP

Friday 14th June, Dad and I are going on the Nightjar walk at Minsmere. Hopefully see the Churrers!

Happy Birding!

Minsmere Dawn Chorus

Dad and I had a ridiculously early start yesterday morning, having to get up at 2:30am to get to Minsmere for 4am for the Dawn Chorus guided walk. We were only there for the morning, because we had to do jobs in the afternoon. My luck wasn't with me though, because my camera had a card error, so I couldn't take any pictures for the first part of the morning. We started off with Nightingale, Bittern, Cuckoo and Tawny Owl before collecting all the other warblers and passerines. In Bittern Hide we saw a distant Barn Owl with a Hobby, and in Island Mere, booming Bitterns, squealing Water Rail and jolting Reed and Sedge Warblers. We got back and I tried to get my camera to work. The SD card had got wet because of the rain, so it just needed a dry and it was working well. Here's our fantastic breakfast....

We then went out on our own to see the pair of Stone-curlew that had newly arrived, and we had a look at North Scrape before moving onto Westleton Heath. We got the cracking Stone-curlews, with an unexpected Whinchat, and then a weasel which had caught a rabbit.

North Scrape produced a cracking drake Garganey which was soon put up by a Marsh Harrier, and 3 Arctic Terns. We then went to Westleton Heath, to try and get Woodlark and Dartford Warbler on the year list. We got at least 2 of each specie, with a very nice Willow Warbler.

Dartford Warblers - 2 birds

Willow Warbler

Woodlark

When I got rare bird alert up back at home, it said that a Cattle Egret was briefly on South Levels with a Spoonbill. We had already seen 3 Spoonbill from Island Mere, so I wasn't really bothered about seeing them, but I have never seen a Cattle Egret in the UK before. Also, today, a Savi's Warbler was present on the reserve. Maybe that was there yesterday too?

Happy Birding!

Lakenheath Fen

A bit early for the Orioles, but there was still plenty to see at Lakenheath Fen. We started off with a Cuckoo flying over the van in the village Lakenheath, adding another new one on the list. We got to Lakenheath Fen, and the car park was full - all because of that Red-footed Falcon. So we had to park near where the staff do. Another 2 species on the list immediately were Sedge Warbler and Hobby, the latter lying over the visitor center.

Reed Bunting and Warbler were also present

We then got to Joist Fen viewpoint, where a lot of people gathered to see the R-F Falcon. Minutes before we got there it was showing well over the hide, but when we got there it was quite distant. It did get closer, as did a Red Kite. One of the resident Cranes also took to the stage...

Red Kite

Red-footed Falcon

Crane

We then stumbled across a perching Sedge Warbler and one of plenty Whitethroat's

Then we went to the wash, and we got my first Common Tern of the year flying down stream, along with a smashing Red Kite.

WE then went to Lackford Lakes in the hope of a Turtle Dove. We got a singing Nightingale, but no Turtle Doves. We did however get a Kingfisher and my first Arctic Tern of the year. There were 3 Black Tern on the sailing lake, but they weren't there in the afternoon. We also saw a distant Cuckoo.

Mum and I went round my Aunties last night as she has got a pair of Turtle Doves in her garden. I got a flying bird which was great. Also a pair of Stock Dove feeding under the feeders. 

Blue Tit nest-box update:

9 eggs!!!!!!!

Happy Birding!

Black-necked Grebe

Got great views of a full summer plumaged Black-necked Grebe at an undisclosed site in Suffolk. The bird wasn't seen today, and some of you readers may know where I have seen this bird if you look at other websites.

Happy Birding!

Catching Up!

Really sorry about the delay of blog updates. I shall start off when we all went to the Tesco in Stowmarket on the 19th April to see the wagtail roost, as up-to 3 of each Yellow and White had been included with the Pieds. We waited about 10 minutes, and in they came. We immediately spotted a Yellow Wagtail fairly close to the van. A couple of White Wagtails stayed distant.

We all then headed for a bit of local birding on Sunday, going to Bosmere and Alderson Lakes. The Great-crested Grebe was on the nest, and I have also found a Canada Goose and Blue Tit nest which seem active, so I'll keep an eye on them. Wildlife at Bosmere included 

Chiffchaff, 

Blackcap (new for the year),  

Treecreeper, 

2 Tufted Duck, 

2 Great-crested Grebe, 

Peacock Butterfly, 

House Martin, 

Grey Heron,

Sparrowhawk

Green Woodpecker

Goldcrest

Jay

A shy but vocal Blackcap

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff

Jay

We then went to Alderson Lake, and we saw;

Willow Warbler x 4

Tufted Duck x 2

Great-crested Grebe x 2

Blackcap

There has been a vocal Lesser Whitethroat near my bustop for about 3 days now every morning when I get the bus, but I haven't had the chance to see it. So I went to go and see if I could find it this evening. I got decent views when it came out into the open, but not good enough views for a pic. Got Common Whitethroat this morning by the other bus top with my first Swift flying over.

Happy Birding!

Another New Hirundine!

A Bike ride around my nature trail produced 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Yellowhammer, and great views of a House Martin. Another House Martin was present over Edgecomb Road, Stowmarket.

Great to hear that a Black Kite was seen over Stowmarket yesterday, and a Red Kite was over stowupland hall today. I was about 300 yards fromthe hall, typical!

Happy Birding!

Swallows!

We all played golf at Cretingham yesterday, and on hole 13, I was greeted by a Swallow which flew over. We were all split up, so we all saw something different. Dad saw a Grass Snake, and I also saw a Buzzard, 2 Brimstone Butterfly's, Chiffchaffs and a calling Chiffchaff. Another Swallow flew over Foward Green on the way back.

Even better, another Swallow flew past the house this morning!

Happy Birding

Minsmere

Dad and I visited Minsmere yesterday, and what a day it was. We started off going to look at the scrape, and on the Sand Bank by the visitor center were a pair of Black Redstarts, both females I think. The birds were viewed from the bridge over the pond....

We then visited North Hide, and all the regular things were around. Common Snipe, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Oystercatcher, Redshank and Lapwing were all the waders present. Also, Black-headed, Great and Lesser Black-backed with Herring Gulls were all present. On the way out, I had a look in North Bushes, and a Muntjac wandered meters in front of me. I was a little scared because these deer can be very aggressive. He just carried on his walk though so I was fine. We continued up to the sea, and a pair of Sand Martins flew over the reedbed, with a Cetti's Warbler and Reed Bunting present. Out to sea, a pair of Pintails North, a Grey Seal, about 50 Red-throated Divers, with this Diver a possible Black-throated, only because the neck is a lot thicker and no upturned bill....

We then went to East Hide, and saw a redhead Smew, and the birds we saw in North Hide. 3 Linnets flew out of the gorse bushes, with a Goldcrest and Chaffinch present.

Then the distinctive call of Green Sandpiper alerted me as one flew over the sluice and onto the scrape, a great find. We then went down to the Konik field where a group of Tufted Duck were present with some Redshank and another Snipe, with a Little Grebe. 

The a white rumped passerine flew across the water and onto the bank. It was a Wheatear! Unfortunately, it wasn't there for long, as some noisy dog walkers flushed it. Nutters! 

We were then directed to another 10 Common Snipes and a Water Rail, when Dad spotted a Bittern out of nowhere skulking about in the open stubble field.

We went back and had lunch, then we went to Island Mere and Bittern Hide. On Island Mere, 2 Garganey, a Water Pipit, a Kingfisher, 2 Great-crested Grebes and Mute Swans....

A third Garganey then joined the group.

We then went to Bittern Hide, where another Bittern was stalking around in front of the hide....

Happy Birding!