England, Wales and Scotland - a review

The tour is now over and its time to reflect over the trip's two parts and consider, not for a final time, the overall trip and, in particular, the wonderful birds and animals encountered.

I'll deal with the last part of the Scottish part of the trip first. This part of the trip featured five from the England / Wales section and Russ Lamb and Maria Dam who 'swapped' with Norm and June Harris. the trip began and ended in Aberdeen and took in both selected Highland sites, all relatively close to the Cairngorm areas plus a wonderful few days in the outer Hebrides; specifically the Uists.

We were under the calm and patient tutelage of John Poyner, owner and operator of Highland Nature. John, originally an Englishman, is a born again Scot and his love for Scotland and its wildlife and wild places is obvious. His reserved character and confidence, based on an excellent knowledge of the birds and wildlife, made him an excellent choice for guide. His driving skills and navigation, particularly on the maze of roads in the Hebrides, were also admired. John's choice of hotels, and the wonderful food therein, were greatly appreciated. Thanks too, to the staff and management of the Grant Arms Hotel and, in particular, the Bird and Wildlife club based there.

The birds. It was voted the Bird of the Trip was Ptarmigan. [with Black Grouse and King Eider coming equal second although a long way back].

Ptarmigan is a classic highland species - only viewable in the high hills of Scotland in the context of the British Isles. It is a bird that you have to make some effort to see. We were lucky; climbiing the hills under rare sunshine and the birds were lower on the slopes than usual and allowed long, close views.

The list of 'Birds of the Day' provide an indication how successful we were to get a range of species and many Scottish specials;

1. King Eider
2. Black Grouse
3. Ptarmigan
4. Red-breasted Merganser
5. White-tailed Eagle
6. Corn Crake
7. Hen Harrier
8. Corn Bunting!!!!!!!!!!!!!
9. Short eared Owl

We also saw Puffin, Black and Common Guillemots, Razorbills, Manx Shearwaters, Leaches Storm-Petrel, waders intheir breeding finery; Ruff, Dunlin, Redshanks, Black and Bar-tailed Godwits, Snipe, Sanderling. We had views of White-tailed Eagle - the result of a fascinating and successful conservation story - and amazing views of Golden Eagles [although not that amazing toknock Corn Bunting off its 'Bird of the Day' perch]. Black, Willow or Red Grouse plus Ptarmigan. Common Eiders plus Elvis the King Eider. Loons? Three - Black-throated [or Arctic], Red-throated and Great Northern [or Common]. Plus more things I cannot think of at the moment but the full list will be printed below. Plus we saw and heard about a million chaffinches!

Regarding mammals - Otter, Red Squirrel, Red Deer, plus Common Dolphins, Pilot Whales and Harbour Porpoise - again to name a few.

For the England Wales part of the trip we muddled through basically by ourselves however we were aided by the good folk at Two Owls Birding who operate out of Dorset and Marcus Nash who operates out of Norfolk. We were also helped by Swallow Birding who gave great suggestions for our itinerary.

Birds of the day recorded for the England Wales section included Tufted Duck, Dunlin, Yellowhammer, Wood Warbler, Woodcock, Buzzard, Great Bustard and Puffin.

Here is the List of Bird Species recorded for our UK Trip

UK BIRD LIST – recorded species
1. Mute Swan - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
2. Whooper Swan – ABERDEEN AND OUTER HEBRIDES
3. Greylag Goose – NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK], SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES
4. Canada Goose  – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
5. Barnacle Goose - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
6. Common Eider – SCOTTISH COASTS
7. King Eider - ABERDEEN
8. Common Goldeneye - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
9. Red-breasted Merganser – SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES
10. Egyptian Goose I - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
11. Common Shelduck - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
12. Red-crested Pochard - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
13. Common Pochard – SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
14. Tufted Duck - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
15. Northern Shoveler – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK], SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES
16. Gadwall - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
17. Eurasian Wigeon – SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES
18. Mallard - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
19. Common Teal – SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES
20. Mandarin Duck I – WALES and SOUTHERN ENGLAND
21. Red-legged Partridge I - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
22. Common Pheasant I - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
23. Willow Grouse - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
24. Rock Ptarmigan - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
25. Eurasian Black Grouse - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
26. Grey Partridge – NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
27. Little Grebe - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
28. Great Crested Grebe – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
29. Slavonian Grebe - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
30. Rock Dove - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
31. Stock Dove – SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
32. Wood Pigeon – RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
33. Eurasian Collared Dove - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
34. European Nightjar - SOUTHERN ENGLAND
35. Common Swift - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
36. Common Cuckoo - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
37. Corncrake - OUTER HEBRIDES
38. Common Moorhen - WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
39. Common Coot - WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
40. Common Crane - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
41. Red-throated Diver – NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK], OUTER HEBRIDES and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
42. Black-throated Diver - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
43. Great Northern Diver - OUTER HEBRIDES
44. Leach’s Storm-Petrel - OUTER HEBRIDES
45. Northern Fulmar – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and OUTER HEBRIDES
46. Manx Shearwater - WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and OUTER HEBRIDES
47. Eurasian Bittern – NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
48. Little Bittern – heard NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
49. Grey Heron - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
50. Little Egret – SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
51. Northern Gannet - WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and OUTER HEBRIDES
52. European Shag - WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and OUTER HEBRIDES
53. Great Cormorant - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
54. Eurasian Thick-knee - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
55. Eurasian Oystercatcher - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
56. Pied Avocet - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
57. Eurasian Golden Plover – SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES
58. Eurasian Dotterel - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
59. Common Ringed Plover – SOUTHERN ENGLAND, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK], SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES
60. Little Ringed Plover - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
61. Northern Lapwing - SOUTHERN ENGLAND, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK], SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES
62. Whimbrel - WALES
63. Eurasian Curlew - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
64. Bar-tailed Godwit - OUTER HEBRIDES
65. Black-tailed Godwit – NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and OUTER HEBRIDES
66. Ruddy Turnstone - SOUTHERN ENGLAND
67. Ruff - OUTER HEBRIDES
68. Sanderling – NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and OUTER HEBRIDES
69. Dunlin – SOUTHERN ENGLAND, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and OUTER HEBRIDES
70. Eurasian Woodcock – SOUTHERN ENGLAND and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
71. Common Snipe - OUTER HEBRIDES
72. Common Sandpiper - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
73. Common Greenshank - OUTER HEBRIDES
74. Common Redshank – NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK], SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES
75. Red-necked Phalarope - OUTER HEBRIDES
76. Atlantic Puffin – WALES and OUTER HEBRIDES
77. Black Guillemot - OUTER HEBRIDES
78. Razorbill - WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and OUTER HEBRIDES
79. Common Guillemot - WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and OUTER HEBRIDES
80. Great Skua - OUTER HEBRIDES
81. Black-legged Kittiwake - WALES and OUTER HEBRIDES
82. Black-headed Gull - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
83. Mew Gull – SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES
84. Lesser Black-backed Gull - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
85. Herring Gull – RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
86. Little Gull – NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
87. Mediterranean Gull - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
88. Great Black-backed Gull - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
89. Little Tern – SOUTHERN ENGLAND, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and OUTER HEBRIDES
90. Common Tern – SOUTHERN ENGLAND, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
91. Arctic Tern - OUTER HEBRIDES
92. Sandwich Tern – SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
93. Osprey - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
94. Golden Eagle - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
95. Western Marsh Harrier - SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
96. Hen Harrier - OUTER HEBRIDES
97. Eurasian Sparrowhawk – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
98. White-tailed Sea Eagle - OUTER HEBRIDES
99. Red Kite – RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES
100. Eurasian Buzzard - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
101. Short-eared Owl – SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES
102. Little Owl - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
103. Green Woodpecker – WALES and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
104. Great Spotted Woodpecker – RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES
105. Common Kestrel - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES
106. Eurasian Hobby – SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
107. Peregrine Falcon – WALES and SOUTHERN ENGLAND
108. Rose-ringed Parakeet I – London pre-trip
109. Red-billed Chough - WALES
110. Eurasian Jay - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES
111. Eurasian Magpie - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
112. Eurasian Jackdaw - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
113. Rook - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
114. Common Raven – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and OUTER HEBRIDES
115. Carrion Crow – RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON; except OUTER HEBRIDES
116. Hooded Crow - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS and OUTER HEBRIDES
117. Dunnock - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES
118. House Sparrow - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
119. Tree Pipit – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
120. Meadow Pipit – RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
121. Rock Pipit - WALES
122. Grey Wagtail – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
123. White Wagtail - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
124. Common Chaffinch - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
125. Hawfinch - SOUTHERN ENGLAND
126. Eurasian Bullfinch – SOUTHERN ENGLAND, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
127. European Greenfinch - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
128. Twite - OUTER HEBRIDES
129. Common Linnet – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
130. Common Redpoll - WALES
131. European Goldfinch - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
132. Eurasian Siskin – SOUTHERN ENGLAND and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
133. Corn Bunting – NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and OUTER HEBRIDES
134. Yellowhammer – WALES, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
135. Eurasian Reed Bunting – WALES, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and OUTER HEBRIDES
136. Coal Tit - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES
137. Crested Tit - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
138. Marsh Tit – SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
139. Willow Tit - WALES
140. Blue Tit - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES
141. Great Tit - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES
142. Wood Lark - SOUTHERN ENGLAND
143. Eurasian Sky Lark – RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except WALES
144. Bearded Reedling – WALES and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
145. Sedge Warbler – WALES, NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and OUTER HEBRIDES
146. Common Reed Warbler – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
147. Northern House Martin – RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES
148. Barn Swallow - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
149. Sand Martin – NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK] and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
150. Wood Warbler – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND
151. Willow Warbler - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
152. Common Chiffchaff - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
153. Cetti's Warbler – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
154. Long-tailed Tit - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES
155. Eurasian Blackcap - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES
156. Garden Warbler – heard NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
157. Lesser Whitethroat - SOUTHERN ENGLAND
158. Common Whitethroat - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES
159. Dartford Warbler - NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
160. Goldcrest - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
161. Eurasian Firecrest – heard SOUTHERN ENGLAND, seen NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
162. Eurasian Treecreeper - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except OUTER HEBRIDES
163. Eurasian Nuthatch – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
164. Eurasian Wren - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
165. Common Starling - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
166. White-throated Dipper – WALES and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
167. Spotted Flycatcher – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
168. European Robin - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
169. European Pied Flycatcher - WALES
170. Common Redstart – WALES and SOUTHERN ENGLAND
171. European Stonechat – WALES, SOUTHERN ENGLAND and SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
172. Northern Wheatear – RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON except NORFOLK [AND SUFFOLK]
173. Mistle Thrush - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
174. Song Thrush - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
175. Redwing - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
176. Eurasian Blackbird - RECORDED IN EVERY MAIN AREA - OFTEN COMMON
177. Ring Ouzel - SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Mammals seen;

1. Pilot Whale

2. Common Dolphin

3. Common Porpoise

4. Risso’s Dolphin

5. Common Seal

6. Grey Seal

7. Eurasian Otter

8. Red Fox

9. Badger

10. Red Squirrel

11. Grey Squirrel

12. Brown Rat 

13. Vole sp

14. Rabbit

15. Brown Hare

16. Mountain Hare

17. Red Deer

18. Roe Deer

19. Fallow Deer

In addition a fine female Adder was seen in Minesmere.

The Uists - an adventure in the outer Hebrides of Scotland

Pilot Whales enroute in shallow bay off Skye

Pilot Whale

The second major part of our Scottish adventure had us driving west from the Highlands, through Inverness and onto the island of Skye, making our way across Skye to the western side before boarding a ferry for a near two hour crossing to Lochmaddy, a village on the eastern shores of North Uist. From Lochmaddy we drove for an hour south to the island of Benbecula and then to the island of South Uist, where we would stay for four nights.

The first part of the journey took us to Skye and its huge barren hills. Skye had made the news a few days or so earlier as it hosted, unintentionally, a whale beaching event and as we traveled across the island we heard that Pilot Whales again had gathered in a shallow bay - perhaps with the same intention. We saw the animals - perhaps three or four - moving slowly around in the bay - with much traffic having stopped to view the drama. On our return the whales were still there; the drama continuing unresolved. Hopefully a rescue attempt can be undertaken before the inevitable occurs. 

Fulmar from Ferry Crossing

Black Guillemots

The Ferry crossing was desscribed by Russ Lamb, as the best Pelagic he had ever done. Quite a call but let's present the evidence. First it was, obviously, a huge and stable vessel. Second the weather was fine with little wind, so the seas were calm. It was, as you would expect, cool. Birds? Common Eider, Black Guillemot, Razorbill, Common Guillemot, Gannet, Kittiwake, Fulmar, Leach's Storm Petrel, plus gulls and a couple of terns. We also saw Common dolphins plus Harbour Porpoise. The return crossing added Manx Shearwaters and [probable] Risso's Dolphin.

Our arrrival also enjoyed, as we neared North Uist, a White-tailed Eagle sail past. A great bird indeed and a good omen. From the RSPB - The white-tailed eagle was fairly common throughout much of Europe until the early nineteenth century, when numbers started to decrease dramatically, mainly because of persecution that resulted in the loss of many of the western European populations.

While conservation measures allowed the species to recover in the 1970s, the impact of mercury and of organochlorine and other pesticides continued to reduce the breeding success into the 1980s.

The white-tailed eagle was widespread in Scotland and Ireland in the 18th century, and also bred in England and the Isle of Man. Over 100 eyries were known in Britain and at least 50 in Ireland in the early 19th century. 

The species became extinct in the UK as a result of direct and sustained persecution by shepherds, gamekeepers, fishery owners, skin collectors and egg collectors. Habitat loss was not a factor. 

By 1800 the species had disappeared from England. It survived in Ireland a little longer, but by 1900 only a handful of pairs remained on the British Isles, all in Scotland. The last breeding record in Scotland was on the Isle of Skye in 1916, and the last British white-tailed eagle was shot in Shetland two years later.

A re-introduction programme by the Nature Conservancy Council (now Scottish Natural Heritage) and the RSPB started in 1975. In the following ten years 82 young eagles from Norway were released on the Isle of Rum in the Inner Hebrides. The first successful breeding took place in 1985, and since then several pairs have nested successfully every year. Further releases in 1990s in Wester Ross ensured that the population became self-sustaining.

The white-tailed eagle is included on the Red list of UK birds of conservation concern because of the long-term population decline and since it is a rare breeder in the UK and across its European range.

Sanderlings on Uist

more Sanderlings..........

Arriving on the outer Hebrides we were greeted with a landscape unlike any i had seen before. While there are some hills, in the east of some of the islands, much of the land is flat or gently undulating dotted evrywhere by Lochs and carved or separated by long fingered bays that threaten to tear the islands apart. The islands still have not yet decided whether they are land or sea and everywhere, in every view, there is water. These islands, jutting out into the North Atlantic and being isolated, support a surprising decity of houses and perhaps people. I read though the population has been decling since the late 1800's and without government supported ferries and the like the islands would die. As they are they exist on a mix of farming, fishing and tourism. Nature tourism is especially obvious as they support a wondeful diversity of life.

The most obvious birds are the breeding waders. For Australians we see migratory waders in duller non-breeding plumage; here they are coloured [generally] and are displaying with hopes for breeding. Redshanks, Dunlin, Godwits were common - the former most abundant. Snipe were heard flying around above displaying their tail feathers held to make a particular drumming sound. All in all it was very impressive. Ruff and Rednecked Phalarope were seen, both in breeding colour,

Common snipe - a common breeder on the outer Hebrides.

breeding Redshank

Oystercatchers everywhere

take care for young waders..

Waterfowl on the Uists included Eider. Almost every bay had some birds and many had ducklings. Elsewhere Mallard and Tufted Duck dominated. Mute Swan and Greylag were common but there were a pair or two of Whooper Swan - so maybe they breed. Common Shelduck were seen in some bays and there were a few Common Teal and one lone Wigeon recorded.

The waters also had the occasional Divers - both Great Northern and Red-throated. We enjoyed seeing both eagles - White tailed and Golden and got great views of the latter as a pair were mobbed by large numbers of gulls. Arctic Tern was a lovely species to get to know; as they too bred around the many Lochs. We also enjoyed particularly great views of day hunting Short-eared Owls plus Hen Harriers.

Common eider and ducklings

one of a pair of Whooper Swans

female Wheatear near her nest hole

Deer [Reds] on the beach preparing for a swim - seriously

Sign says it all - we saw otters but they proved a little too fast to photo

Stag on a rock - obviously

more flowers for Bob and a butterfly

Sheep - apparently possessed by demons.

ubiquitous Meadow Pipit

One of the places visited on the island of North Uist was an RSPB reserve - Balranald. This reserve is described by the RSPB thus; This beautiful Hebridean reserve has sandy beaches, rocky foreshore, marshes and sand-dunes. An information centre explains the importance of traditional crofting agriculture for corncrakes and other wildlife. Many wading and farmland birds nest on the flower-rich machair and croft-land. Perhaps your best chance to hear and to even see corncrakes and corn buntings. We saw both key bird species and we heard both before viewing them. Corncrakes are a key target species when visiting these islands. Availability of increasing areas of cultivated land caused an extension of range in northern Europe and western Siberia in the past, and it is thought that most of central and western Europe used to be inhabited by the corncrake.

The species started declining in western Europe in the mid 19th century coinciding with the start of the mechanisation of the agricultural systems and earlier cutting of the hay harvest. Since the 1950s the rate of decline accelerated, coinciding with a period when majority of hay fields were changed to silage production, which allowed even earlier cutting dates, and often production of two crops from a field. This was first noticeable in Britain, Ireland, Fennoscandia and west-central Europe, and since 1970 the decline spread through most of the European range of the species, including some of its east European strongholds. During 1970-1990 all countries except Sweden and Finland recorded declines in excess of 20% (in ten countries over 50%).

In Britain the decline started in south-east England in the mid-19th century and gradually spread north and west. By the late 1930s corncrakes were absent from much of England and southern Wales, and large parts of Scotland. Only in the northern and western islands were they still abundant. In Ireland the decline started later and spread more slowly, though more recent decline since 1988 has been dramatic.

The declines throughout the corncrakes range were closely linked to periods of change in the farming systems: from the mechanised cutting and earlier cutting dates to the change from hay to silage with its associated even earlier cutting dates, and often production of two crops from a field. In many areas cutting is now so early that suitable nesting habitat no longer exists in the breeding season. Major investment in drainage schemes in the 1980s allowed silage production to spread to many poorly drained areas in Scotland and Ireland, which until then had remained untouched.

The speed at which agricultural changes can affect the corncrake is illustrated by the 80% decline in numbers in Northern Ireland in three years (1988-1991), which co-incided with earlier cutting dates as farmers were encouraged to produce silage instead of hay and increased sheep stocking which resulted in further loss of hay meadows.

In Britain and Ireland there have been unprecedented declines in numbers throughout the range of the species, accompanied with 76% contraction in range since 1970. By the 1990s the annual decline was so great that, had it continued, the species would have gone extinct in the British Isles within 10-20 years. As a result of conservation measures in the core areas, the decline was finally halted with the lowest point in Britain in 1993 with 480 calling males, and in Republic of Ireland in 1994 with 129 calling males. Since then the numbers have slowly increased.

Not a Corncrake but a Corn Bunting - a [unbelievedly so] 'Birdof the Day'!

Corncrake - an uncommon bird and a difficult one to see

a quick water colour i knocked up!!

Seaside Excursion

distant view of sea cliffs [please note weather!]

Today we went to the seaside on a sunny Scottish excursion.

It was hot! Damn hot! There were blue skies and the temperature I’m sure climbed above the twenty degrees Celsius mark however in direct sun light it seemed much warmer than that number suggests.

We started close to our village of Granton-on-Spey and checked out a nearby river; let’s call it the Spey. Goosanders or Common Mergansers were the targets but neither were seen. A reasonable range of other spp including Dipper, Sand Martin, Goldeneye though.

Bridge over the Spey

Back to Abernathy Forest to search again for Crested Tit but the forest was very quiet save the Chaffinch.

Now to the Inner Moray Firth near Inverness where we saw my ‘bird of the day’ – Otter! Reasonable views of two animals were seen under the pylons of the one massive bridge spanning the Firth.

Then on to The “Black Isle” for some seabirds such as Guillemots, Razorbills, Cormorants and shags plus the regular gulls and Common Terns. At the sea watching spot we also scored a few nice views of Goldcrest, Whitethroat, Robin, Song Thrush, Wren etc. The lunchtime spot yielded Red-throated Divers out in the firth plus Yellowhammer on the adjacent golf course.  Red Kite was seen on route – our first for Scotland.

The last couple of stops yielded, most notably, Red-breasted Merganser. Plus a few others like Ringed Plover.

One perfect day in the Cairngorms

Ptarmigan

It was a great day birding here in the highlands of Scotland under blue skies where the temperature threatened twenty degrees Celsius. It was this day that we had planned to go on a wee hike up the hills in the Cairngorms. We had packed a lunch and waterproofs and coats in case the unpredictable mountain weather turned nasty however, while the lunch certainly proved useful, the need for cold weather clothes or raincoats never eventuated.

The first target species showed itself well close to the ski fields car park – Ring Ouzel. This thrush is like a Blackbird with a bold white sash across its chest; a mountain version of the Blackbird if you will. And when it finally decided to show itself it lost inhibitions and displayed nicely.

Ring Ouzel

The next target was definitely an upland species the Rock Ptarmigan. A species that almost everyone knows about. Famous for camouflage as it turns completely white in winter and in Summer the bird moults into plumage designed to keep it invisible. Despite its camouflage the bird was [luckily] easy to find. A pair were discovered relatively low on the hill and close to the path and they shuffled around slowly and confidently allowing long looks. The male still had a proud white belly but its upper parts blended with the lichen covered granite on the hillsides while the female had a more intricate pattern that rendered it impossible to see among the vegetation; a useful strategy for a ground nesting bird.

Female Ptarmigan

Male Ptarmigan

Female Ptarmigan

Climbing even further to the top we lucked upon four Dotterals. These are Arctic or alpine specialists who return to these high hills to breed after wintering in the southern Mediterranean or northern Africa. We had seen a flock of about 12 on ploughed fields on the Spanish Steppes and  those birds could have, in all possibility, been aiming for the highlands of Scotland. We can claim luck to have seen these well coloured birds on their breeding grounds.

Cairngorms

View from the Cairngorms

Scanning  a nearby Loch after the long climb down we discovered yet another Scottish trip bird; an adult Red-throated Diver.

Our day ended with a visit to an Osprey nest where the birds were busy returning to their chicks with fish while the surrounding forests were rich in song of a variety of warblers and other songbirds.

Treecreeper at nest

the view of the Cairngorms the day before

Speyside

now that is what i call a glacial valley....

Today we went for a drive around a few classic birding sites in the highlands looking for a few classic bird species. It is fair to say that we were quite successful.

Our first stop was Abenathy Forest – an RSPB reserve on the shores of Loch Garten – another reserve made famous through being the site of the natural re-introduction of Ospreys in the 50’s. Here we found one of the specials straight away; Crested Tit. Coal, Blue and Great Tits were also found here as were [of course] Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Tree Pipit and several others. Goldeneye were a trip bird for us on the Loch it self.

breeding plumaged Slavonian or Horned Grebe

Another target water bird was found in another small Loch nearby – Slavonian Grebe or Horned if you’re an American. This bird is stunning in its summer plumage and there were three birds seen so attired. Greylag, Mallard, Great BB Gull helped complete the compliment of other species here. Common Sandpiper was a trip bird here.

remains of an ancient bridge

Another wetland yielded more waterfowl – Wigeon and Common Teal – with Goldeneye, Mallard and more Greylag. Little Grebe plus Oystercatchers and Lapwing were here also.

red deer

We then ventured up into a classic highland valley, its glacial formation obvious to all. Herds of Red Deer were seen both high on the hills and sheltered near the valley floor close to the safety of forests. Dipper and Grey and White Wagtails were conspicuous on the streams while Siskin, Spotted Flycatcher and Willow Warbler were buzzing around the tree tops. Distant Buzzard and Kestrel were the only raptors seen. A distant Ring Ouzel was scoped but people agreed that a BVD [Better view was desired].

Grouse

Grouse chick

Then to the moors – an amazing expanse of scenery and vegetation. Nesting Common Terns plus great views of Red or Willow Grouse. WE also had views of yet another trip bird – Black-throated or Arctic Loon / Diver. Near here we saw an albinistic Meadow Pipit -  the bright white bird causing initial confusion.

Golden Plover

Nesting Common Gull

We had an after dinner excursion that proved rewarding  - out across the moors. Short eared Owl was seen twice before good views of Black Grouse at a Lekking site. 6 males and a couple of females were seen.

Eurasian Curlew

the van on the moors

To Scotland

Common Seal

Leaving the hotel we hopped the Hoppa to Terminal Two at Heathrow for our morning flight to the northern Scottish city of Aberdeen. Here we would start our Scotland tour.

We were met by our guide John Poyner, who is a birder / naturalist / scientist based in the Scottish Highlands. And fortunately for me he is also a driver! So for the first time since leaving Oz I can kick back, look around and be a passenger. Happy bloody days!

enroute to the estuary - our guide John in the lead

John's conga line continuing across the Scottish estuary

We began birding straight away with a visit to a nearby  estuary which was happily crowded with Common Eider. These are tremendous birds and it was wonderful to see them in such numbers.

Common Eider - male

 There was a surprise though. In among the Common Eiders there was lurking or sleeping as it turned out another Eider – a male King Eider. This bird, possibly the only wild King eider in the British Isles had been christened, Elvis. [Elvis the King – get it?] Needless to say but I will say it – Elvis was the Bird of the Day!

Elvis - first view

Next view

Elvis the King Eider taking some steps

King Eider - clearly a waterfowl unlike any other

In some ways it was sad that Elvis appeared even though he was a massive Bimbo [lifer] because it took some appeal away from the Common Eider which is a wonderful waterfowl in its own right. We also saw a mass of other common estuary birds; Cormorant, Black-headed, Herring, Lesser and GReater Black-backed Gull and another new bird Common or Mew Gull. There were Common and Sandwich Terns. Mallard and Shelduck and Mute Swans. Redshank and Curlew.

Common Seals and Grey Seals were numerous too in the no-doubt frigid waters.

Among the Mute Swan was another unexpected species a super [duper] Whooper Swan. We only had very distant views but we counted ourselves lucky to see what is normally a winter visitor.

sub adult common Gull

Captain Russ [foreground] & l to r - Carol, Bob, Berry [back view] and the grinning ir gimmacing Sandra

a very very very distant Whooper Swan

Common Eider - male

Common Eider - female