Sunny Scotland! (part 1)

Finally managed to find some time to get to Scotland.

Obviously should have been going in May really, but had to make do with July, making a few species  a lot harder to get.

First stop was a layby at Loch Lomond where there was a Carrion Crow with a motley selection of Hoodie hybrids.

This one is a lot more Hoodie like than the other, but some dark feathering and a dark nape in particular give it away. 

Chucked out some bread to keep them interested but only managed to attract the local Common Gulls.

Here's one in naturalistic surroundings. You would never know it was at a roadside lay-by.

Somewhere further north

 Glen Coe 

Poplar Hawkmoth roosting on steps at Fort William

Next stop Isle of Skye

Portree, with Raasay in the background. A good place for seeing White-tailed Eagles. There are organised boat trips which go out into the Sound and throw out fish to the Eagles. Not really my sort of thing and it looked like rain. Did have a scan but nothing doing, so headed north to do a bit of exploring.

Inver Tote

Some locals

 

The gamble not to go on the boat trip and to drive around aimlessly in the hope of seeing something, paid off when I found these two feeding on a carcass about 500m from the road. It was quite lucky really as they were out of sight as we drove by, but one flapped its wings briefly and broke the skyline.

This third bird was a bit further away. 

Next stop Uig. Had a look in the bay for some Black Guillemots. Was tempted to take the ferry to Uist but didnt really have the time.

As with most trips and outings I do, I am always underprepared (usually a time thing) and this trip was no exception. After getting White-tailed Eagle by chance, I wasnt so lucky with Black Guillemot, so we headed back to Portree in the hope of finding a local birding guide to Skye.

Luck was in and we found one. Had to memorise the site though, as I didnt want to buy the book just for one bird.

The site was the island of Wiay. Now to me that sounds like geordie speak, but we gave it a go. 

and we were in luck, there were two birds close enough in the bay to be digiscoped.

Whilst driving around we saw some truly spectacular scenery, (in the context of the UK) which
probably isnt saying that much. But it is spectacular, a bit of a shame it was overcast though.

This is where the spectacular photo should come in. Here are a couple of 'nice' ones.

Portland and Weymouth

Arrived at the Obelisk just in time to see the back end of a real close in Balearic Shearwater. Unfortunately this event wasnt repeated during the next 90 minutes. Did get good enough shots however to get it onto the photographic yearlist

Common Scoters. 233rd species photographed this year

Next stop Lodmoor to have a look at the White-winged Black Tern. Looking from the car park I could see it was feeding in the middle of the reserve so took my time to get there, hoping it would eventually get nearer.

Common Terns were suffering with the extreme water levels at Lodmoor. With the islands underwater the chicks that were big enough were able to make their way to the nearby banks

Pooh flight shot

Sorry for terrible shot here. They all count for the year

30 minutes later and still had only made it to the little bridge on the footpath, spending most of the time chatting to Stan as the WWBT fed at distance. Phyl England also arrived so spent a further 15 minutes nattering. I never did make it any further up that path for the following reason. As we were all idly chatting, somebody decided to throw some bread to the ducks. Suddenly there was pandamonium as not only the ducks but also the gulls and some of the Terns all rushed over. However what happened next was truly incredible, the WWBT came charging over and dived into the water for some bread right in front of us. Not only that, but it also started having a go at the gulls. Must have been hungry! It continued to circle around and dive in at very close range completely ignoring everybody stood on the path. It was actually too close to photograph most of the time and when it was in range it jinked and twisted making it very difficult to get onto.

Here with a mouthful of bread

Wareham floods

The Causeway from the Wareham end

 

From the Stoborough end

R. Frome at East Holme

Red-backed Shrike Holton Heath

Almost unbelievably, a Poole Harbour tick for Mark and myself. Found by Paul Morton whilst doing a recce for a guided walk for some of the Lushfest bods

Gull-billed Tern Lodmoor