Scotland (Part One)

Isle of Mull (Where Eagles Fly)

This trip was a family holiday with myself and two of my sisters as there was a lot of birds and wildlife this report is what I saw

I purchased a copy of The Isle of Mull Bird Report and Species List for 2008 I found this very useful as in the front there is a list of sites with information on what you might see at each site I used this with what knowledge I all ready have of Mull

Note  while reading this report you might think it a bit odd reporting some of the birds but remember on Mull some of these birds are less than 10 pairs so seeing them was quite a achievement others it was a case of being in the right place at the right time and some are common but not that easy to see

Day One 20^th June

We left home at 06-40 and took the bus to Heathrow where we then flew to Glasgow the flight was on time after we landed at Glasgow and picked up our hire car it was now 12-00, We then drove to oban got a bit lost coming out of Glasgow Airport but a look at the map and we where back on route, we then got caught behind a car towing a caravan we stopped for a coffee break so we could lose the caravan getting lost and this cost us about ¾ of a hour so we did not reach Oban till 15-30 where we then did a bit of shopping for the next week then we had a look in Oban Harbour where I found a Black Guillemot and Herring Gull now it was of to catch the ferry to Mull while on board we had a meal then went out on deck where we had Kittiwake, Gannet, Lesser & Great Black Backed Gulls, on arriving at Craignure on Mull we then drove the short distance to our cottage that we had booked for the weeks stay, (Kilbeg Cottage near Salen along Glen Forsa)  we where escorted to the cottage and had a short chat with the owner she introduced us to our neighbors          a small herd of Highland Cattle  After unpacking and a drink I decided to go for a walk one of my sisters came with me on leaving the cottage I was scanning the ridge and said our first White Tailed Eagle she got on to it so we went back and got my other sister so she could have a look we then continued to walk down into the glen as we came to the end of a plantation I scanned the ridge again and found 2 White Tailed Eagles I then heard a bird of prey calling on locating the bird it turned out to be a Peregrine Falcon while we where watching this a Male Hen Harrier flew by, I heard a Ring Ouzel singing and got brief views of it then it disappeared behind the plantation and I could not relocate it less than 2 hours on the Island, we then returned to the cottage where I looked out of my bedroom window and found a Barn Owl. We also have Swallows nesting on the end of the cottage

Today’s weather was fine and clear with light showers to the ferry then when on mull bright and sunny turning cold

Day Two 21^th June

This morning we decided to have a drive around the north of the island and we where glad we did as driving on single track roads is tiring and slow so gave us a chance to judge how long it would take to get to some of the places as we are booked on a wildlife trip later in the week that leaves from Devaig on the north of the island. We had a look at a spot the owner of the cottage told us about for Otter but no luck. As we took the B road to Ulva we had 2 Common Buzzards, Raven, Blackbird, Swallow, Meadow Pipit, we arrived at the car park where you catch the ferry to Ulva birds seen included more Meadow Pipits, Skylark, Oystercatcher, and our first White Tailed Eagle of the day, we now decided to drive to Tobermory on route we stopped a few times and we had Eider, Red Breasted Merganser on the sea. we also had Raven, Hooded Crow, Herring Gull, Starling, We then spent some time in Tobermory      after which we drove to Dervaig on the way back we stopped at the northern end of Loch Frisa where we had a White Tailed Eagle sitting on top of the ridge other birds where Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Swallow and we looked up above us to find a Golden Eagle that gave good views, We now returned to Salen and the spot for Otter but still no luck then it was back to the cottage where we had a look at some Orchids near the cottage witch we identified as Heath Spotted Orchid and Early Marsh Orchid,  It then started to rain so we had a we dram of Malt and our evening Meal

Weather for today Fine and clear rain early evening

 

Day Three 22^nd  June

Woke up to rain today, We had planned to take a bout trip to Staffa but after a quick call to the tour company we where advised that the trip would probably not take place so had to reschedule our plans for today, we decided to have a look at The Ross of Mull area, on route we stopped at Garmony Point near Craignure birds seen included Eider,  Shag, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Red Breasted Merganser, Goosander, Willow Warbler, We then stopped a bit further down the road and added on Greylag Goose, & Canada Goose, our next stop was Lochdon looking for White Tailed Eagle but with no luck but we did have a Swift , we then drove to Fionnphort stopping at Pennyghael for a coffee stop where I had Twit, Hooded Crow, Pied Wagtail, plus a family of Eider. Other birds seen on Ross of Mull, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Pure Rock Dove, Mistle Thrush, Sand Martin, Whinchat. I Was thinking of going over to Iona for the Corncrake  but when we got to Fionnphort the mist was so thick there did not seem much point so we just had a look at a couple of the roads leading from Fionnphort after witch We then drove back to a spot that we new of for White Tailed Eagle where we had the female sitting near the nest and could just see the head of a young bird in the nest we where told that the male was sitting in a tree about a quarter of a mile away witch I located we then drove the scenic route back to Salen witch was covered in mist so no chance of seeing Golden Eagle we then had a look at the spot for Otter but still no luck we then returned to our cottage for our evening meal then at 19-30 we went for a short walk by the river birds seen Willow Warbler, Grey Wagtail, Swallow. Then It was back to the cottage so ending another day on Mull

Today’s Weather mostly rain with a few dry periods 

Update

Will be putting up my report from Mull soon this will be in three parts as it is quite a long report and I do not want to bore you to much I am still getting some of the pictures together I am still having a problem uploading video footage so will be posting some pictures of the trip as a separate report so keep watching this space

The North Run

Day One Saturday 13th June

We started of by leaving London at 10-15 our first stop was for brunch after witch we then decided as we were doing well on time we would have a look at Welbeck Raptor Watchpoint to see if we could find Honey Buzzard but with no luck but we did have a very light common Buzzard, On the lake we had Great Crested Grebe, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen, Tufted Duck. We then headed for the Pennines with a stop at Wetherby Services for coffee and a cake then on to Moor House-Upper Teesdale  National Nature Reserve for Black Grouse where we  arrived at 17-00 we found 5 black cocks, after this we booked into our hotel. Then we took the road to Cow Green Reservoir across Widdybank Fell                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

where we had a lone Red grouse on the way to the Car Park other birds seen included Oystercatcher, Common Snipe  (drumming), Redshank, Golden plover, Lapwing, Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, Skylark, Mallard, Swallow , House Martin, Blackbird, It was nice to see all these birds on there breeding grounds, We then took a short walk from the car park where had more Meadow pipits and a Wheatear, Then as we left the car park we had a family of Red Grouse 2 adults plus 5 young On the way back down we had Pied Wagtail, Song Thrush and more swallows and House martin, Willow Warbler, and a hare, we did have a glimpse of what might have been a Ring Ouzel but could not relocate it, we then returned to have another look at the black grouse where we now had 9 Black Cocks. Then it was on to our hotel                                                                                                                                                        for our evening meal and what a meal it was washed down with a few pints, after witch my mate went for a short walk while I was sorting out some of our route for tomorrow, I then joined him and he said he had found a Common Sandpiper on the river we relocated it sitting on a rock in the middle of the river, so ending a good days birding

 

Day Two Sunday 14^th June

We were woken up at 10 to 5 this morning by a Cuckoo calling witch we found sitting on top of a tree, my mate went for a pre breakfast walk, while I finished sorting out the route for today, He had Spotted Flycatcher, Grey Wagtail, and the Cuckoo being mobbed by Meadow Pipits, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Chaffinch, Pheasant, Song Thrush. I then went for a pre breakfast walk and saw all the above plus I had a Male Merlin being mobbed by Lapwings. After Breakfast we then set of for Coquet Island on the Northumberland coast      

                     

our target bird being Roseate Tern, on route we had 2 Common Buzzards, Raven, Rook, Magpie...On reaching the coast we found the tide was out so we could not take the boat out to the Island, (you can only get to go round the Island you are not allowed to go on the Island) we then went to a watch point to view the Island where we had Roseate Tern, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Sandwich Tern, Guillemot, Razorbill, Puffin, Shag, Cormorant, Eider. Black Headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Herring Gull, and Grey Seals. We now decided to start heading South and our next stop was going to be a new site for both of us in North Yorkshire, Wykeham Forest Raptor Watchpoint for Honey Buzzard we arrived at about 15-30 after a slow drive we got caught up in slow moving traffic (witch at one point the police where trying to control we think they mad matters worse). We walked out to the viewing point and got talking to some one who said they had seen Honey Buzzard about 2 hours earlier plus Goshawk, we spent the next hour and a half with only 2 Common Buzzards, then when most people had gone at about 17-10 we had a Honey Buzzard come up over the trees we watched it for about  10 minutes  other birds seen or heard in the forest where Chaffinch, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Crossbill, Garden Warbler, Yellow Hammer, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw. We now set of looking for a B&B for the night witch we found a few miles down the road, my mate went for a short stroll to stretch his legs after all the days driving and he had Lesser Whitethroat, Red Legged partridge, and a selection of common birds. We then found a pub for our evening meal, after witch we had a walk along the lane near the B&B where we had Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Greenfinch, Yellow Hammer, Red Legged Partridge, Wren, Robin, Dunnock, and a good find Tree Sparrow, we also had Stock dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long Tailed Tit and Linnet. We then decided to drive through the lanes to see if we could find the Barn Owl we had been told about but with no luck, we ended up back near the Raptor Watchpoint to see if we could find Nightjar but again no luck now as the midges where getting to us it was back to the B&B so ending another good days birding.

Day 3 Monday 15^th June

Today we awoke to rain so it was a quick re think on what to do as we had planned to go back to Wykham Forest for the morning, Instead we started to head south by the time we had got to York the weather had changed and it was now sunny and dry, So we decided to go to site we new for Montague’s Harrier after a short while we had the male quartering one of the fields we went to another spot to see if we could find any more Montague’s Harriers but no luck, but we did find a Turtle Dove sitting on the wires. But there was a storm brewing on our way to The raptor Watchpoint at Swanton Novers in Norfolk, we had a stout cross the road in front of us, we arrived at about 15-00 Hrs planning to stay for a couple of hours no sign of any raptors,  birds seen Skylark, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Yellowhammer, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, but at 16-30 the rain started again so we stated to head for home looking for some where to eat the first little Chef was not serving food because of the rain (boy did it rain) we finely  found one that had just re opened after it was closed because of the rain then as we where leaving we heard that the rain in Norfolk was causing problems as some of the roads where closed because of flooding from then till we got back to London it was fine with a couple of light showers

So ended a very enjoyably but (mad) 3 days Birding

Was Hoping to put a short video up but I am having problems with uploading at the moment seem to have lost all my videos on my blog

Update

Not done much Birding over the past month other commitments have had a look at a few Orchids there will be a report of a trip I did with my mate to the North of England just need to sort it out then I will post, Of to Mull this Saturday for a week will post a report when I get back

Saturday 16th May

Today a trip in to the New Forest we new the weather was going to be bad for any decent bird watching our first stop was Aces Down to see if we could see the Honey Buzzard did have a buzzard come up but the wind was so strong even I was having trouble standing up could not identify what it was so a buzzard sp. Our next stop was to see if we could locate the Iberian Chiffchaff at Brokenhurst after a short walk we found said bird, Then we did a sea watch at Milford on Sea birds of note where Great Skua, Manx Shearwater. The rest of the day was just having a look around Lynington on the way back we had a Black Tern on the wind Surfing pit at Chichester by the A27. Other wise a very wet and windy day

Saturday 9th May

Breckland / Nene Washes

As I was back in London for the weekend my mate phone Friday night how about a trip to the Brecks. So we set of from his house about 20 past 8 our first stop was the comfort café for breakfast. Then it was of to Weeting Heath the Norfolk Naturalist Trust has a reserve there for Stone Curlew we duly arrived and asked the best hide to view from we where  told the west hide was best as we got there 1 was being watch and we had good views but a bit distance  as there is not a lot more to see we the set of for the RSPB reserve at Lakenheath. This is a area that we have been birding for the past 30 years and in creating this reserve from scratch we think they have done a very good job, Our target bird was Golden Oriole, On arriving we asked where the best place was for seeing the Oriole and the very friendly chap told us, So we set of along the path round the back of the reserve on route we had lots of Whitethroats, and head a cuckoo calling then as we came around the corner we could see a group of birders looking into the plantation so that is what we headed for as this was the place to see Orioles as we walked along we had Hairy Dragonfly, Blue Tailed Damselfly, Orange Tipped Butterfly, we also had 6 Hobbies feeding on the dragonflies  On arriving at the spot that every one was we heard a Bittern booming we then concentrated on see the Golden Orioles we had 2 Males flying around chasing each other and we also heard a Female calling, We the continued our walk to the end as we could still hear the Cuckoo calling and as my mate had not seen one this year we set out to find it after about a hour the bird finely flew out of the wood and sat on top of a bush well at least it stop me mate from moaning he had not seen one yet this year by now we had more Hobbies the count was up to 25, We then decided to return to the information centre as we past the spot for the Orioles we again had the 2 males and the female calling we then continued back along the track and again heard a Bittern Booming as we approached to chaps taking pictures a Bittern flew across the reed bed in front of us and yet more Hobbies we are now up to 30 then as we continued along the track we could hear the Cranes calling the other side of the railway I then spotted them fly low across the field where they landed in a ditch so we continued back to the info centre by now our Hobby count was up to 35+ birds there have been up to 47 seen over the past week, On arriving at the information centre we decide a well earned coffee was what was needed and we gave our information to volunteers on duty which they where glad of (this gives them a idea of what is about and how many Orioles there are)

Our next stop was the Nene Washes to see if we could find the Cattle egrets that had been present for the past week on arriving we had 1 along side a fence this was being harassed by 2 Little Egrets it then flew of and landed in a ditch where we found the other 2 so all 3 where seen, We then had a quick  look around  the back of the  reserve to see if we could hear Corn Crake (as there is a introduction program of the birds in this area) We then had a look at the pager to see if there was anything we could see on our way back to London we noted a Temminck's Stint in Bedfordshire so a quick look at the map and we said it is only just of the A1 so of we set to Willington Gravel Pits as we did not know this site it took us a while to find the pit we needed to look on but we did have a pleasant evening stroll around Birds see included 6 Little Ringed Plovers, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Linnet, Grey partridge, Mallard, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blackbird then just we had decided to leave my mate said I will just have a look from the point over there and called me over the on the edge of one of the little islands was the Temminck’ Stint

So all in all another good days  birding

4th May

Climping & Arundel

Walked from the car park at climping beach towards Mill House we had Redstart, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Grey Partridge, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, then we found a small bird resting in the bushes after a short while this turned out to be a Tree Pipit. Our next stop was Arundel Wetland Trust as we got out of the car a Cuckoo flew across in front of us, Birds on the reserve included Great Tit,  Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Goldfinch on the feeders 4 Cetti’s Warblers singing Common Tern, Black Headed Gull, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Oystercatcher (there is a pair breeding there) Redshank

Sunday 3rd May

Pullbourgh Brooks
Took a trip to Pullbourgh Brooks today to try and see if we could see Nightingale, We heard 6 singing and managed to see 2 of them,
It was a good day for warblers we had Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff,
Other birds seen Mute Swan, Mallard, Teal, Swift, Sand Martin, Swallow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Dunnock, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Magpie, Rook, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Sedge Warbler,

25th & 26th April

Bit late updating due to working hours over the past week here is a update for last weekend

Saturday 25^th April

Decided  to go and see if we could see Dartford Warbler this morning so we set of driving north of Chichester on the A286 at West Dean we had 2 Common Buzzards and a Red Kite, Then it was on to a site for the Warbler we arrived and after a short walk we found 3 Dartford Warblers singing and 1 showed well, after having a lunch break we then decided to go to Selsey Bill to do a sea watch after settling down I was rewarded with Gannet, 1 Artic Skua, 2 Pomarine  Skuas, Common Tern, Sandwich Tern, Swift, Common Scoter, Cormorant, Herring Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Swallow

Sunday 26^th April

Did a late afternoon walk around part of Pagham Harbour Nature Reserve we started at the car park at Church Norton walked down to the harbour where we had Grey Plover, 5 Little Egrets, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Little Tern, and sitting on the rocks in the harbour was a Common Seal, We the walked along the shore line towards the severals where we had Wheatear, Whinchat, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, and a Cetti’s Warbler singing, we the took the path between the severals where we had Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Linnet, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Great & Blue Tit, and then found a nice Lesser Whitethroat, Then it was back to the car with the usual carrion crow, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Pheasant.

On the drive back as we where going through Sripney village we had 2 Turtle Doves sitting on some wires

22nd April

Took the short walk to Tesco at lunch time to get my lunch in the small copse by the car park I found a Male Pied Flycatcher,

Then on the way way back to Chichester I went via the north wall at Pagham harbour nature reserve to see the Pectoral Sandpiper which I found and some one let me have a look through there scope as I only had my bins with me hoping not to miss to much at Pagham this Spring, Did miss the Dotterel at Climping last weekend as I was back in London still you can not see everything