May 6th
We drove up for the weekend on a lovely Friday, before the Coronation, best of luck to him but, not my thing to watch, rather be out walking :)
Still a busy period for all the birds, lots of young around so hoped for a few decent shots. Saturday morning up and out, after making breakfast of course and off to the fort, see what's to be seen.
Oystercatcher on the rocks
There are usually lots of Oyster Catchers around at this time of year, LOADS of them, that red eye is fabulous isn't it? :Loads of Common Gulls too, they've been nesting along the shore, they're not too fussy where, right next to the path in many cases but they're not hugely aggressive when they have young.
Common Gull by the mooring pool
They've got a lovely red eye ring. I finally spotted a few Turnstones down on the shore, if they don't move you'd never see them but equally, they can be very obliging to photograph, just standing posing :)
Spot the Turnstone
Turnstone on a rock
Beautiful wee birds. I watched a grey heron fly by too, there have been quite a few of them along the shore recently, look like Pterodactyls when they're flying.
Grey Heron fly by
Grey Heron skimming the water
They're not as obliging up here as some of those I photographed down in Wales, maybe more used to people around down there?
Walking this shore can be hard work when you have the sea, the sky, the shore and the land to watch, there are very often Dolphins and Seals just off shore, Chanonry Point, across the channel is famous for Dolphin spotters and photographers.
Curious seal having a wee nosey
Of course there are always gulls around but which ones, there are lots of different types so, I at least have a scan of them with the binoculars and if I'm not sure, I photograph them to have a look at later.
Black headed gulls of different ages
Black headed and Common Gull
Cormorants as well, always plenty of them around, good indicators of fish in the area when they congregate and hunt.
Passing Cormorant
Out onto the wee beach at the point and there can be birds and animals here, it's a lovely place to just sit and watch right across the channel.
Pied Wagtail on the beach
Pied wagtails get everywhere, always busy foraging and bobbing their tails. Another bird you might often see along the shore but hard to make out are Rock Pipits, usually flitting along ahead of you as you walk.
Rock Pipit on the ..... rocks!
Their colouring can make then difficult to see, especially on weed.
Rock Pipits foraging in seaweed
Rock Pipit on seaweed and sand flies.
I often sit here, up on the wee bank and just enjoy the peace and quiet, watching for ...... loads of things, but, on around the shoreline to the back beach and a pair of Red-Breasted merganser were wandering on the sand, don't often see them out of the water.
Red-Breasted Merganser male among Oystercatchers
Male and female on the beach among Oystercatchers
Another group of birds you might often see but rarely get close to are Knot, usually in the distance down by the water or flying past in flocks. I confuse these and Sandpipers which have a slightly longer bill with a little curve.
Three Knots ahead
Knot and Oystercatchers
Of course none of these birds like our company very much.
Oystercatchers offski
Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot and a Red Knot passing by
It may seem like I know a lot about these birds, I don't! I often scour online at pictures and descriptions trying to figure them out and now and again post photos to Bird Guides or Bird Forum, the lovely people on those sites quickly put me right :)
Still plodding along the back beach, scouring around, I spotted a Hooded Crow standing on one of the flagpoles, Corvids are fabulous birds, so clever.
Hooded Crow on a flagpole
Remember that red Oystercatcher eye?
Oystercatcher peeping between the rocks
Wading birds can be difficult to get close to. When I'm out, I'm usually out for a good walk as well as on the lookout for good photographs.
Bar-tailed Godwit on the shore
Godwits are lovely bird s that don't like us getting too close, they change colour with the seasons and there are Bar-tailed and Black-tailed, difficult to identify for me. Today I'd decided to keep walking, the tide is out so there's lots of shoreline to walk on and explore.
Young Herring Gull at its post
As you pass the back slipway, the shore changes, there are huge rocks pile up to protect the shoreline and Gorse and green land right behind that so, the birds you see also changes.
Pied / White Wagtail on huge rocks
I shared this Wagtail photo on the bird site, thinking it could be a white Wagtail, much debate later, probably just Pied :(
There is also some fab wood along this shore, there's an old root I'd love to drag home for the garden but, I'd need a tractor and then a trailer to get it home.
Dunnock on driftwood
Dunnock on driftwood
Dunnock or Hedge Sparrows are bonnie wee birds too, often seen foraging around in and under hedges and in the garden, they also ahed a lovely song. I'm not very good at ID'ing many bird songs.
Dunnock posing for the camera
Willow Warbler on Gorse
I'd reached the radar, there's a cut through the gorse back up onto the ranges, loads of small bird activity up here. (No red flags flying of course)
Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs look almost identical, I always have to look up the difference to see which is which and still may get it wrong but, if you hear them singing, it's easy. Willows have a lovely song running down through notes and Chiffchaff say chiff chaff chiff chaff....... ish ;)
Another wee bugger to photograph :) is the Wren, so fast and elusive but, now and again one will stand up and sing.
Wren on a branch
Wren in full song
Here we go...
Leggy Willow Warbler on Gorse
This area can be awash with lovely wee birds, not all easy to see or photograph but sunshine can make a huge difference.
Yellowhammer on Gorse
Grumpy Coal Tit on Gorse
Coal Tit leaving
Coal Tits are another tiny wee bird that can be noisy, fast and difficult to photograph. I was lucky enough to spot a Stonechat on the gorse today, a male standing high and looking around. They often do that, calling and singing.
Stonechat male on gorse
I was now up on the bank above one of the old unused ranges, the sun was out, it was roasting and, I think it was mating season for Willow Warblers! I was practically surrounded by them calling, posing and generally ignoring me completely, which was nice :)
The bird above was calling and wing flapping, ignoring me and obviously intent on attracting the attention of suitable males I'm guessing. A couple dropped by and "had a wee chat" ;) before disappearing again.
I didn't move for quite a while, these birds were popping up on the Gorse all around me, within feet of me.
On most occasions I could see that they were very aware of me but not bothered at all.
Willow Warblers and my face was baking by now, onwards and homewards.
Linnet on Gorse
There are usually loads of Linnet, Warblers, Chiffchaff, Meadow Pipits and Goldfinches around, as well as Robin, Dunnock and Chaffinches of course.
Oh look, a Willow Warbler!
I'm very bad at ignoring Chaffinches because there are so many around but, they are beautiful wee birds.
Chaffinch male on a branch
Dunnock singing on Gorse
Dunnock are beautiful singers too, often sound like a robin to me. I finally got out of the ranges and headed back into the village. Time flies by for me when I'm out and about like this, just under two hours this took, strolling along, looking, listening and enjoying nature.
It was later that evening that I spotted this Starling that obviously has a nest of bairns nearby :)
Starling with grub, literally
