We decided to drive up on Tuesday April 30th for a few days and the weather was looking good, really fed up of overcast dreich days this year.
We arrived mid afternoon so headed out for a walk along the shore once we'd unpacked a bit and our minds stopped racing, A9-itis!
It was a lovely warm evening with a bit of a breeze blowing and it turned out, a good evening for the Wheatears, I counted between 5 & 9, allowing for the same bird now and again.
Wheatear male on the shore
Most of these shots are taken with the Nikon P950, a super-zoom bridge camera I bought to get that longer reach than money allows with a standard lens. You wouldn't believe the price of top quality lenses!!!! The down side is that many shots can be a little softer but ok to most viewers. and it's a bit slower so I try to only use it when there's a fairly steady subject.
There were also quite a few Pied Wagtails around
We ended up walking to the Fort, across the front green, into the ranges and back out into the car park, before heading back via the path by the road, sports fields and green roadie to make a loop.
Wheatear male
Wheatear male
Wheatear male
Female Linnet on Gorse
Quite a few Linnet around, I usually see them in the ranges but out by the shore too.
Willow Warblers galore and a few Chiffchaffs, they're easier to identify by their call, sounds like their name. I'm always on the lookout or listen out???? for others, not heard a Sedge Warbler yet.
Chiffchaff
Chiffchaff closeup
The grassy areas usually abound with Starlings, Swallows, Meadow Pipits and many other birds.
Meadow Pipit on a. branch
You'll often see Rock Pipits down on the shore, they're a bit darker but you can see both there too. I didn't try to get shots of the few Swallows we saw, this camera is too slow, maybe tomorrow.
