Anne's Journal

 Tuesday April 30 Weather  is  always problematic when planning a day in the Cairngorms. We struck it lucky, we had dry weather with good visibility all day. Our birding day started at Lochindorb with Common Sandpiper, Lapwing and Red Grouse.   No sign of any divers. On to Nethy Bridge where a very swollen river left no mud banks or islets for roosting birds. A small area of grit held a Dipper which I could see from the car. Brilliant. The sandy banks are ideal for Sand Martins to nest, thirty birds were swirling about, having a look at the bank and then off again. I'd been given a site for Crested Tit , Google maps couldn't find it, the local shop didn't know either. A passing local gave Pam directions which led us to Dell Woods. The area, although very pleasant, bore no resemblance at all to my original instructions. Siskin, Coal Tit and Chaffinch seen, we drove on to Dornock. This used to be a reliable Black Grouse area for us but new fences, horses and other cha...

Monday April 29 Destination Portsoy. Well, via Tesco again, my new mouse arrived and it needed AAA batteries - I'd only brought AA as that is all I knew we needed. There were big warnings of road closures at Fochabers but it didn't affect us as that is where we take the coast road to our first stop, Spey Bay.  The Scottish Dolphin Centre here attracts many visitors, we go for a different reason. It's possible to park so that I can scope the fairly distant waters of the Spey river estuary with its many shingle and vegetation islands. We were not disappointed. I counted at least 18 Goosanders either loafing on the shingle or making sorties onto the water. It was silly to try a photograph, when did that ever stop me.   Portsoy has a very attractive harbour area - harbours really. The "old harbour" dates to the 17th century and is the oldest on the Moray Firth. The "new harbour" was built in 1825 for the growing herring fishery , which at its peak reached 5...

  Sunday April 28 I had a good night in a very comfortable bed, as did Pam. Neither of us woke until 9 a.m., almost unheard of. Although dry until early afternoon, the weather was not conducive to rushing out. However, seeing a pair of Bullfinches at the end of our lane was a lovely start. When we eventually did leave, it was to drive west to Loch Flemington, one of our good for padders lochs. We have also seen Otters here. Tufted Ducks, Little Grebe, Meadow Pipit, Reed  Buntings, Yellowhammer and a Magpie for the list.  On to Alturlie, on the Firth within sight of Inverness's Kessock bridge. There are always Hooded Crows here but look of dubious parentage. Some Carrion Crow present in most.   A poor return for our efforts today. Oystercatchers, a Redshank and a flock of Linnets were the only birds seen. Nairn Harbour produced our first Sandwich Terns of the year, fishing out to sea. Pam then did the major week's shop in Sainsbury's before driving to the east beach ...

Saturday April 27  Another 9 a.m. departure.  Our first stop was Loch of the Lowes, a Scottish Wildlife Reserve, based around a pair of nesting Ospreys. The present incumbents have laid three eggs, the female's head was visible above the edge of the mass of twigs which makes up the nest.   The nest is high up in a tree on the opposite side of the loch to where the hides are situated. We use one of the ground floor hides - no ladders  - room for only about eight people. A female Goldeneye kept us amused, constantly diving for food in front of the hide, if never really close.    After an hour of watching her, a female Long-tailed Duck flew in to join the Tufted Ducks and Great Crested Grebes at the far end of the loch. Even more exciting, the male Osprey flew in around the back of the trees before landing on the edge of the nest. He didn't bring a fish, and stayed with his back to us the whole time he was there.   The sun appeared once, for a very short ...

Friday April 26 We both slept reasonably well after yesterday's long drive, and were away from Berwick on Tweed Travelodge soon after 9 a.m.  After shopping for food in Gregg's and M and S, our first stop was just over the border in Scotland, St Abbs. One of our favourite places, the steep road winds downwards to a small, rocky, fishing harbour, its northern shore a cliff where auks gather to breed. Usually, the ledges are crowded with ranks of black and white birds sitting on eggs. There was only one crowded shelf today, set back under an overhang, other small groups dotted the guano decorated rock.    A few more birds bobbed on the sea below, thrown about by the turning tide. All the Auks I saw were Guillemots . Apart from a goodly number of Herring Gulls, the only other species was a few passing Gannets . Is this another example of the devastation caused by Avian Flu?  Skatteraw is another favourite. It appears in  books as a migration hotspot - there is a sm...

 Thursday April 25  Having packed the car last night - except for a few last minute additions - we had a leisurely start, not leaving until just after 9 a.m. The journey was straightforward with very few traffic holdups. The sun shone for most of it too with a few spits of rain and even a short hail shower at lunch time.  We had a rare McDonalds for supper. I can't remember the last time - and there'll probably never be another. It filled a space, Pam hated it.  I'm looking forward to some birding tomorrow, around the Edinburgh coast, weather allowing.  

  Thursday April 25 Depart home. Stay 1 night at Travelodge, Berwick upon Tweed Friday April 26 Drive to Kinross Travelodge, birding en route. Saturday April 27 - Friday May 3 Self catering, Deer View Cottage, Elgin Friday May 4 Drive to Broadford, Isle of Skye. 1 night at Bonnie Lodge BandB. Saturday May 5 - Saturday May 25 Ferry from Uig Isle of Skye to Lochmaddy, North Uist for 3 weeks at Bonnieview SC apartment. Saturday May 25 Ferry from Lochmaddy to Uig. Drive to Carlisle Todhills, Travelodge Sunday May 26 Drive home

 Sunday April 21 The day started well enough. It was dry and sunny, Selbrigg delivered a good handful of woodland birds in very few minutes - Coal, Marsh, Blue and Great Tits, Chaffinch, Robin and Nuthatch.After a quick look at Sculthorpe Mill, we decided to set off for the coast via Abbey Farm at Flitcham. We're still looking for a Little Owl. No luck again today.  Shortly before Ringstead Village, the car tinged at us and the dreaded tyre plus question mark came up on the screen. A puncture. In the rear passenger side tyre. I can never remember whether onside applies to the traffic side or the pavement! It was now 11a.m, the AA promised a man would be with us by 12.10. I read a birding magazine, Pam her flower book. Two groups of large motorcycles and their riders, led by a policeman, passed in both directions, several times. Bang on 12.10, the very welcome yellow van pulled up. What sort of spare did we have? We didn't know, it's hidden under the boot cover and we've...

 Friday April 19 Pam was tired after a morning in the garden, yet readily agreed to a short trip to Hickling. For the first time, we were asked to show our Blue Badge before being allowed to drive the track to Whiteslea Lodge - the only accessible route for those with minimal walking abilities. Bittern Hide is still out of use due to a flooded boardwalk. We parked opposite the short climb up the bank from which to view Brendon's Marsh. We could see why Bittern was flooded. The whole of the area in front of us was water with many grassy islands. I settled down to search using my scope - essential.So many hiding places for what can be an elusive duck. David B saw 4 male Garganey here yesterday. A strong north-westerly wind, cold and blustery did not make for comfortable viewing in an area without shelter of any kind. Despite this, we stayed for 45 minutes, constantly searching. There were Shoveller, Gadwall, Mallard, Teal and Tufterd Ducks, Coot, Moorhen, Black-headed Gulls, Ruff, Bl...

  Wednesday April 10 Not the most productive of days, yet very enjoyable being out and about in warm sunshine. We started at Salthouse and worked our way west along the coast. Salthouse gave me the only photographic opportunity of the day, a Linnet washing in a road puddle. Fortunately at the northern end, beyond the last parked car. He was very thorough - and thoroughly bedraggled when he'd finished. Beach Road Cley, gave Pam the views of a Norfolk April Wheatear before we go to Scotland, quickly followed by three more and Sue and Ian. At Morston, we saw our only Brent Geese of the day, a Swallow sat on a wire and a displaying turkey. We ended our journey west at Titchwell RSPB. We'd hoped to see the male Redstart reported earlier, viewable from the gate at the far end of the overflow car park. None of the small crowd of people standing there had seen it - and they'd been there some time. Last calls at Holgate car park, where there was nothing singing, let alone the Nighti...

 Tuesday April 9 Good to see so many favourites turning up in the moth traps at Natural Surroundings today - meets back to Tuesdays as its summer opening times. Lunar Marbled Brown, Great Prominent, a bright Green Carpet and several micros amongst them.  Despite the weather, we drove along Beach Road, Cley, afterwards, stopping to look at the Eye Field from several angles.  A fine male Marsh Harrier beat its way west, encouraged and hassled on its way by rising Rooks and Lapwings. Curlew, Oystercatchers, Skylarks and two Golden Plover, one in winter plumage, one in full summer plumage.     The rain was a fine mist, throwing a curtain over the views. Several Wheatears had been reported but we didn't see any. Over the last week or so, we have made three short birding trips from home. Barton Broad car park, yesterday was almost devoid of birds in the strong gusting wind. This is our favoured place to see Willow Warbler on passage. The inevitable Chiffchaff was...

 Tuesday April 2 Arriving at Snettisham an hour before high tide was an unplanned bonus. But........it was a 4.7 metre high tide, it doesn't get much lower than that. There was still a great expanse of mud between us and the water's edge. Plenty of birds still, despite the thousands of Knot, and other waders, having already left on their compulsive journey north to their breeding grounds. Oystercatchers, Black-tailed Godwits, Redshank and Brent Geese, made up most of the numbers. I counted at least 75 Avocets, a scattering of Dunlin, a few Grey Plover and a lone Great Ringed Plover which was scurrying about the nearer pools before running to the stony beach where it disappeared. Good camouflage plumage.   Stopping at the chalet end for more views, Pam noticed our first Pochard of the year on the nearby pit, actively diving . Throughout, birding had been punctuated by the monotonous 'song' of Chiffchaffs. One posed for a photo at last, unfortunately completely against th...