TonyQ: Big (??) Year 2021

[TonyQ]

74.UK.74. Sedge Warbler      Acrocephalus schoenobaenus          

 

Kinnordy. Scotland      31.05.2021

Kinnordy. Scotland      31.05.2021

Another bonus with visiting Scotland is this cute mammal (also at Kinnordy)

Red Squirrel

[TonyQ]

75.UK.75. Swift  Apus apus   

Balgavies Loch, Scotland       31.05.2021

Our Garden, Birmingham       29.05.2021

[TonyQ]

76.UK.76. Grey Wagtail  Motacilla cinerea   

Loch of the Lowes, Scotland  31.05.2021

[TonyQ]

77.UK.77. Redstart  Phoenicurus phoenicurus         

Loch of the Lowes, Scotland  31.05.2021

Loch of the Lowes is a Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve. There are some hides overlooking the Loch and some nice woodland. This one and the next two were taken from the car park!

[TonyQ]

78.UK.78. Spotted Flycatcher  Muscicapa striata     

Loch of the Lowes, Scotland  31.05.2021

Loch of the Lowes, Scotland  31.05.2021

[TonyQ]

79.UK.79. Sparrowhawk  Accipiter nisus      

Loch of the Lowes, Scotland  31.05.2021

[TonyQ]

The next on is a surprise, non-bird sighting!

 

Originally native to the UK they became extinct due to human activity. They have been reintroduced to the country, and two of them decided to move into the reserve in 2012. However, we were very lucky to see them in daylight. One of the volunteers at the reserve said she has been working there for three years and only once seen one during the day. We were delighted!

[TonyQ]

The final posting of this first batch will have a bit of an overload (but few apologies)

 

80.UK.80. Osprey  Pandion haliaetus           

All taken at Loch of the Lowes, Scotland  31.05.2021

 

Osprey leaves the nest

 

Hovers and looks into the Loch - any fish?

Begins to dive

 

Surfaces

 

begins to fly off - no fish!

shakes off some water while flying

 

I have seen Osprey hunting for (and catching) fish before, and they usually fly near the surface, lower their feet and pluck the fish from the water. I have not seen this strategy before! It made for exciting viewing.

[Kitsafari]

love the Osprey series!

[michael-ibk]

Awesome Osprey series indeed! 

[xelas]

Osprey in hunt mode ... awesome!

[PeterHG]

Very good new additions and I agree on the Osprey sequence: beautiful!!

[TonyQ]

@Kitsafari@PeterHG@xelas@michael-ibkthank you!

 

A couple of duplicates

Juvenile Robin

Siskin - very common here

 

[TonyQ]

81.UK.81. Eider  Somateria mollissima         

Montrose Basin, Scotland       01.06.2021

Montrose Basin, Scotland       01.06.2021

[TonyQ]

82.UK.82. Shelduck  Tadorna tadorna          

(m) Montrose Basin, Scotland       01.06.2021

(f) Kirkubright, Scotland 10.06.2021

[TonyQ]

83.UK.83. Kittiwake  Rissa tridactyla

Arbroath Cliffs, Scotland         01.06.2021

Arbroath Cliffs, Scotland         01.06.2021

[TonyQ]

84.UK.84. Fulmar  Fulmarus glacialis           

Arbroath Cliffs, Scotland         01.06.2021

 

[TonyQ]

85.UK.85. Yellowhammer  Emberiza citrinella          

Arbroath Cliffs, Scotland         01.06.2021

[TonyQ]

86.UK.86. Rock Pipit  Anthus petrosus         

Pipits are tricky!...but I think both of these are Rock Pipits

Arbroath Cliffs, Scotland         01.06.2021

Arbroath Cliffs, Scotland         01.06.2021

[Dave Williams]

Having arrived home just a couple of hours ago after a month in Scotland I'm already envious of some of your sightings!! I did spot a Galana though which I know you didn't. He was looking extremely happy with is photo haul to date, Pine Marten overload in fact!

[TonyQ]

@Dave Williamswell done for spotting a @Galanain Scotland. I hope you had a good trip. I look forward to seeing your photos.

[lmSA84]

Great shots as always! Good to see that Scotland was so forthcoming 

[TonyQ]

@lmSA84thank you - yes we really enjoyed Scotland!

A few more from the East of the country

 

87.UK.87. Skylark  Alauda arvensis  

St Andrews, Scotland    02.06.2021

[TonyQ]

88.UK.88. Linnet  Carduelis cannabina         

St Andrews, Scotland    02.06.2021

[TonyQ]

89.UK.89. Meadow Pipit  Anthus pratensis   

Kingsbarns, near St Andrews, Scotland         02.06.2021