TonyQ: Big (??) Year 2021

[TonyQ]

90.UK.90. Rook  Corvus frugilegus   

Kingsbarns, near St Andrews, Scotland         02.06.2021

Kingsbarns, near St Andrews, Scotland         02.06.2021

[TonyQ]

91.UK.91. Twite  Carduelis flavirostris          

Kingsbarns, near St Andrews, Scotland         02.06.2021

Our only sighting!

 

So that is all for the Eastern part of the country.

When I post again we will be heading to the Highlands

[Dave Williams]

You mean you didn't take a trip to the Isle of May?!!!! You were so close!

[Peter Connan]

Beautiful stuff Tony!

[xelas]

Beautiful birds in typical Scottish weather !

[TonyQ]

@xelasit only rained on one day, and that was a travel day!

@Peter Connanthank you

@Dave Williamsunfortunately we couldn't go everywhere

So we travelled from the East coast to the Highlands. We stopped for a break in the drive, just outside Pitlochrie

 

92.UK.92. Wood Warbler  Phylloscopus sibilatrix     

Killiecrankie     03.06.2021 

Wood Warblers have a distinctive song, be we are hopeless at remembering bird songs! So we listened to an app in the car to fix the sound in our head. THen we got out of the car and heard the bird singing from the car park. After a short while we were able to track it down and were able to enjoy it singing away.    

[TonyQ]

We were based in Nethy Bridge in the Highlands for 6 nights in a nice little cottage. It was well located for excursions out.

 

93.UK.93. Great Black-backed Gull  Larus marinus 

Moray Coast, Scotland           04.06.2021

[TonyQ]

94.UK.94. Hooded Crow  Corvus cornix       

Moray Coast, Scotland           04.06.2021

We were pleased to see this as we only get the Carrion Crow in our area.

[TonyQ]

95.UK.95. Ring-necked Duck  Aythya collaris          

near Moray Coast, Scotland   04.06.2021

A real megacrop for an ebc -but You can just see the white ring on the beak, and the patch on the side of the bird is mainly grey rather than the white of a Tufted Duck.

We also knew that one had been seen here which meant we scanned all of the ducks carefully!

[TonyQ]

96.UK.96. Common Gull  Larus canus          

Dava Moor, Scotland  04.06.2021

Dava Moor, Scotland  07.06.2021

There is a small track that goes across Dava Moor, passsing Lochindorb. Just at the start of this track, fairly large numbers of Common Gulls are found - they may nest on the moor, I am not sure. But they are easy to see from the car.

[TonyQ]

97.UK.97. Common Sandpiper  Actitis hypoleucos  

Lochindorb, Scotland  04.06.2021

Lochindorb, Scotland  07.06.2021

 

We had hoped to see Divers on the Loch, but no luck. However we really liked the Loch and the moor so we went twice (it was only about 20 minutes from Nethy Bridge)

 

We also had this lovely sighting at Lochindorb

Red Squirrel - they seemed paler here than those we had seen previously

Edited July 8, 2021 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

98.UK.98. Willow Warbler  Phylloscopus trochilus   

Dava Moor, Scotland  04.06.2021

We were driving along slowly, with the windows open and heard this bird singing really loudly. The bush was a short distance from the road and we were able to get out and get a good look (and listen)

 

(from a bit earlier in the trip) Kinnordy. Scotland      31.05.2021

[TonyQ]

99.UK.99. Red Grouse  Lagopus lagopus    

A new bird for us - so we were very pleased!

(F) Dava Moor, Scotland  04.06.2021

(M) Dava Moor, Scotland  04.06.2021

 Chick, Dava Moor, Scotland  04.06.2021

All of these were taken from the car. We saw the male fairly distantly and then it crossed the track, floowed by the female and the chicks. The then moved onto a raised bit of moor by the side of the track giving very clear views. There were four chicks but this one was the only one that came out of the cover enough for a clear view. We really enjoyed this sighting.

 

When we returned a few days later we also had good views of two adults.

 

[TonyQ]

For Number 100 I am moving out of date order. This was the bird that we most wanted to see on this trip

 

100.UK.100. Crested Tit         Lophophanes cristatus  

A new bird for us       

Between Loch Garten and Loch Morlich , Scotland   08.06.2021

  

Between Loch Garten and Loch Morlich , Scotland   08.06.2021

Not a spectacular bird but I have long wanted to see one. We looked in lots of locations where they are supposed to be found with no luck. This was our second visit to this location. Again we sat in the car and listend to the recording of the call/song to try to fix it in our head - and then set out and listened.

 

It is a very small bird (11.5cm, the size of a Blue Tit)and it jumps about a lot (I have a number of photos where the bird is not in the frame at all, or is right at the edge as it moves so quickly) . They live in Caledonian Pine forest, so it quite dark. However we were lucky as it came lower than we expected.

 

so photos not great, but we were really delighted

[Tdgraves]

Congrats on the century and with a lifer to boot (I haven’t seen one as yet….)

[Dave Williams]

Another centurion, nice one! I failed on the Black-throated Diver too if it's any compensation, don't think they are at Lochindorb this year unfortunately. You managed Crested Tit which I had hoped for and also failed on.

[Kitsafari]

Congrats on the 100th and achieving your wish! listening to recorded songs to search for one is a very neat tip. 

 

[Zim Girl]

Congratulations on the century, Tony.

Great Osprey sequence and very envious of the Eider duck sighting, a bird I have never seen yet.  We did get a very distant view through a scope on Mull, but it could have been anything so I am not counting that!

 

Well done with getting a picture of the Crested Tit.  We found them after a lot of looking but too quick for a picture.  The RSPB staff at Loch Garten said winter was a much easier time to see them.

[pedro maia]

Congrats on the century Tony, I’m enjoying your Scottish pictures.

[PeterHG]

Congratulations on #100 and with a lifer! Great Scotland collection with so many good species and photos.

[TonyQ]

@PeterHG@pedro maia@Kitsafari@Tdgravesthank you

@Dave Williamswe heard that the divers were not at Lochindorb afterwards - but we enjoyed visiting the area!

@Zim Girlthank you. The Eiders give you a reason to return!

A couple of duplicates

Near Loch Garten - there were quite a lot of birds in the woods when we were there (but the Cresties were hard to find!)

Nethy Bridge

And a different treat

 

A Bank Vole

[TonyQ]

ON the way to Loch Ruthven, we saw

Roe Deer

Edited July 11, 2021 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

101.UK.101. Stonechat  Saxicola torquata   

(F) Loch Ruthven, Scotland         06.06.2021

(M) Loch Ruthven, Scotland         06.06.2021

[TonyQ]

102.UK.102. Tree Pipit  Anthus trivialis         

Loch Ruthven, Scotland         06.06.2021

[TonyQ]

103.UK.103. Slavonian Grebe  Podiceps auritus     

We have seen these in Iceland, but this our first in the UK

Loch Ruthven, Scotland         06.06.2021   - often distant, but this one did eventually come closer!  

 

A Loch in the Highlands, Scotland     08.06.2021

A Loch in the Highlands, Scotland     08.06.2021

A Loch in the Highlands, Scotland     08.06.2021

I haven't named this Loch as they are quite rare breeding birds in the UK (I am happy to name it by PM)

This is quite a small Loch and the birds were very close. We were delighted to see the baby and watch it being fed. The Black and White stripes and pink patches are very similar to the Great Crested and the LIttle Grebe chicks.

Edited July 11, 2021 by TonyQ