Galana's sixth. Building on what was started.

[Galana]

Standby for the EBC of the year.

 

I hear it. Brake t a stop and Lady G leans back......

Go for it. Just to the left of the fence post.

 

Gottit yet? Just by the dark line of the ditch.......

 

With its head 'cut off' by the wire mesh.

 

Surely this will get past the judges on merit alone?

 

Just as I thought I would have to leave North Uist toorrow without one I get lucky..

267. Corncrake (surely you can see it) Balranald, North Uist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

To the uninitiated that looks like a bit of dirt stuck on the barb wire. Well done. 🙂

[Soukous]

6 minutes ago, michael-ibk said:

To the uninitiated that looks like a bit of dirt stuck on the barb wire. Well done. 🙂

 

just as well we trust him eh?

[Galana]

45 minutes ago, michael-ibk said:

To the uninitiated that looks like a bit of dirt stuck on the barb wire.

This is where special training and an inexpensive education comes into its own.

[Kitsafari]

15 hours ago, Galana said:

Standby for the EBC of the year.

267. Corncrake (surely you can see it) Balranald, North Uist.

 

 

errrrrr....... a great contender for the year's EBC award. I would have totally missed it but for your sharp eyes. 

[Galana]

Well I must say all your trust in me has not been misplaced.

I could not resist putting it to the test when I downloaded that initial grabb as the car stopped.

Fortunately the bird cooperated and despite me being all fingers and thumbs with the EBC button and focus I did get an acceptable shot of the back of his head.

 

and then an off focus attempt

Before he played fair and  stood and yelled 'here I am. Get on with it as its bloody raining.'

 

after which he shot into the thistles and the show was over.

But I got him even if it took six days.

We left Uist this morning in torrential rain and are now in Argyll with something different in mind.

Back soon.

[Galana]

4 hours ago, Galana said:

in Argyll with something different in mind.

From Martins to Martens.

I KNOW this is Big Year but it don't say nuffin about birds.

[Galana]

Lost in Argyll.

Today, despite an Ordnance Survey Map and trusty Garmin we managed to get very lost in all the twists and turns of this beautiful region but it was not time wasted. We will come back in hopefully better weather.

 

All I have to offer today are....

 

A bum shot of a Red Squirrel at breakfast time.

sJust shows that Red Squirrells and Pine Martens do exist together whilst the alien American Tree Rat cannot One up for the Reds as @Dave Williamswould say.

 

And a real 'lifer' for me today.

Is it a bird? Is it a boat? Is it a plane?

It's a Catalina Amphibian from WW2 vintage that came lumbering out of the low clouds as we waited out a passing shower.

A great thrill for me as I had never seen one other than in a Museum. Believed to be the last one flying.

Better than many birds.

 

 

 

 

 

[Galana]

More mammals and a bird...

 

 

Although one may be a mouse...

On the  bird table we have a field/garden Vole.

 

And on a short drive 

a nice roe crossed the road and showed off her shy twins.

Through the car windscreen but nice enough.

 

And later in the afternoon we got a nice Red Sqirrell sampling the new nut supply...

 

 

And, at last, we get another tick for Big Year.

268. Greater Spotted Woodpecker. Dunchraigaigh House, Kilmartin, Argyll.

#That should be it for now. We drive home tomorrow.102 species and we dipped on European Beavers so will have an excuse to return.

 

 

[Galana]

And just on dark we had more visitors...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

102 species is a good haul! mammals and rats make a lovely break

[Galana]

8 hours ago, Kitsafari said:

mammals and rats make a lovely break

Thanks. I feel that if the birds slow down then there are always other things to look at. This is the exact reverse of my later move to bird watching.

I used to travel with a tourist 'nature watching firm' to get cheap rates to visit wildlife countries where the accent was on birds but I happily watched the mammals whilst the birders argued details on species.

Then came a damascenian conversion when I realised I knew more about the birds than the "experts" and a new bird love was rekindled.

 

Pssst. That ain't a rat. Just a humble mouse. Probably House mouse but I am not sure. The other small mammal with the rounded nose and shorter tail shown earlier is a Field Vole.

[Kitsafari]

8 hours ago, Kitsafari said:

102 species is a good haul! mammals and voles make a lovely break

 

[PeterHG]

I really enjoyed your Scotland stories and photos of birds and beasts!

[michael-ibk]

So did I, looks like a great getaway for you! 

[Galana]

Thanks for coming with us.

Back home safe but 'duty calls' next week for  a couple of days so birding will take a back seat for a while but.....Not done yet in 2022. Africanitus is pulling hard and next February in Tanzania is too long to wait.

Meanwhile I will continue with the Trip Report and get that out of the way.

 @KitsafariI like mice too.

[Galana]

On 6/29/2022 at 1:05 PM, Galana said:

Back home safe but 'duty calls' next week for  a couple of days so birding will take a back seat for a while but....

Well I did make sure I paid a last visit up to 'my' Peregrines if only to check the site was empty as the Eyas I had seen could well hve perished in teh bad weather or have fledged and gone anyway.

But one HAS to know one way or t'other.

And happily the odds are on a good result from what I found..

 

The nest site is well whitewashed so seems to have been used until recently.

A nice thought.

 

And would you know as I stood a falcon came in and posed for me.

Definitely a juvenile and as they stick around the nest site for some time after fledging my bet is this is the tiny chap I last saw at a few days old 45 days ago.

A result.

[Galana]

No sooner back home than we have headed back to Scotland on Family business and on the way from the Ferry we passed within 7 miles of RSPB.

So, taking instruction, advice and example from dear @Zim GirlI felt it would be rude to pass andot call to say hello.

We could only stay for an hour as dinner was book up in Roxburghe so straight to Eric Morcambe's lagoon and Hide.

And bingo. A new tick.

269. Spotted Redshank, Leighton Moss, And in summer plumage too.

 

Back to the main ponds and found it very quite but a famiiy of European Marsh Harriers obliged with some frolics. 5 nests here this year.

I am told the two fledgelings often do mock battles as they hone their flying skills.

 

Finally

a nice pass.

270. Marsh Harrier. Leighton Moss.

 

 

 

 

[Dave Williams]

Heading steadily towards the 300 Fred! Your Corncrake, even the one with the wire severed head is tons better than anything I have ever taken! Haven't quite decided what next but the draw of Scotland beats any European trips I have been on this year.

[Zim Girl]

Well done fining the Spotted Redshank @Galana  I saw that it had turned up, will have to see if I can get back up there soon before it disappears.

[Galana]

On 7/6/2022 at 7:44 AM, Dave Williams said:

Haven't quite decided what next but the draw of Scotland beats any European trips I have been on this year.

I agree. Not been to Europe since Covid but I do miss my favourite parts of it which @michael-ibkis covering nicely for me. Must try Portugal next year but 'when' to find the time? And Africa is calling me back.

 

20 hours ago, Zim Girl said:

Well done fining the Spotted Redshank @Galana 

Confession is good for the soul they say. I don't have much soul but still have a confession. As you know we called in on the way to the Borders. Parked at Eric's Hide seeking Avocets. Only one other person in hide. Exchange greetings and he said "Spotted Redshank among those over there."  I thanked him , got it, shot it and left. Went to Lilian's, having noted the feeders were not being used to control disease so no Nuthatch or Bullfinch, Sat down, opened window, Harriers did a fly by, place infested with BH Gulls and Coot. Dodged the school visit - 150 miles to drive for Gin O'clock, Lady G thirsty and anxious, left. Gotta get the priorities right.

 

Edited July 7, 2022 by Galana
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[Peter Connan]

Always love your thread @Galana!

[Galana]

This report is well overdue for an addition or two.

Put the silence due to other pressures on my time coupled with the usual seasonal lull of high summer when males are no longer territorial but busy feeding growing families.

 

271. Glaucous Gull. Can be seen on IOM and Hebrides but these two were not.

 

272. Arctic Skua. Much the same location as I usually see these as EBCs but made an effort this year.

 

273. Atlantic Puffin. Having omitted my trip to Lunga this year and being very scarce on IOM I worked harder for this chap and some of his chums.

[PeterHG]

Your Skua photos are really beautiful!

[Galana]

39 minutes ago, PeterHG said:

Your Skua photos are really beautiful!

Thank you. As usual there is a story to be told with them. Sitting at dinner in restaurant and I noticed them fly down and perch. I hoped the dinner would finish before they moved on but dinner dragged. Eventually I made my excuses and grabbed camera and went out on a 'stalk' . If smokers can get up and go outside for their cravings then so can I!  The birds co-operated. Took several snaps and returned to an agitated Maitre D who thought I had left without paying. Dessert was served and washed down with a nice brandy. Job done. The birds, having waited patiently for their portraits, left before the waiter brought de rekening. Opportunity knocks loudly but briefly. 

Edited August 17, 2022 by Galana
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