Galana's sixth. Building on what was started.

[Dave Williams]

Very envious of the Merlin. I’m considering the swim!

[michael-ibk]

Argh, Merlin, my nemesis bird - very jealous!

[TonyQ]

Indeed, the Merlin is beautiful 

[Dave Williams]

16 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

Argh, Merlin, my nemesis bird - very jealous!

 

That makes two of us Michael!  I was shown a regular perch out on the moorlands of North Wales which I passed the information about on to a pal. He found it next time he went, I have been many,many times and always failed even though it still uses it apparently.

[PeterHG]

Agree on the Merlin, very special!

[Kitsafari]

super Merlin! 

[Galana]

On 10/13/2022 at 4:12 PM, Dave Williams said:

Very envious of the Merlin. I’m considering the swim!

Well, the invite still stands. Lesser mortals are also welcome. Two Ferries per day and several flights. I can't guarantee the photo opportunity but I can get you close and chuck in Hen Harriers, Chough, Peregrines as consolation prizes. 

[Peter Connan]

Lovely shots of the Merlin!

[lmSA84]

Count me among those jealous of the Merlin - great sighting 

[Galana]

On 10/13/2022 at 4:12 PM, Dave Williams said:

I’m considering the swim!

Looked out for you all week. NB. do remember to wear your knitted suit. Preferably ending below the knee. I.O.M is not ready for Speedos yet as they frighten our tram horses and old ladies faint clean away.

 

Went out to check if you had been washed up but found only seals.

But my trip was not wasted as a late passing Common Tern added to the IOM score although already seen in Namibia as 104.

104/IOM86. Common Tern., Point of Ayre. IOM.

 

And whilst playing with birds in flight I got this..

Ruddy Turnstone. Point of Ayre. IOM. already counted.

[Dave Williams]

That seal could have been me! I remember my navy blue woolen swimming trunks from my childhood. When they were wet they sagged down to your knees. Happy days though, the water was so much warmer then .

 

Edited October 18, 2022 by Dave Williams

[Galana]

Was that you?

Why did you not wave?

[Galana]

A fine Monday morning had me out looking for @Dave Williams(He used to be a tortoise but has morphed into a Tern. No easy task!)

A few swimmers and baskers around but none in a knitted cozzy with a Welsh dragon logo.

Looking for anyone special?

 

Nope! Not seen him!

 

So as it was quite busy I relocated to my woodland patch. Saw my first Long-tailed Tits here but they beat the shutter.

I got Goldfinch, Dunnock and Robins which had already made the list but then a lovely little songster came and added one for the IOM list, 254 for BY already,.

254/87 IOM. Eurasian Wren. Ballakesh Plantation. Isle of Man.

Edited November 14, 2022 by Galana

[Galana]

A sunny break after chores (Annual Fire inspection) tempted me out.

On the way up to the Point I noticed we had an overnight influx of Autumn Visitors. Still with two legs but not on wheels. They were Fieldfare which are already counted but maybe the Redwings won't be far behind.

And so it came about.

Bloody Foreigners. Coming over here and pinching our Berries.

 

At the point I got a nice EBC off a rapid shot from the hip.

 

But First. The Redwings.

The REDwing.

 

282/IOM88. Redwing. Glascoe Dubh. IOM.

 

And back to the EBC.

Snapshot at the Lighthouse.

Nailed through the Windscreen. It really played me a bad hand. Just lifting as I focussed and moving to the one area I could not get a clear shot. Anyway. Proved hard to get all year so here is'''''

287/IOM89. Common Kestrel. Point of Ayre. IOM.  Corrected 14/11/22 post

 

Any bets that the next trip out will have one perch on the cars wing mirror?

 

Edited November 14, 2022 by Galana
Score corrected for EBC

[Galana]

Borderline day.

Rose ar 05.30, drove to harbour in dark and fog and wind. Checked in, Security mistook us for old folk and offered to let us remain in the car whilst they searched it. No way. So we got out and enjoyed being frisked. Well why not at our age??

Then we sat, and sat and sat some more as in the background somebody was bashing something with a large hammer. Time for boarding came and went and a huddle of white hard hats were peering over the stern at the loading doors in between banging noises. Ooops!They announced a slight delay while they fixed a 'small technical problem'.  I reckon that that is Marine speak for 'the bloody boats broke' and/or "TheCaptain whacked the jetty as he reversed in on arrival! Delete as required. Anyway more loud banging and then a small chap covered in gunge appeared from amongst them without a white hard hat. Obviously an expert with a hammer because at his command the loading watertight doors were raised and lowered to nods of approval and cheers from the assembled car drivers who had been waiting to load. The small technical problem had been fixed and first the freight lorries loaded and then us.

Decided not to bother taking my camera up to my pre-booked seat in the lounge as the day was drecht and it was blowing hard. We would not see much.

And so it proved as we set sail exactly 65 minutes late. Dash. As we settled on course into mounting swells I would have got some great photos of us shipping it green over the bows as 'The Ben' burried her bows in large waves before vision was lost by spray hitting the lounge windows. And so it went on for about three hours until the calmer waters of the Lune esturary provided some shelter and anyway we were now running  down wind. Through the gloom the towers of Heysham power station eventually appeared and we docked about 90 minutes late. But we were at least on firm land which promised to whisk us up to our lodging  in Galloway near Gatehouse of Fleet. The M6 was no trouble and we got to Scotland at Gretna in just over an hour with just the A75 main trunk road to go. Sadly the weather deteriorated further, high sided vehicles were all over the place and that is if we could see them through the light rain. A75 is not dual carriageway so overtaking in the dim light was a struggle. We arrived Gatehouse at 17.00 as it got dark leaving the single track up to the forest hard to make out. True to form neither Gladys Garmin nor my sharp eyed navigator (Lady G) could find the turn off at the first pass but we got here in the end. Before dark wesaw two Peregrine, one actually feeding on a road side fece post but no way dare I stop on the M6 hardshoulder even if the bird had sat for me. So today was 'nul point' for my big year. But there is hope. Our lovely landlady, Sarah, tells me that two Golden Eagles are feeding on Red Deer 'Gralloch' left by the ranger on the hillside. And we do have a whole seven days on this coast line and almost three in total along the border. On drawing back the curtains this morning I see a flock of Muscovy being fed just outside.  Would I dare??

But first there are domesticaburally duties to be done, to be done, and a birder's lot is not always a happy one.

To the flesh pots of Castle Douglas for supplies we go. (But there are often Golden Eye on the Loch just past the Co-op.)

Til then.

[Zim Girl]

Have a great time, @Galana.  Fingers crossed for better weather.

[Galana]

This little cottage gained more acclaim when as we drove for the tar road a nice Hen Harrier floated rapidly overhead borne on the wings of the gale that was still blowing. Through the forest we noted small passerines but none lingered long enough for full ID let alone a photo opportunity. So to Castle Douglas. Shopping over we found the Loch distinctly unbird friendly and not a Golden eye in sight and as the light was already failing we headed home. A few birds were sighted including Buzzards and Hoody Crows and not totally unexpected several views of a special bird of the area. Mainly distant but a couple offered a BIF.

283. Red Kite. Horrible light but a tick is  a tick.

Speaking of which.....

 

Meet the neighbours. Hardly free winged and they taste delicious.

[Galana]

The sun shone today. For about an hour but at least the wind dropped.

We headed for the Isle of Whithorn and the RSPB Reserve ofCrook of Baldoon. As it was a week end there were a few more cars here than I have ever seen before. Out on the sands were many waders and ducks but nothing really within range.

Some Teal and Shelduck on the scooped lagoon but again nothing 'special'.

I did try for another Red Kite that 'floated' by to gain another shot.

283 repeat and I think I will hold off any more until a better shot presents itself. I could go to Lauriston feeding station but I prefer not to.

 

However there was lots of small birds moving around, Wagtails, Robins, Pipits etc., and I managed a small flock of Reed Buntings for my list.

 

284. Reed Bunting.  Crook of Baldoon RSPB. Wigtown.

 

From there I went to a favourite small wetland outside the town of Wigtown which can be qite productive on a good day. Lots of Egrets, Teal etc. but again nothing special that I needed for my list.

I had noted a small party of Long-tailed Tits on the approach track and hoped the may continue around the tree belt to the Hide and they did.

As usual they are active little beggars and what with that and the sun in the wrong place it was not easy getting a useable portrait but.....

285. Long-tailed Tit. Wigtown Pond.

Back home in time for a week end G&T. Tomorrow with decent weather I shall head for Ken Dee Marshes.

[Galana]

The day dawned clear, or so I was told, but it did look bright as I crawled out around 08.00 ish.

So to Ken Dee Marsh reserve. Only 5 miles from door to gate but sadly on arrival there was a notice saying 'the Hides are shut due to rotten wood floors'.

WHY given the millions the RSPB wastes on being 'woke' and other foolish ideas is it somhard to find Fifty quid to fix some rotten wood? If the had asked my team could have arrived and fixed the problem in half a day.

Still, the sun was shining and I added another tick to my list.

286. European Bullfinch. Ken Dee Marsh.

But no Lesser nippled Marsh Tits or Water Rails. That's the days haul.

 

But some raptors posed nicely in the sunshine.  Viz;-

Common Buzzard. Are very common here.

 

And I kept my promise on product improvement for any Red Kites seen.

What a difference some sunshine makes.

Returned to base early for a late celebratory lunch of Scotch Pie and Merlot.

 

Tomorrow we head for RSPB Merehead, weather permitting.

[Galana]

Not sure why some of these duplicated but that's how it goes here sometimes.

[Galana]

Fowl stroke!

I seem to have two #283.

First the EBC Kestrel and then the Red Kite so now the next score will jump from 286 Bullfinch to 288 making the EBC Kestrel 287.(IOM89)Out of sequence.

So with that in mind here are today's collection starting with...

On the left....

288. TreeSparrow.  (with it's cousin on the right.) Mersehead RSPB. Only took this shot for comparison and fund out later I had not got one this year.

 

289. Greenfinch.  Mersehead RSPB.

 

290. Yellowhammer. RSPB Mersehead.

 

Another one it was hard to beleve I had yet to collect...

291. Northern Lapwing, Green Plover, PeeWit or Pyewype depending on where you live and what you read!

 

And finally for the day...

292. Northern Pintail.  RSPB Mersehead.

 

Of ourse there wwee maqny other sightings, Barnacle Geese by the thousand, Shoveller, Teal and Wigeon plus  a nice flyby

by a Merlin as well as Buzzards ans Red Kites by thescore but you don't wish to know that.

But you might like a cute Roe Buck of which there were about twenty grazing the merse.

 

The forecast is not too good for the next two days so any additions may be slow to come.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[PeterHG]

Getting very close to the 300 mark!  Great comparison shot of the sparrows.

[Galana]

Thanks @PeterHGPure chance but I agree it makes a point.

 

Yesterday was a washout. Rain stopped play.

 

Today was better but a tour of untried waters produced nothing new except perhaps something unique.

An EBC double with a mixed flock of what I thought were Scoters but included a few Greater Scaup too.

 

First...

293. Blue bills and this says Greater Scaup. Carrick Bay, Fleet Estuary.

 

294. Common Scoter. Same flock but the [ointed tails and white cheeks say Scoter.

 

Thats about it for this excellent area as we re-locate to te upper Tweed tomorrow.

Specials sought but dipped on include Willow Tit, Kingfisher, Water Rail and Gtr White-fronted Goose.

Always another year as I saw a bird today that I could not place and missed the shot due to holding the steering wheel.

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

we would have been thrilled no end to have such close and good shots of the buzzard and red kite. 

 

[Galana]

Thanks @Kitsafari A good amount of light does help bring out the Red Kite-s colours.

 

Todays efforts show how bad it can get when the rain persists in spoiling the fun.

 

295. Sparrowhawk. Loch Meggett, Scottish Borders. Through the rain and windscreen.

 

 

296. Goldeneye. St.Mary's Loch, Scottish Borders. A final grab.