Scotland

Corn Bunting, Dyrham Park

It’s been a good few weeks for this species: first, one up in East Yorkshire; then near Martin Mere; now, not quite on the National Trust estate but by the road down to Marshfield, which is their local stronghold. Another bunting, a yellowhammer also showed, for only the third time this year – a far cry from my Angus days when they filled the fields round Auchmithie. In fact, they even came to my feeders there.

I was in South Gloucestershire to check for more…

Goat Fell, Arran

Golden eagle would sound nice as the star species of an ascent of the island’s highest point but consider this: the 2007 Arran Bird Report notes only half a dozen sightings from thousands of contributions. These may not be all the submitted records and certainly they don’t include the known nest sites. Quite right too: persecution in Scotland is an ongoing problem.

In any case, what chance more…

Whinchats, Glen Orchy

Yes, whinchats. In the plural. Two family groups five years since my last sighting down in Galloway Forest. The year list gallops on to 185 – my best since 2004.

And no, this chap isn’t a whinchat. He was browsing near Loch Tulla when I pulled into the car park and quite unfazedly carried on browsing. So unfazed was he that he crossed to the other side of my car, where the passenger window was open, and calmly more…

Musselburgh, East Lothian

This is one of my most southerly locations for velvet scoter. It’s also good for common scoters and reliable for little gull. All three were in evidence last week, and a common sandpiper gave me a nice bonus as my 96th species for the site. It’s one of my top spots. I got an even bigger surprise with the more…

1999: Velvet Scoters, Lunan Bay

Last century’s October trip through Angus continued on the 2nd:

“First stop on my way north from Auchmithie was not far but the lure of velvet scoters was too great. Lunan Bay is backed by sand dunes, which give one some good height for scanning the sea. Sure enough there were black more…

Strathspey Guide

My custom bird tour guidebook is soaking up time, so there’s little left to post here. However, I can post an extract:

“With an average expected list of 40 species, the main target is Britain’s only endemic – Scottish crossbill. Good luck with trying to identify it. Location is about the best field mark and, outside migration periods, this area’s crossbills will most likely be Scottish. Another trick is to find more…

1999: Tree Sparrows at Usan, Angus

Not a headline you can get today but from October 1 at the end of the old century:

“Scotland again! Yipee! I did not seem to have suffered after a day’s gruelling drive up from the Midlands, including 45 minutes waiting for the police to clear a horse-box from the M80. God, I hate horse-boxes — even more now. I was up at seven and on the beach at Auchmithie with the yellowhammers, stonechats and rock pipits. A visit to Montrose Basin later in the day produced more…

Lesser Black-backed Gull

About time too! Species number 65 on the car-free list. The brisk south-westerlies seem to be bringing gulls over the house but they’re no way strong enough to justify a trip up to Severn Beach. Although I wonder more…