• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Search results

thxpress_search_the_forum Search Opus
  1. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    The cold wet, windy weather of the last week or so seemed to send everything run for cover. The Little Grebe disappeared last week, but was back on the 26th. The Whooper Swans have been having games with us. The six have remained, however, the first visit last week there was no sign of them...
  2. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    Things moved on with the Whooper count... we finally had 14 on the 5th March and they stayed a few weeks/ 8th March: On the way up I said I bet they'd all gone, Ken said there'd be 10. Both wrong LOL. There were actually 6. Along with 8 Mallard (4 of each). New arrivals in a single Little...
  3. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    I've been keeping an looking in on this patch more recently of late. On 12 November there were 4 Whooper Swans (a Patch record), so kept going back to see how long they'd stay. 12 February came round and not 4 but 6 of them!!! Now that really pleased me. So had to go back today to see if they...
  4. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    We spent a couple of hours on my Patch this afternoon. For May, there wasn't an awful lot to see and it was cold and dull! However, we did have some nice sightings. A pair of Moorhens and Mallard were on the lochan, sadly no sight nor sound of Little Grebe. The Whooper Swans from the last...
  5. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    LOL I'll try KC. I'd made one or two attempts to visit, but unfortunately there were noisy people there messing about in boats! So a bit off-putting to say the least.... even the birds thought so 'cos they'd all deserted.
  6. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    Was out with a friend today and spent our lunch break sitting beside the loch (in the car as there was a rather cold wind. There were three Whooper Swans, looking quite contented with each other. Previously I've only seen the odd one during migration times, so rather strange to see three of...
  7. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    It's very sad, isn't it. Another thing; around this time a telegraph wire up there was covered with a long line of fledged Swallows waiting to be fed. Yesterday there were two!!
  8. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    It really should only be the failed breeders that go early to the coast. Those that have successfully bred should still be up here until their young are ready to make the journey. I've never been up there with so little to see/hear, except in the depths of winter.
  9. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    Recently I met the farmer's wife for this old patch of mine and she said that the Hen Harriers had returned (they disappeared after the windfarm was constructed on 'their' hill!) So I spent a little while up there the other day. Very disappointing.... hardly a bird was seen or even heard. The...
  10. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    Bit warm this weekend, isn't itB (: I didn't have the excitements the Kinnordy lot got, but things are returning to the hill now. First heard a single Willow Warbler, but couldn't find it. There used to be around 6 territories along the gorse-lined road - we'll have to see what happens now...
  11. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    Gosh it was windy today - I could hardly stand up! But bright and sunny whilst I was up there. It's Heron season I think - there were 3 on the loch. I presume they're feeding on the frog/toad spawn - there's loads of it. No Oycs today and only faintly heard a distant Curlew. Five Common Gulls...
  12. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    Yeah right!!! Not yet, LOL. Give them time. D
  13. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    Yeah, thanks KC. Things seem to be picking up a bit now hopefully. D
  14. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    It was sunny and really quite warm this afternoon - bit of a cool breeze though. Rather a lack of 'little' birds and really not much to see as I drove along the road, but stopped to have a scan around and the first Buzzard for a long time lifted up from a fence post beside the forest. Feeling a...
  15. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    At last the snow and frost has gone and we can actually see the hills! So ventured up for my first visit of the year. Well, Spring seems to have arrived bringing two displaying Curlews and a pair of Oystercatchers. Six Mallards, that flew off soon after I arrived, a Grey Heron stalking in the...
  16. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    hmmm... not been very active reporting on here of late - can't believe I've not written anything since June. Actually there's not been a lot to see - Pheasants, Rooks, Crows and Jackdaws. The early cold snap seems to have chased everything out. There were some Ravens today but couldn't hear any...
  17. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    Some pictures from Sunday 1: Tufted Duck with her family 2: Proud Common Gull mother 3: Pied Wagtail D
  18. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    Thanks kawwauser It's rather strange as, the first couple of years there were loads of CGs loafing around and I was sure some were sitting on nests on the island, but there was never any sign of young. Last year and this there have hardly been any Gulls, except a few mostly coming in to bathe...
  19. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    New kids on the block Lots of activity in the gorse on Sunday afternoon. Male and femal Linnets ticking away and a gorgous male Stonechat surveying the scene - I don't remember when I last saw one looking quite so black! No further sign of the Whinchats though. A small group of half a dozen...
  20. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    LOL it certainly was yesterday anyway! Just need the Moorhens to produce now! D
  21. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    May was very quiet strangely. There was really hardly anything to report at all. Very hot today with hardly a breeze. But it was a good 'un. Pulled in at the cattle grid for a scan around and thought I was in for the same lack of anything much of the past weeks, a couple of Linnets flew over...
  22. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    Thanks Fiona - you missed an excellent Bash. We must get you on one before too long. I had a lovely afternoon sitting in the hot sun, which seems to have tempted a few more species up there. First was a fine male Linnet sitting on top of the gorse (which is only just beginning to flower, unlike...
  23. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    Did you all think I'd forgotten about the Hill? When I hadn't but was just getting more and more frustrated as I couldn't get up there for so long. Managed today though at long, long last. Spring is gingerly thinking about arriving up there, but not that many species about as yet. Driving...
  24. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    Thanks Ben and Fiona. Crows and a male Pheasant:-O It's just nice to know that the Hen Harriers are still around up there, as I feared the worst when I didn't see them for so long when the windfarm was under construction. D
  25. delia todd

    Up the Hill

    An hour on Patch for 6 species! However, the first bird seen was the male Hen Harrier, which was really pleasing. Just parked the car and was scanning the far distance, when a movement in the dip below caught my eye and there he was! Just one male Mallard on the loch, but both Moorhens are...
Back
Top