My Highland garden (1 Viewer)

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Managed a couple of new species lately - Ruff 2-3 recently and Canada Goose (59 just came and roosted today)

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Garden list now up to 83 with some recent additions - Gannet, Great Skua and Wheatear.

Impressive movement of Snipe today
3 S
12 S
2 N
2 S
At various times.

Mipits have returned and Linnet clocking up to 400 - impressive stuff.

Cheers

 

[Jaff]

You'd better keep a large supply of tea and biscuits handy cos if you keep this up your pad will be featured in Gordon's next book! 8-P

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Visitors always welcome Adam!

 

[Jaff]

Be careful what you wish for Marcus. I'm looking to be up there next spring with a few familiar faces in tow. :king:

 

[gordon hamlett]

You'd better keep a large supply of tea and biscuits handy cos if you keep this up your pad will be featured in Gordon's next book! 8-P

A nice comfortable hide with a sideline in bacon butties and home made cakes - could be a nice little earner. The birds are irrelevant.

I'm writing the chapter now and will only take 10% of the profits for the plug...

Gordon

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Ha - good thinking guys!

Just had a Bonxie through West - lots of terns moving through today - could be exciting.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

The Firth is full of seabirds

- 100s of Gannets
- 100s of Terns
- 10s of Skuas

Just trying to confirm ID's in this wind is hard.

Chanonry looks the best bet

 

[Leodhasach]

Is Chanonry a good spot for Skuas? I think I finally have a free weekend this week for a spot of birding.... before I have a week in the Western Isles for work.. <<cough>>

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

It would have been today. Generally pretty average though like everywhere underwatched.

Tarbet Ness and Dornoch Point get better results

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Tried to do a proper count today of the seabirds but difficult given the vastness of the area;

400 Sandwich Terns
250 Gannets
8 Great Skua
20 Arctic Skua
5 unidentified Skua
5 Kittiwake (long awaited Bogey) - from the kitchen this morning and four more from the bottom of the garden
10 Knot
15 Snipe
1 Golden Plover
34 Red Breasted Merganser
4 Wigeon
100+ Curlew
400+ Lapwing
1 Dunlin

Third record of Robin(!)

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Bridtrack is such a great place to store record - check out Red Breasted Merganser trend.

Pretty unusual except when they come here post breeding in large flocks. The odd winter record.

 

[Bananafishbones]

Tried to do a proper count today of the seabirds but difficult given the vastness of the area;

400 Sandwich Terns
250 Gannets
8 Great Skua
20 Arctic Skua
5 unidentified Skua
5 Kittiwake (long awaited Bogey) - from the kitchen this morning and four more from the bottom of the garden
10 Knot
15 Snipe
1 Golden Plover
34 Red Breasted Merganser
4 Wigeon
100+ Curlew
400+ Lapwing
1 Dunlin

Third record of Robin(!)

superb!
What a way to spend some home time

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Thanks!

Nothing better than sitting in the kitchen with a nice warm drink watching these marauders go about their business!!!

 

[Hotspur]

My favourite birds I think!

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

My favourite birds I think!

Just checked in the final light and they are still at it. Just see the black shapes banking and twisting in the twilight.

Please be sunny tomorrow :t:

 

[Hotspur]

Might have to take a look if I swing by anytime soon.

 

[Bananafishbones]

Great stuff and not a tad jealous!

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Top action

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Skuas still here. Plus over 10 Dolphins on our side of the bay. Just waiting for the rain to ease