The Highlands and Islands Thread (1 Viewer)

[jpoyner]

Hi - how long does the Caper lek last? I am not going to be in Nethy Bridge until June 17th and the official sessions at Loch Garten appear to have ended by then. Will the best bet for Caper be an early drive through the woods (have a Prius, so silent running is almost possible)?

Thanks!

Owen

By June the males are in moult and become very skulking, virtually impossible to find. The Hens are with young chicks so should be left well alone. Afraid this really is the worst time to go searching for Caper!! As Marcus mentioned earlier, the Osprey hide is as good a place as any at this time of year.

 

[The Hairy Highlander]

Very glad to see the Caper posts removed!

 

[Ian Bell]

Very glad to see the Caper posts removed!

Marcus and I and possibly others,contacted the Mods about them. :t:

 

[roougers]

Ross-shire update: A White Wagtail at the Nigg Oil refinery, as well as a Redstart calling this morning, the Brent that has been there for a few months is also still here.

Quick trip into bandit territory (!) this afternoon and a look in by Embo pier this afternoon yielded 3 BT Divers, one in particular very close in super smart summer plumage.

 

[roougers]

Here is my reward for being lazy today....

My girlfriend and her dad had to take a lamb to the vets, its a fair journey and I wanted to spend time on my patch, and have been working on the farm all week.

Few hours later and excited phone call to say they had to make an emergency stop in order not to hit a Caper on the road.

I've never seen one in Sutherland, or gone looking for one and they see one purely by accident! Typical.

Needless to say I wont disclose where it was, I actually dont know where it was anyway!

 

[Henry B]

Ospreys back at Spey Bay last two days .

 

[eagle golden]

follow like sheep

Marcus and I and possibly others,contacted the Mods about them. :t:

well i hope you read the follow on, as there was nothing said in the post about the lek, and you can ask any local in that town who will gladly tell you where to go to see these birds, i for one have spent all my life protecting birds both from the public and from accidents, so please dont get on your high horse and follow the ones who you think know it all, as i have always said, there is more than one side to any tale, you have a good day now.

 

[ring ouzel]

Had a cracking day yesterday. We went up Strathconon and had 2 pairs of goosander on the river, swallows, sand martins, wheatears and the place was heaving with willow warblers. On the way back we had a golden eagle being mobbed by a raven. In the evening went to stay with friends who stay way out in the hills near the Slochd and saw more wheatears and a greyhen. I also saw the ears of a mountain hare as it shot over the crest of a hill.

 

[jpoyner]

well i hope you read the follow on, as there was nothing said in the post about the lek, and you can ask any local in that town who will gladly tell you where to go to see these birds, i for one have spent all my life protecting birds both from the public and from accidents, so please dont get on your high horse and follow the ones who you think know it all, as i have always said, there is more than one side to any tale, you have a good day now.

The site in question is well known and well used by locals including myself. However, very few of them venture in there at first light. The post recommended birders do this in order to see Caper which was extremely poor advice and contrary to the current code of conduct, which is why I think it was removed. I don't think anyone was getting on their high horse.

 

[Rhummy]

Was in Orkney this weekend, some nice shots I think

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31169457@N02/5632547204/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31169457@N02/5632544846/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31169457@N02/5632542586/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31169457@N02/5632539998/in/photostream/

 

[Stewart J.]

Rosemarkie area

Groups of Pink-footed Geese mostly North-ish since 07.00hrs today, large group @90 have just (13.55hrs) landed in field inland of village.

Good birding all looking forward to some good birding over the next week while holidaying in area, nice pics Rhummy

 

[Stewart J.]

More from the Black Isle

Udale Bay NR, 16.00hrs 19/4, 1200-1400 Pink-footed Geese difficult as groups consatntly coming/going. Total of 3 Ospreys fishing bay, 2 at one time one seen to take a fish. 82 Scaup a nice find for me. What a great area!

White Wagtail party of 7 on Chanonry point 18.45hrs this evening

 

[roougers]

4 Whimbrel on Balintore Beach this morning.

Ring Ouzel in the woods just off Golspie Golf Club this afternoon.

Both new for this year.

 

[Stewart J.]

22/04/2011 Brahan Estate, Dingwall, Common Redstart and 1 Garden Warbler, several displaying Tree Pipit.

23/04/2011, Invergarry, Inverness-Shire, Single Cuckoo calling at 16.00hrs this afternoon.

Stewart

 

[Stewart J.]

25/4 Blair Atholl, Grasshopper Warbler singing at entrance to Castle drive.

26/4 Loch Tummel, Wood Warbler singing directly below the Queens View viewpoint at 11.30hrs

 

[ColinD]

I'm staying at Newburgh over the weekend, and will be visiting the Ythan estuary for the first time on Sunday. Were would I need to go to have the best chance of seeing the King Eider? Also, were are the other top birding spots on the estuary? Thanks for any help and advice.

 

[Capercaillie71]

I'm staying at Newburgh over the weekend, and will be visiting the Ythan estuary for the first time on Sunday. Were would I need to go to have the best chance of seeing the King Eider? Also, were are the other top birding spots on the estuary? Thanks for any help and advice.

It's probably really this thread you need to post on, as it's outside the Highlands and Islands area:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=147663

The King Eider has mostly been seen near the river mouth around an area used by grey seals to haul out, but it occasionally wanders up the estuary towards Inches point. There's a useful map of the area on Ken Hall's website: http://www.thenatureofnortheastscotland.com/photo_4261378.html, with site instructions here: http://www.thenatureofnortheastscotland.com/section295030_97732.html

Parking for the river mouth is near the golf course on Beach Road. There is a road to Inches point (Inches Road!), which passes through an industrial yard with no parking signs. This can be a bit intimidating as it looks like you might not be able to get through. However, just drive past the buildings and there is a fisherman's car park at the point, just round the corner.

Having said all that I have tried for the King Eider three times this spring and have failed every time, despite it being seen on the estuary by other people on the same days each time. Most spectacularly, I met another birder returning from the river mouth who told me he had been watching it. When I got to the river mouth five minutes later there was no sign. I also failed to see it three times last year. I'm sure you'll do better than me though. Most people do!

 

[ColinD]

It's probably really this thread you need to post on, as it's outside the Highlands and Islands area.......

Sorry about that, I'll post it again on the other thread. Hopefully I won't be breaking any forum rules by doing that. Thanks for all of the useful information, I'm sure that will keep me busy for the day. I'd love to see the King Eider, it's been a long time since my last, which I think was at Brora in about 1985.

 

[Henry B]

Sorry about that, I'll post it again on the other thread. Hopefully I won't be breaking any forum rules by doing that. Thanks for all of the useful information, I'm sure that will keep me busy for the day. I'd love to see the King Eider, it's been a long time since my last, which I think was at Brora in about 1985.

Hadn,t been over to Newburgh for a while , enjoy your day . B

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Over 15 reeling Groppers this morning - what a spring for them!