kinnordy

A narrow strip of bog bean was just covered with ducks and geese. Mostly Greylag and Mallards, though no doubt there's some others hiding in this picture.

Is he searching for his head? Just amused me this headless swan and bodyless heron. They were way the other side of the loch, so quite pleased with how this came out.

.... well not quite LOL What a stroke of luck, as soon as I got into the hide at Kinnordy, saw a beautiful male Goosander between me and the bog bean island. Just love them and they always make my day! I had to take the picture through the glass though, so as not to scare him off.... don't...

..... I can get a closer picture of a Great Tit at Kinnordy LOL Which was just as well as the light wasn't too good under the trees. They don't seem quite so shy there, as they are at home. The birds either heard or saw me put a little feed in the feeder and didn't take long to arrive. There...

It had been rather damp that day, as you can see, but I made a quick trip to the feeding station to see what was there. Sadly most of the feeders were empty, however, there was a hopeful Chaffinch hanging about in the trees. I usually take a bit of food with me, just in case. I could have...

..... must be a different family. Right in front of the hide were a group of three Mute Swan cygnets, so can't be the same ones as the previous ones with an adult. No adult in sight this time though.

Back at Kinnordy after a week away, there were far more Mallards visible, and a little bit closer to the hide this time too. Actually there were so many, i couldn't get them all in to the picture LOL.

LOL then the Blue Tits were replaced by the Coal and Great Tits. Looks to be a bit of uncertainty there too, doesn't there.

I wandered round to the feeding station and didn't have to wait long for some Blue Tits to arrive. Having studied this picture, something I've never noticed before, but I wonder why there is such a difference in the depth of yellow on their bellies?

It seems like the guys had just about done with their summer moult and were coming out of hiding judging by this group anyway. When the weather's right, I must get back there again soon. Usual story, when I've time the skies are dark, when I can't get, it's nice and sunny! There's a 'law' that...

.... on juniors. I didn't really pick the best of days for this visit, as you can see it was rather dull. It's amazing what a bit of sun can do for an image. This was a rather distant shot, as they were on the other side of the bog bean.

I followed this Cormorant for a few shots, and this was the clearest I got. Done my best by brightening the image and increasing the contrast a bit. However, I didn't crop too closely, as I rather liked the setting. It's not often I've seen the Cormorants flying at Kinnordy as they're...

I managed to get a few visits in to Kinnordy in October, before the light hours became too short. As soon as I sat down in the hide, some geese flew over, had no time to adjust the camera settings so not the best of pictures. Pretty sure they're Pink-foot though. My first of the season.

I thought this pose looked so elegant couldn't resist showing it to you. There was quite a bit of gull action that morning! Off out shortly have to go to the next big town and thought I'd pop into Kinnordy en route. Sadly it's raining a bit, but we can hope it will clear before I get...

... who was reluctant to show me his face (I can see a theme running here LOL). This was the best I could get of this Blue Tit and the only one I saw that afternoon.

.... by your eyes and wishful thinking. While photographing some Greylags in a field I spotted this distant white shape and tried to get a picture of it - too distant for my binoculars. That was no good.... too distant to focus as you can see. Crept closer, keeping a low profile, so as not to...

Next on to that feeder was this lovely Tree Sparrow. Generally I only get to see them at Kinnordy now, as they're getting difficult to find in the wider countryside.

After the excitement of the Marsh Harrier, I went to check out the feeders. Took a run of pictures of this guy (most of which would qualify for What is it? LOL) but at last he lifted his head for me. Thanks guys... dentist was better than expected, big day is next week. Yesterday, though...

I continued to manage to follow this harrier but this was the last picture, which I was really quite pleased with. Bit early posting today, as I have to go to the dentist. Not a visit I'm looking forward to sadly. Will try and catch up later when I've recovered.

Well that's what this group of Greylags reminded me off. The were sitting on the bogbean island, just before the Marsh Harrier flew over them.

The Marsh Harrier gave us another display.... and unusually, he came across the bog bean islands in front of the hide first.... and I made a mess of those pictures (happened once before too!!!) One day I'll be ready for him LOL Fortunately I managed to follow him across the loch and got him...

... with a touch of orange too LOL. A Greylag swimming past the emerging bog bean.

.... well a tree actually, but I don't really know what they are. Possible/probably the top one is an Osprey, the lower one either a Rook or Carrion Crow. I just spotted some movement in the tree from the lower bird and started shooting, but didn't see the other one until I downloaded the...

Although there's a few Black-headed Gulls around, they're not nesting again this year (at least so far as I could tell). You can just see a corner of the raft that was installed in an attempt to encourage them to breed on it. With perspex sides it should have stopped the otters getting in to...

This is a bit of the path between the car park and the Gullery Hide. That pile of sticks underneath the tree, had a Wren in it.... but for the life of me I couldn't see the blighter well enough for a picture.