loch of the lowes

I was lucky that another swan came really close to the hide and I was able to get a head shot of him (first time I've managed that LOL).... well without cropping a lot when I've downloaded. This picture didn't take too much cropping.

..... and something else! It's always nice to see a Great Crested Grebe at Loch of the Lowes, as thry're very rarely to be seen at Kinnordy. I spotted this guy swimming along the edge of the reeds and saw he seemed to be heading for a big blob.... another grebe, a nest, or what? Thought a...

Red, white and blue, don't know why that caption suddenly occurred to me LOL This was only a quick visit to Loch of the Lowes so I was lucky to find a Swan fairly close to the hide as soon as I got there.

The only other bird of note at the feeders on my short visit that day was a Coal Tit feasting on the peanuts. This was one of the feeders at the back and I was taking it through the glass window, so excuse the poor quality.

The next day I headed to Loch of the Lowes to stock up on their peanut butter. Looking out of the feeding station window spotted this rather tired looking Mallard, showing the more unusual violet head colouring.

First sorry for the reflection across this picture, the sun was in an awkward place and hit the window. I showed you the start of this fight last week, with them squaring up. In this one the bully boy has got him on the floored in a wrestling hold! TTTW

On my way out of the reserve I could hear a Great Tit calling up in the trees lining the path. A bit of searching and I spotted him, then had a bit of a chase as he around but eventually got him in a more open bit of the branches. Good job there were no leaves or I wouldn't have stood a chance LOL

It was a bit of a surprise to find this picture in the folder as I didn't think I'd seen a Yellowhammer this year, in fact I'd not seen one since April last year! Interestingly, he's on the same feeder and the same place as that last one, as you can see here...

Wandering back via the feeding station (always the hope that something new has arrived), got these two distant cousins on the peanut feeder.

Interesting. Only noticed this when I was looking through the folder for the next upload. The closer Mallard has a whitish bill and a much greyer back than the other. Wonder what's going on there. All the images are the same as they move across the water, so I don't think it's the light.

I saw some movement in the trees where the Canada Geese had been and took a few shots to see if I could work out what was there. A Buzzard... not very clear I know, but it was on full zoom and a biiig crop as well.

The Canada Geese left that dark and distant spot and swam right over to the hide. Obviously wanting to check me out LOL

The remains of the snow that had fallen the week before was on the big hill behind the loch. That's Craig More, think it's about 400 m high. The row of trees in front is where the Osprey nest is, but you'd need to get a magnifying glass to find it LOL. There's a white spot at the water's...

I know I showed you one of these the other day, but I don't get to see them that often.... and not this close. He came quite near the hide for them and did the usual up-down-up tease making photographing him a bit hit and miss. The next picture in the sequence was his tail disappearing!

I don't see too much of Canada Geese as there are not many in this part of Scotland; however, their numbers do seem to be building a bit over the last year or so. Spotted these two on the far side of the bay, not far from where the Osprey nest is. Not sure if they're a pair and were thinking of...

Well, at least the sun was shining that day, unlike this morning - it's bucketing rain here at the moment!! There were a pair of swans in the bay under the Osprey nest, but I didn't get them together that afternoon. Last year they nested in full view of all the visitors, in the brush between...

There was a right Saturday Fun battle going on between Mallards just outside the visitor centre window. This was the beginning - even the Chaffinch was looking a bit concerned. I'll likely show you some more from this sequence later on.

I was rather pleased to see this handsome male Goldeneye swim past the hide... a little distant and a big crop, but hasn't come out too badly, I think.

These two guys seem to be feeding peacefully, don't they. TTTW

Pheasants always seem to get in at the feeding stations, don't they. Somehow they manage to get away from the estates they were reared on. Not daft I suppose, though their behaviour on the roads might say otherwise LOL TTTW Thank you all so much for the lovely birthday wishes. I had a lovely...

... well they are, when the sun catches them right, aren't they. This one shows the more unusual blue iridescence, but also a touch of green. TTTW

It would appear the Chaffinch isn't too pleased with the gate-crashing Blue Tit LOL Not much room left on that feeder, is there!! TTTW

The snow finally stopped allowing me to visit Loch of the Lowes and the first visitor to the feeders was this beautiful Siskin. What a treat. I also discovered that the male Osprey had returned, no wonder the place was so busy, I'd missed the announcement on the internet and although I'd looked...

I'm sure that's what the Mallard is saying to the squirrel!!

I could ask you to guess how many birds are in this shot, but as I can't work it out, I'd never be able to give you an answer LOL. This picture is taken from the path near the hides, you can just see this section from the visitor centre window. Can you see the woodpecker?