Beyond Barry Hill (2 Viewers)

[Scozmos]

Barry hill sits almost in front of our house. We are situated on farmland and the wildlife around blows my mind on a daily basis, may I never grow bored of it. I'd like to share what I see every day, whether at home or on our wanderings around the area.

I'm a walker, who owns a couple of cameras and carrying those has opened my eyes to everything around me, my main focus now being on birds so, I'm more a photo guy than bird expert, hopefully you can help out with that

Please feel free to correct any ID errors, it's one reason I joined the Forums.

Rather than clog up posts with lots of photographs, I'll link to a Flickr album that I hope everyone can access and limit my photo posts to those new to me or I am unsure of

Looking forward to chatting, sharing and being corrected

Daily report Sept. 2nd 2022

 

[delia todd]

I'm looking forward to your reports lad.

Don't ever think pictures 'clog up' a post. They're lovely to look at in the context of the report.

 

[Scozmos]

I'm looking forward to your reports lad.

Don't ever think pictures 'clog up' a post. They're lovely to look at in the context of the report.

Did you have a look at the Flickr album, is it better to select some phots and add to the thread?

 

[delia todd]

Mmmm.... well it is entirely up to you how you do it. But I'd say so yes. By the time you've read the post and gone to FlickR you've forgotten what you've said (well at least I have LOL).

The pictures on FlickR are a bit anonymous.

Have a look at Andrew's Torry thread for how it could appear: Birds fae Torry

But as I say, your work, so it's your choice.

 

[Scozmos]

Saturday September 3rd
Day off today, or, day out. Went into Dundee to visit the Mills Observatory, had some food in St Andrews Brewing Co. loved it and home for a wee nip or two.
Not a lot of observing done but, I can see that Balgay Park and Cemetery could be interesting. Other than that, the usual suspect all turned up at the feeders; Chaffinches, Siskin, Tree Sparrows, still feeding young, House Sparrow, Great Spotted Woodpecker young, a couple of Goldfinches, Blue & Great Tits. Those Siskin are feisty wee so'n'so's eh? Got a couple of videos of them defending the feeder and fighting amongst themselves.

 

[delia todd]

A nice start!! Siskins aren't 'leisurely' here.... they're in and out like greased lightning usually!!! On the very rare occasions that they visit.

Guess you have some fun with that pheasant eh? That's a great picture. Thanks.

 

[Scozmos]

A nice start!! Siskins aren't 'leisurely' here.... they're in and out like greased lightning usually!!! On the very rare occasions that they visit.

Guess you have some fun with that pheasant eh? That's a great picture. Thanks.

Today has been a little bit special, like the Sparrow hawk on Friday, still working on it

 

[Scozmos]

Sunday September 4th
Well, gie dreich the day eh? (A bit grey and damp today)
I actually haven't left the house all day, been a totally relaxed, editing day, took a LOT of photos over the last few days and they all take time to check, delete or edit. Good music helps me get by
The regular garden gang have all been present most of the day, despite the pouring rain for most of the morning.\
First surprise of the day was the Red-Legged Partridge and Hare visit. Just outside the door, one munching on grass / clover, the other just standing staring at the doors!
The dull grey day has made it more awkward getting good shots with a long lens but, another surprise was a Buzzard, chasing a small bird, I think, landing on the back fence as I stood watching from the living room, even stayed in place while I grabbed the big boy (camera and long lens) and grabbed a few shots.
The Yellowhammers also seem to be coming back from their nesting areas and feeding in the filed out back, along with a Reed Bunting which has made an appearance a couple of times now. Not sure if it's a young male, or a female?
Filmed the Siskin on a feeder because they're so feisty and watched the young GSW visit a few times. There appear to be at least two young GSW, one is developing the red neck marking of an adult male, the other, still red headed.
Watched the Kites cruising the field and spotted a very tatty young Buzzard on a bale, maybe the same one as the other day?
So today has had;
Siskin
Tree Sparrow
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Chaffinch
Robin
Wren
Yellowhammer
Reed Bunting
Red Kite
Buzzard
Rooks aplenty, in the field
A small flock of Canada geese this morning, heading towards Lintrathen.
Still no Dunnock
Almost forgot, around a dozen Swallows still swirling around

 

[delia todd]

What cracking pictures!!! I particularly like the Buzzard take-off image!!!

Quite jealous of your garden!!

The rain cleared here late morning and the sun is shining now.

 

[Gander]

I love a good patch thread, so happy to see this. Do you have any wetland or river within your boundaries? When I started my Seafield to Kinghorn thread, it was all very coastal, but when I added Kinghorn loch and surrounding woodland/pastures, it really opened up new bird worlds for me. The more habitat types you can add in a manageable area, the better.

Photos are great. Personally, I like to see a few attached to the post, even if just as a taster, but will drop in to your Flickr album every now and again. What type of camera set up are you using?

 

[Scozmos]

I love a good patch thread, so happy to see this. Do you have any wetland or river within your boundaries? When I started my Seafield to Kinghorn thread, it was all very coastal, but when I added Kinghorn loch and surrounding woodland/pastures, it really opened up new bird worlds for me. The more habitat types you can add in a manageable area, the better.

Photos are great. Personally, I like to see a few attached to the post, even if just as a taster, but will drop in to your Flickr album every now and again. What type of camera set up are you using?

Good morning @Gander and cheers for your comments. The house has fields front and back with farm buildings on one side. The southern side has deciduous woodland across the wee valley and the northern side faces the Glens with the Isla in between. That southern side has a decent stream running through it with a reasonable reed bed area, I got Sedge and Reed warblers, Reed Buntings and most recently the Whinchat.
The farmers are eco-friendly so lots of hedges, trees and moorland around.
I go up to my folks in Ardersier about once a month so that's my coastal haunt along with the ranges there, when the flags aren't flying!
I bought a TrackCam but haven't really used it yet. I have two Nikons and a Sigma 150-600, Nikon 300mm + 2 x converter but it's an older lens and SO slow to focus, my eyes aren't good enough for manual lol
I'm kind of overwhelmed by the birdlife so far, the Buzzard on our back fence yesterday being a typical example.
I take too many photos for the gallery and for most of these posts, hence the Flickr link.

 

[Scozmos]

What cracking pictures!!! I particularly like the Buzzard take-off image!!!

Quite jealous of your garden!!

The rain cleared here late morning and the sun is shining now.

I'm not sure you'd be jealous if you saw how much grass there is to cut! I've not actually managed to cut all of it yet, the farmer asked us to keep some of it wild, for the birds etc.

 

[delia todd]

I like the sound of your farmer!!!

 

[Scozmos]

Monday September 5th 2022 (AM)
Morning all 👋 did I say dreich yesterday? Awfa dreich this morn', p!sh!n doon! (Raining heavily) Clearing a bit now, we need some good downpours mind you. Woke up to the leveret again, outside chomping on Clover I think, grabbed a wee phone pic of it and the entire Red-legged Partridge family were pecking about under the feeders, nice to see although the farmer wouldn't agree
I wandered outside as the rain eased a bit to find we have a wee 'shroom patch, which is nice, walked round the corner and fez did his Monty Python run away from me, they're hilarious birds to watch.
Watched a couple of flocks of Canada geese fly over, coming from Lintrathen direction.
The usual suspects are all out there this morning, now that the wee shower!!! has stopped and the big glowing orb is re-appearing. Still no Dunnock!
Did I mention Pigeons?
Off out today, again, might get a wee look around later

 

[Ian Bell]

I like the sound of your farmer!!!

So do I

 

[delia todd]

Is he the one that owns the little 'duck pond' at your road end?

I've never really seen anything on it though.

 

[Scozmos]

Is he the one that owns the little 'duck pond' at your road end?

I've never really seen anything on it though.

Aye Shanzie, lovely people. I've not seen much other than Dragonflies and Butterflies, a few bugs too, the area around it is planted with wildflowers. The whole lane has very varied shrubs and trees; Gooseberries, Plums, Hazels, Apple trees, it's wonderful.
Edit: Our farmer doesn't own that, Shanzie do, along with the Souterrain on the hill next to the lane.

 

[Scozmos]

No Dunnock eh?
Isn't life stranger? as a well known band sang in the 60's. Not long after this mornings update and while still chatting on here, I turned to my window and there was a wee bird on the fence that I wasn't sure of....

The first I've seen on my patch

I popped out to survey the back field and watch the Rooks messing around on the bales, they can be so comical in their very clever way.

The "supervisor" stood on top, Right, grab an end each and ..... Lift!
Then I noticed the blurred outline in the background, that young Buzzard again by the look of it.
I'm told there's a wild few days ahead, might be all quiet over that hill ⛈️🌩️🌨️

 

[Gander]

The first I've seen on my patch

Congratulations.

 

[delia todd]

Well done!!! Said there'd be one around somewhere, didn't I LOL!!

Yeah it's great watching corvids - very entertaining.