The Highlands and Islands Thread (1 Viewer)

[gordon hamlett]

I'm with John on this one I'm afraid Ratal.

Your last two comments were unnecessary, downright rude and unhelpful in the extreme - the antithesis of what Bird Forum is about.

Why not offer some constructive help - we can't all be as good as you are and I am sure that there are lots of readers here that would love to benefit from your experience.

As John said, why not post your sightings on the Highland bird forum http://highlandandmoraywildlife.freeforums.org/ or on the corresponding facebook page? I look forward to seeing you there.

Here's hoping that you have the good grace to send a fulsome apology to John.

Cheers,

Gordon - author of the Best Birdwatching Sites in the Scottish Highlands

 

[jpoyner]

There is also a Facebook page at

https://www.facebook.com/groups/highlandmoraybirds/

which you are more than welcome to contribute to Ratal.

 

[jpoyner]

Seasons seem a bit confused at the moment with all this warm weather, a Chiffchaff singing away yesterday at Avielochan with Redwing calling overhead at the same time! Still plenty of Swallows about too on the Moray Coast.

 

[jpoyner]

First autumn Blackbirds seem to be dropping in this morning.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Redhead smew at Loch Ashie this am

 

[WeeGrebe]

Nothing interesting to add on the bird-front (apart from thousands of pink footed geese - love this time of year!!), but I just wanted to stick my nose in here and say hi. I know one or two of you from the Highland & Moray facebook group (I'm Soleirolia Soleirolii there |;|). Nigg bay's my local patch. I found this place last night when I was researching what eyepiece to buy for my scope!

See you around

 

[jpoyner]

Rough legged Buzzard appears to have returned to Lochindorb area again, showing well on south side of the loch.

 

[DMKSlater]

Hi wee grebe, glad to see you across on this page

 

[jpoyner]

Snowy Owl of unknown origin back around the Tain area again.

 

[JIM J]

is this the bird that escaped in inverness area around may this year or a different one

 

[jpoyner]

is this the bird that escaped in inverness area around may this year or a different one

As far as I know the bird that escaped is still safely in it's pen at the Black Isle Wildlife Park. No evidence this is an escapee. All a bit confusing as the bird in May doesn't seem to be the one from the park either according to some reports. The one at the park did escape at some point but was quickly recaptured by a local farmer so I heard. I'd be pretty sure there is a least one "wild" Snowy wandering around the Highlands, such a vast area and a bird which likes to crouch down behind a rock on top of a mountain for most of the day!!!

I've often wandered where the Cairngorm bird vanishes too, one turned up in Caithness after it disappeared so perhaps it's a bird that is regularly making north-south trip and stopping off to hunt around the coast in the Tain area??

 

[JIM J]

cheers, was just wondering why bird info services were dissing it as escape

jim

 

[jpoyner]

Lone Glaucous Gull at Broomhill near Nethybridge this morning.

 

[Ratal]

Black and Red Throated Divers in the waters off Milton of Culloden, along with Pintail, Shelduck, Long Tailed Duck, Scaup, Goldeneye, Widgeon and twenty plus Slavonians looking smart in their winter plumage.

 

[Ratal]

Slovenian grebe present still in high numbers off Milton of Culloden, as well as a smattering of red throated divers. Further in, past the Inverness bridge, hundreds of little auk and guillemot just flying around in massive circles going nowhere fast.

Bird of the day though was Merlin dashing up and down the water front. Peregrine still present on the Church by River Ness.

 

[jpoyner]

Great White Egret reported again from Loch Insh this morning.

 

[Jimmycq]

Wonder if this is the same bird I seen last weekend at Loch Spynie, seemingly it had been around there for a few weeks, how long has this one been reported ?

Jim.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=212975&page=16

 

[jpoyner]

Wonder if this is the same bird I seen last weekend at Loch Spynie, seemingly it had been around there for a few weeks, how long has this one been reported ?

Jim.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=212975&page=16

Just since the weekend I think, could have followed the Spey down from the coast. There seems to have been a wandering GWE around the area for quite a time now.

 

[JIM J]

Jpoyner. Hi what's the latest on snowy owl up that way unfortunately rba pager reception I get is garbage. . Visit. Area regular and a bird would happily call in to see. Especially unringed and wanderer

Cheers jim

 

[jpoyner]

Jpoyner. Hi what's the latest on snowy owl up that way unfortunately rba pager reception I get is garbage. . Visit. Area regular and a bird would happily call in to see. Especially unringed and wanderer

Cheers jim

Seems the debate still rages on as to which sightings are of a bird that escaped from a wildlife park and which are of the wild ones!