On the up!

With only short sessions mid week over the patch its been a bit tough going but this morning was much better as patch birding goes in the Ingrebourne Valley. My first Willow Warbler for the year was singing near the top paddock, the 3 Green Sandpipers were still on the viewing area and a bonus Common Crossbill flew east. Not great but alot better than it has been this week!

Practice

Saturday afternoon I met up with Mick Southcott and headed down to Shellness in Kent. Our timing was spot on for the Waders as they were just leaving their high tide roost to start feeding on the now exposing mud. Curlew, Turnstone, Redshank, Ringed Plover and Grey Plover were seen as were a few Brent Geese too. It was all very relaxing just practising flight shots in the really nice spring sunshine for when I hopefully return to Shellness  in a few weeks time and the Wader passage starts to begin and more Wader species can be seen and photographed.

Oystercatcher

 

Brent Goose

it's still there

Once we had sorted out our car hire at Inverness Airport last weekend it was just a sort drive to Loch Flemington for the long staying American Coot. It done the right thing staying, nine weeks after we booked up our Highlands trip and is still there today!

Ptar very much!

Although seeing 2 Golden Eagle, Amercian Coot, 5 Dipper, Black and Red Grouse, Raven, 2 Crested Tit and all the Sea Duck, Divers etc. The whole experience of watching the Ptarmigan in their some times very harsh conditions was the weekends  highlight for me.  I do feel very lucky to have seen them so well!

 

Ptarmigan

Having failed twice up in the Highlands for Ptarmigan in the past I had to try and make it third time lucky. I got in touch with Marcus Conway at www.ebirder.com for a day out guiding in the Cairngorm. Myself and the others really enjoyed  his local expertise and knowledge and for me to finally get to see Ptarmigan. To see them in a super group, males and females too, it was well worth the wait!

 

On a Crest of a wave

In terms of birding weekends away this one has been my favourite by far. We booked up in December, thats Paul, Martin and Dave and couldn't of asked for better birding conditions in the Highlands. Lights winds, calm days and a lot of luck, we were able to get close views of all the specialities in Scotland. So here is the first post from a great weekend. So, I thought that I'll start with the Crested Tit!