Brace yourselves...

Okay, I have no shame.

But its true. Next week is the first of my 2 trips to Mull. 3 days exploring the otter haunts and seal haul outs. A couple of boat trips to take in the Treshnish Isles, looking out for basking sharks and catching up with the puffins on Lunga, finally exploring Staffa and taking a peek inside Fingles cave. Then, to round off the month, its lakeland with Matt and the 'rents. Hoping for Ring Ouzel near Haweswater, but I've no guarantee of steering the group that way... might have to take a detour on my own somewhere along the line!

August brings a cruise down to Belfast with the RYA's cruise in company, starting at Largs and heading over the Irish Sea, via Rathlin Island. Then September, the highlight of the year, Iceland. Okay it's ostensibly for a conference, and its kind of the off season. but that all adds to the challenge. The guides are out, and I'm planning my routes to bag those northern species. And throughout it all I'm out on the research boats once or twice a month, sampling for microplastics (FYI Monday was a birding bust, nothing but a few gannets and tysties).

So prepare yourselves for a flurry of excited, self indulgent posts. Lets hope the weather improves.

Out of my Area: Leighton Moss

Yesterday morning I packed my bins, my scope and my Eurovision hangover, and was out of the house at 6.30. I headed to Paisley to meet the folks from the Renfrewshire bird group, and from there we took a warm, cramped coach ride to Leighton Moss.

We breifly stopped off at the Eric Morcambe hide first, checking in on the waders and wildfowl. Quickly allowing us to rack up Avocet, Little Egret, Shelduck, Black Tailled Godwit, Redshank, Curlew, Teal, Black Headed Gull, Gadwall and - from the side of the path - Sedge warbler, Long Tailled Tit, and Cetti's warbler. Then it was back on the bus to the main reserve.

Avocet from the Eric Morecambe hide

After 3 hours and 30 minutes on the coach I was beginning to realise just how antisocial I have become in my time on Cumbrae. Explaining that I was heading to look for bearded tits first, I slunk off in the opposite direction to everyone else, heading for the public hide and the scrapes.

The first thing I found was the insects, the air was thick with them; and they were obviously feeding the host of warblers that I could hear in the reeds. As i looked above the reeds a marsh harrier was lazily flapping to gain height. I rattled off a few blurry shots in case I was the only on to get a glimpse that day (I needn't have bothered).

Then, as I stood at the edge of one of the scrapes, there was a bouncing flash of honey brown, a long tail, and bright underside - bearded tit. Tick. 

The causeway was a fly smorgasbord

Blurry Harrier

 When I got tired of the flies and increasing numbers of people I headed back toward the main reserve. Catching up with Gary and some of the others on the way. From their view over the marsh we could watch 3 harriers working the reed beds; then another raptor broke the skyline, too light underneath for a marsh harrier. What do you know, Osprey (we later caught up with the same individual sat in a tree at the Greisedale hide).

As I left the others and headed back towards the hides I past Eddie, who said he'd had marsh tit at the feeders about 40 mins before. But as I wandered round I couldn't catch sight of one. I checked out the other hides and added Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted duck and Shovellor to the list, then decided it was time to sample the reserve's supplies of coffee and cake (They're both excellent by the way).

With 30 minutes left until we were due back on the bus I nipped down to the feeders, finally adding Marsh tit to the day total (and the year list), and getting great vies of bullfinch and nuthatch.

Nuthatch at the feeders

Marsh tit at the feeders

I just missed the last ferry on the way home, so I decided to head down to Portencross to see what was moving off-shore, then kip in the car. I added Shag, Razorbill, Gannet, Herring and Greater and Lessser Black Backed gulls, and Cuckoo to the day total.

Fun in Faro: you can talk the talk, but can you stalk the stork?

Having hardly been abroad before, I was looking forward to getting away the week before last (and hoping birds to my list), this time at a conference in beautiful Faro in the Algarve.  I meant to do a couple of posts about this latest week “out of my area”; however, work is manic. So here are the Cliffs Notes.

Day 1: BT godwit, Common Tern, Turnstone, Swift, Swallow, Shelduck, House Martin, Goldfinch, White Stork.

My trip started off in an optimistic fashion. I spent the 2 and a half hour flight spent flicking hopefully through the Collins guide. Then – as we came into land – I saw my first White Stork, flying low over the marsh. On the way to the hotel my taxi driver (who I had told I liked birds) drove via a couple of stork nests specially. Arrived at my hotel in at 17:30; grabbed a quick shower, put on a thick coating of factor 30, picked up bins and camera, and headed for the harbour.

The first thing I noticed was the swifts. Having not seen any swifts at home yet, the cacophony of screams was brilliant. A great reminder that summer wasn’t far away. I quickly located a prospective restaurant for dinner, but decided to walk a little further along the shorefront (and try to identify a possible boat trip for Sunday morning).

Looking out over the marsh I saw the familiar shapes of turnstone and common tern, both displaying, as well as a number of feeding godwit and turnstone. Further out another stork was feeding, and all the time the was the sound of the swifts. Walking back I saw another loner take up a seat at the afore mentioned seafood place. And that’s how I met Michiel, who also studies microplastics (and is also a keen birder). A networking win!

Stork nest, Faro marina

Day 2: White Stork, Curlew, Sardinian Warbler, Hoopoe, Cattle Egret, Turnstone, Swallow, Swift, Sand Martin, Black Winged Stilt, Little Tern, Mallard, Dunlin, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull, Starling, Goldfinch, House Sparrow, Knot, Azure Winged Magpie.

Breakfast at 7:30 and out by 8. Trying to catch the coolest part of the day, I took a walk down to the harbour to see what was moving about. The swifts were still filling the air, running low alongside the walls of old Faro. I decided to duck into the shade of the old city, and found more stork topping the old buildings like statues.

From there I walked south along the coast, picking up Black Winged Stilt, Cattle Egret, and Little Tern on the way out of town. At the side of the cycle path a number of small warblers were moving amongst the low scrub. After 10 minutes of intermittent views I concluded Sardinian warbler, but I’m happy to be corrected!

Sardianian Warbler

Black Winged Stilt feeding happily amongst the fly-tipped plastics

I turned back as it began to get warm, just in time to see a hoopoe shoot across the road. I considered hopping a boat trip and getting to see a little more of the wetlands; however, by that point I was already a tomato, time to go skulk in the hotel before conference registration.

And then –  just when I thought the fun was over – Michiel and I decided to take a wander round the university grounds as the other delegates checked in, just giving us enough time to catch a few azure winged magpie (not to mention a brace of mosquito bites in my case). Then it was time for introductions, networking and free sangria, before heading back to the hotels.

Day 3: Serin, Hoopoe, Azure winged magpie, Bee-eater, Pied fly catcher, House martin, House sparrow, Swallow, Swift.

Today was a full day of networking and lectures, and an opportunity to catch up with the other microplastics researchers at the conference. Today’s new face was Tomas from CEFAS, who also works on microplastic impacts.

At the break between sessions I took my camera out to where we’d seen the magpies the day before, on the way down to the trees a hoopoe lifted and headed out over the scrub. There were four magpies moving between the trees and the cut grass, and today they were joined by a number of pied flycatchers, moving between the branches of the pines. I heard something I didn’t recognise, scolding me from the trees. Something bright and small was chasing between the low branches. After

At lunch I stuffed as much food I could fit into my face then headed out with my binoculars. I could hear something else I couldn’t recognise coming from the far side of campus. Regretting my choice of sandals I made my way through the gravel to the chain-link, just in time to see a bee-eater lift off in pursuit. Over the next 20 minutes I watched 3 birds move between the dead trees ask the hawked for insects.

Bee-eater

Azure winged magpie

Serin

Throng at the plastics posters

Day 4: Serin, Jay, Greenfinch, Azure winged magpie, Bee-eater, Pied fly catcher, House martin, House sparrow, Swallow, Swift, Collared dove, Goldfinch.

A complete blur of a day; mainly focusing on my lurking around my poster, trying to hand out as many business cards as possible, and trying to eat my bodyweight in free cake. In the evening I avoid the crowds in favour of lounging in my hotel watching episodes of Castle.

Day 5:  House martin, House sparrow, Swallow, Swift, Collared dove, Goldfinch, Sanderling, Sardinian warbler, Yellow wagtail, Collared pratincole, Little ringed plover, Dunlin, Kentish plover, Crested lark, Little Tern, Gannet, Grey heron, White Stork, Spoonbill, Little egret, Probable Andouins Gull.

Last day of the conference. Everyone that went to the banquet the night before looked very queasy at breakfast, I wasn’t sure if Jen was going to feel well enough for the trip to Ilha Deserta, but I scoffed as much as I could anyway. It’d be rude to let anything go to waste.

The morning revolved around impacts assessments, MSFD, good cake, and bad coffee. But after lunch Jen, Michiel and I hopped in the first taxi out, made quick change at the hotel, and ran to the pier. A 45 minute boat ride and we were on the fringes of the Atlantic and as soon as we were ashore we struck bird.

A pair of large larks was moving by the boardwalk. We weren’t sure whether we had Thekla or Crested lark; the individual we saw up - close was very darkly marked on the breast, however, looking at the long beak, red underwings, and VERY pointed crest, we went with Crested.

Crested Lark

The island itself is around 3 km in circumference, low scrub, with a bar and a gull colony at its centre. We headed out on the Atlantic side of the island, walking along the sand. Michiel and I hung back to get a very over the scrub, and soon picked up Kentish plover and yellow wagtail. Then a pair of dark, sandy birds lifted from around 50 meters away, one looping back, one flying swiftly across the island; almost barrel chested, white undersides, sharp wings and a forked tail – Pratincole!

Just as we were celebrating this, an imm. gull we didn’t recognise went over. Short, heavy, reddish bill with black tip – long wings – white head – dark eye – dark legs – dark “hand”. It was Michiel that called Andouins gull, and I’m not going to argue with him!

We cut inland across the gull colony – getting better sighting of the various gulls and wagtails on the way – and make our way to the quieter inshore side of the island. Here were picked up a range of waders, more little tern, and Sardinian warbler (and I begin to properly burn in the sun).Then the other caught us up, and we made our way back round toward the jetty; where we sat on the seawall together – watching the fish and geckos - while we waited for the boat.

Gecko-thing

Kentish Plover

On the way in we were chillier, and more intent on sharing our opinions of the trip; but we got brief sightings of little ringed plover and spoonbill. All in all, those snatched hours out on the island with new friends were the highlight of the trip. Much more enjoyable that running between seminar rooms in the heat (however good the talks were)! I can only apologize to my new friends for how long it’s taken me to post this. I hope I see you all next year!

Granite and Gannets - The Naturalist Blonde goes to Ailsa Craig

 Well, I had a day in heaven! A few months ago - at the suggestion of Bernie Z - I approached the RSPB with an offer of cleaning up the plastic on Ailsa Craig, and examining the level of plastic in nests on the island.

Nest plastic can increase chick and adult mortality by entangling them in nests, and can make for pretty gruesome sights. I wanted to get an idea of the scale of this problem in the Clyde, particularly on a reserve so important to nesting seabirds.

If you haven't heard about Ailsa before, its a huge hunk of granite, 10 miles off Girvan. Over the years its been a haven for pirates, Roman Catholics and the Northern Lighthouse Board. Until recently it was blasted to provide beautiful blue hone granite for curling stones. But, more importantly, it is home to kittiwakes, shag, fulmar, tysties, the odd pair of puffin, and around 35'000 gannets.

To get there you hire a boat from Girvan or Campbletown (we went from Girvan); its about an hour's crossing, and I imagine it could be pretty miserable in really poor weather. As it was, we were heading out into the wind and chopping waves on our trip. Our skipper, Mark, was in two minds as to whether we should go at all. Thank goodness the RSPB folk on the trip were hardy too!

Due to the conditions, it took about an hour and a half to get to the island. During which time we had a few Tysties, manx shearwater and 3 sandwich terns (a year tick). Standing directly behind the wheelhouse I was out of most of the elements (and my fladden suit has yet to fail me), however, I was very happy when the boat dropped into the lee of the island.

Landing at the old pier (with very reassuring signage), and offloading all the gear we'd need for our hour and a half ashore. As the folk headed off, to look for signs of twite and put out bait stations, I unravelled by tape measure and set about running some speedy plastic transects. It wasn't difficult.

Why is that written on this side too? We're already there...

 Bernie hadn't been exaggerating about the plastic levels. The lack of any foliage higher than scrub height meant that plastics carried in on the waves had been picked up by the wind and blown further inland. I think "strewn" is an excellent description.

It was the usual mix of stuff, but some was clearly beautifully aged. Ropes I attempted to clear were turning to dust as I handled them, their pieces dropping between the boulders, or being carried by the breeze. I had to move pretty carefully to make sure I was collecting as much as I could and not just creating a different problem.

Frayed and fragmenting

After running a quick 3 "look-see" transects I took the camera and went to scope out prospective clearing sites. Moving quickly round from the lighthouse to the south-east foghorn, heading back for a snatched lunch, before we were back on the boat to carry out counts on the colony.

Fog horn and kittiwake cave

As we moved southward round the island the number of birds and levels of activity drastically increased. Everywhere there were birds fishing, following nearby trawlers, bringing in nesting material, squabbling on the cliffs, loathing on the water or just filling the sky above. As the guys trained there eyes inland at the colony, I took the opprtunity to snap a completely unnoticed raft of around 30 kittiwake, then Andrew's sharp eyes on the cliff provided me with another year tick, a pair of puffin.

Gannets were everywhere above, almost impossible to focus on.

Kittiwake raft

Multiply the by about 500 (and add a lot of up) and you're starting to get an idea of the scale of things

My first puffins of the year

A full lap of the island done, and weirdly exhausted, I took as many snaps of the retreating island as we headed back to Girvan. The five 30 start had done me in and I alternately dozed, plotted out potential work sites, and looked out for passing wildlife.

Ailsa Craig Lighthouse

Beach plastic

45 minutes later we were in site of the harbour, and - just as I thought the day was over - a red throated diver (another year tick) flew above the boat, distracting us from the victory flapjacks. Then, all too soon, we were back in the harbour and unloading. 

Crying off the post trip cuppa, I jumped in the car to head for home and a much needed glass of wine.

Hopeless in the Highlands Part 1

Base camp for this trip is a cottage in Tomintoul (highest village in the highlands – just saying). Day one started well. Breakfast at 5, then we had to de-ice the inside of the car – twice. Then off to caper-watch at Loch Garten. 

Spotted a couple of black grouse on the way across, then rolled into the car park with the sun barely up and made our way up to the hide. Stopped for a quick shuftie at the feeders first. Bang. Crested tit. Off the mark.

Tick!

Unfortunately, when we got into the hide the dawn patrol informed us that a female caper had flown across the screens just after first light, but hadn't been seen since. EJ was on the nest, but the fog was so thick we could only see his silhouette. So we spent our time enjoying a hot chocolate and long views of the crested tit, siskin, greater spotted woodpecker and red squirrel.

I wouldn't complain about one of these nicking from my feeders!

After being kicked out at 8 we headed for second breakfast in Granton. Then, thoroughly refreshed, headed back toward Nethy Bridge. A wander through the woods at the kirk gave us another 50 odd chaffinch, gold crest and a couple of treecreeper. 

The light through the trees was magic.

After another quick snack,we nipped back to Loch Garten for a proper view of the ospreys. Bumped into Jen, one of the group that went ringing on Little Cumbrae, who's now volunteering on the osprey project. She pointed us in the direction of Forest Lodge - a really great site and well worth a longer explore than we were able to give it. We also found  a cracking little toad!

Most. Determined. Toad. Ever.

By 3 we were shattered, so we headed off to the Glenlivet distillery. Stoat, red grouse, grey and red-legged partridge en route. Then, 50 minutes later and 3 bottles better off, Reeve’s pheasant on the way home (yeah I know it’s not a qualifying tick, but a cracking looking bird).

Cracker!

Blink and you'll miss him

In the end, not a bad day, 6 more birds for the year list and one life tick. Back to Loch Garten tomorrow to try for capercallie and crossbills again, then off to Cairngorm Plateau for a chance of ptarmigan. But, for now a little whisky and an early night.

"Normal" service has been resumed.

It been all quiet on the western front over the winter, I know. There hasn't been that much to report. 

But, with the longer days upon us and me being on a fitness kick, I've been out of the house with the camera a lot more. I may not be sharp enough between 5 and 7 am to get beautiful wildlife shots, but there are some great views to be had.

Arran at sunset

Blurry Bute at 6 30 am

Arran at 7 am

One reason I've not been posting was that over winter, I wasn't the Naturalist Blonde - autumn brought a flush of winter/non-breeding plumage (ornithologically speaking) - I was the most un-natural blue.

Another cause of the posting slow down was the loss of my long lens, resulting in fewer pretty pictures to show you. On the plus side, I spent a lot more time looking at the the birds, and that's always a bonus in my eyes!

Anyway, I'm back now, with some big trips and plenty of birding planned for the new year. The coming month should include Spurn, Arran and Ailsa Craig, followed by Egypt, Mull, and Portugal later in the year. 

The Blonde Birders will also be back in action - touring the country; keep your eyes open for guest posts from black-country birder, Thomas Christian. 

Having said all that, today Cumbrae is subject to gusting wind and blizzards, so you might have to wait a little longer for new posts. Hope your weather is better than ours!

 

Happy Birding!

Updates

Right, year list-wise I'm still a bit behind where I'd like to be; 96 species, topped up in the last few days by hen harrier and purple sandpiper amongst others. Hopefully I'll get the chance to to that up a little over the next month.

At the reserve a week or so ago I got the opportunity to follow up on a promise to get some hawk shots for a friend. Our "sneaky" (okay blatant), young sparrowhawk spent a few hours sat in the bus below the feeders, before leaping up to catch an unfortunate chaffinch right when I didn't have my camera... Balls. At least I managed to get a couple of nice shots of him for James before he scarpered.

"Perfectly Camouflaged"

Yesterday I was being shown all the bits of the Clyde coast I'd missed by Rik; over the course of 6 hours racked up 70 species, including:

• Whooper swans
• Scaup
• Purple sandpiper
• Little grebe
• Sanderling
• Common Scoter
• and at the last gasp a Merlin, which shot across the road infront of us. 

Whooper 1

Whooper 2

A golf course of Scaup

The island hasn't been too bad either, black guillemots, hen harrier, loads of mergs and another flock of scoter about. Still a bit chilly though, roll on the better weather!