Dipper

Posted on 29/02/2024 by admin

If I look at the British distribution of Dipper I see that there are large areas where it is absent. It is not found in the South East of England nor much of central England as well as the Northern Isles. No amount of global warming will change that. It needs fast or reasonable fast moving streams for its unique (in a British context) feeding method.

Anyway I love them – they are generally visible, sing a sweet song, and have a variety of poses. They are challenging. Often it is the watery backdrop that distinguishes the worth of a picture.

My local ones are giving me the run around. There’s a pair – normally the female would be sitting on eggs but this year they don’t seem to have chosen a site yet. It will likely take a few more visit before I can unravel what’s going on. Frustrating but that the attraction too.

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Little Surprise

Posted on 05/01/2024 by admin

When you have been looking at birds as long as I have, its not common to have a surprise. Sure, you don’t know on any outing which birds you will see but, long term, there’s another sort of surprise. I remember, a long time ago, in the Gambia, seeing an Ibis. Two old ladies (who we got to know well) were aware and said “congratulations – the first of many”. I’ve just checked and we have photographed eighteen in our travels. Anyway, it was a shock when an Ibis turned up close to home.
Today we saw a Little Egret. Sure, they are now fairly widespread in Central and Southern Scotland but when we started looking at birds you would need to go to Southern Spain to see one. Today we walked from our house and there it was.

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Kestrel

Posted on 23/12/2023 by admin

Our Kestrel in Britain is a challenge to photograph. Perched, its not too confiding although, on the odd occasion it will allow you close, say, in the car. However, flying is different challenge. When its not travelling fast it might be hunting and give you a chance since is is superb at that skill. The big problem is that is will always face into the wind. Often that means the light will not be ideal; You have no choice.

In December the light is very poor or quite directional. Last week we got good light and a confiding bird. In just one picture the tail fanned and caught the light at the same moment as the wings were fully open. Perhaps my favourite picture of a Kestrel.

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Owl

Posted on 12/12/2023 by admin

Owl sightings in December are rare. However, the last post referenced Waxwing which visit our shores in the colder months. So does one owl. Like the Waxwing the number vary hugely but 2023 is a decent one. They have probably come from Scandinavia, or quite possibly from Russia.

The Short-eared Owl is highly nomadic. Outside the breeding season it tracks over potentially great distances to find food. Sometimes there can be a small cluster. Over time the numbers dwindle – they are not social outside the breeding season.

The other unusual characteristic of the Short-eared Owl is that can, and does. hunt during the day. Their prey is small rodents so they come into competition with Kestrels. Who wins? They are well matched. We have seen fights with Kestrel winning but other reports cite the Owl as the winner. Anyway they are a thrilling site for a winter’s day.

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Waxwings

Posted on 28/11/2023 by admin

It would be easy to wax lyrical about Waxwings. They are (usually) rare, colourful and visit us when most birds have departed. When not with us they breed in Northern climes from America to Europe and Asia up to the tree line. In winter they move south, feeding on berries, apples, especially fallen ones and insects which they hawk from the skies.

This winter has been a good year – it happens around every fifth year when the berry crop is not so good in areas like southern Scandinavia. We have seen flocks over over a hundred birds, trilling above the Christmas shoppers. Hey, guys, look up for a bit of seasonal joy.

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The Colour of a Bird

Posted on 14/11/2023 by admin

Much more than mammals birds exploit colour. It might be for display, to keep a group together or to warn predators. Further, some use different colours throughout the year.

My picture today is of a Slavonian Grebe (Horned Grebe in the New World) a very local breeder in Scotland. In Spring and Summer it has gorgeous coppery tones. The male is usually slightly stronger coloured if they are side by side but there’s not a great deal of difference.

In winter the challenge is not to stand out. A lot of birds (in our area) go increasingly pale. The pallet of the Slavonian becomes mainly black and white. However what stands out is that astonishing red eye. It does not change. Its a sequin for a little star.

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Squirrels

Posted on 26/10/2023 by admin

Where I live I see both Red and Grey Squirrels. I probably see more Reds since I intentionally go to places where they occur. As an approximation, Greys are in urban areas and Reds in rural areas. In the countryside Greys can be, and are, trapped. Once in a trap it is illegal to then release them into the wild.

If, like me, you believe that Greys are a bad thing there’s no quick fix since Greys were introduced hundreds of years ago in less enlightened times and have multiplied so now there are far more Greys than Reds. For many people, Greys are all they will see. Here’s a picture of a Grey that stood his ground when I encountered him(?) on my walk

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Plover

Posted on 11/10/2023 by admin

Some birds are easy to identify but others are tricky due to variations either inherent (morphs) or seasonal. Last week we were walking along the coast when we spotted some waders (shorebirds). Although I was reasonably confident of the identification I was hugely pleased when they both flew so I took a picture. It happens so fast you don’t know what the wingbeat will look like – up, down, or level. At home, I found one with the wing up. Significance? The Grey (Black-bellied) Plover has black armpits which is a good identifying feature. Technically these are the axillary feathers.

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Nuthatch

Posted on 27/09/2023 by admin

Nuthatch is special to me since it did not feature in my birding until the turn of the century. Then, we would take the long trip to Coldstream and The Hirsel to see it. Usually we were successful. It wasn’t until 2006 that I saw my first in my County.

Since then they have been a success story and would now be described as uncommon in our county. Today, I had more than one close by – one was visibly feeding whilst I heard the merry call of another. They were preparing for harder times by collecting seeds and nuts, and depositing them in cracks in tree trunks and the like, ready for winter. Red Squirrels and Jays also do this.

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Curlew at the Coast

Posted on 15/09/2023 by admin

This is my first Blog since I had to resurrect my website. Welcome if you haven’t been here before.

I was walking at the coast when I saw a Curlew. Having likely bred inland our Curlews migrate the short distance to the coast where they will spend the next few months Curlews are wary – there’s almost a relationship between how big a bird is and how wary. Cranes and Spoonbills are wary – warblers and tits for example are not.

Anyway, the Curlew was intent on feeding, and just as importantly, was in an area with much human (and indeed, car) traffic so it was accustomed to disturbance. This picture shows it looking up to check that there’s nothing to concern it.

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