No otter sightings at all for me this year on our visit to the Isle of Jura. The weather was wilder and the sea much choppier, so maybe that made them harder to spot. Or maybe we just weren’t lucky this year. But the seals were basking in their usual favourite place. You can seeContinue reading “Mid May Sightings”
Author Archives: sarahthurlbeck
Busy Back Lane Birds
A few seconds walk from my back door and I am on the most wonderful back lane a bird watcher could wish for. It goes steeply up through woodland but then levels out on open countryside bordered by hawthorn and gorse hedges. The other morning it was alive with birdsong from both native and migrantContinue reading “Busy Back Lane Birds”
Branching Out!
A week ago I could see that it wouldn’t be long before the two owlets left their cosy tree nest. The eldest of the two was stretching its wings and looking like it might attempt to leave. It’s a long way down to the ground, and it would have to drop down, owlets don’t flyContinue reading “Branching Out!”
A Sight to Delight
Yesterday I had a second visit to the River Kelvin in Glasgow’s West End to try and see the goosander chicks which I’d heard were there. At first the river seemed completely devoid of wildlife. I walked downstream and then retraced my steps. Then out of the lush green foliage on the opposite bank poppedContinue reading “A Sight to Delight”
Quackers
On a recent walk around Linlithgow Loch we counted 11 bedraggled ducklings who had just come out from a swim and were busy preening themselves. Mum looked over them. It’s a huge brood to watch over and no doubt some will be predated by gulls and herons. This one is so tiny it could easilyContinue reading “Quackers”
Owlets in the Nest
I’ve been keeping a close eye on the tawny owl nest and was rewarded last week with a sighting of this owlet snuggled in with its mum. Then I was away from home and didn’t get back for a look until nearly a week later. On this my latest visit there was no sign ofContinue reading “Owlets in the Nest”
Idyllic Spring Mornings
I’ve been dodging April showers and going out on the better mornings to see and listen to what’s going on in my local patch. I am so lucky to be able to step out of my back door and into the countryside. These past few mornings the overriding calls have been those of gutsy weeContinue reading “Idyllic Spring Mornings”
By the Waterside
The past two days I’ve gone with friends to the river Kelvin and the canal in the hope of seeing kingfishers. However none were to be seen. Nevertheless there were lots of other waterside birds worthy of photographing, not least this dipper who posed beautifully for me. It had been enjoying splashing in the rapidContinue reading “By the Waterside”
Wonderful Woodpeckers!
This week I got third time lucky searching for the green woodpecker at Edenmill. The green woodpecker is also known as a “yaffle” because of its mocking, laughing call. It certainly seemed to be laughing at me trying to spot it and was a case of heard but not seen. There is one pair atContinue reading “Wonderful Woodpeckers!”
Friday Foragers
At last, a dry day with morning and afternoon walks in the countryside with my camera and binoculars! Today I saw four jays and even managed to get this photo of one, albeit with branches in the way. They alerted me to their presence by squawking to each other. This morning we saw the canalContinue reading “Friday Foragers”
Sarah's Wildlife Watch 