Author Archives: sarahthurlbeck

My mum was a keen birdwatcher and used to correct me if I talked about seagulls. “There’s no such thing as seagulls,” she’d tell me, “there are many different types of gulls.” The kittiwake is a gull, which if any gull deserved to be called a seagull it would, as it spends most of itsContinue reading “Hello Kitty”

Herons are very striking majestic looking birds. I sometimes think they look almost left over from prehistoric times, especially when flying. They can be found near water, whether streams, rivers, ponds, lochs or the open sea. They stand stock still looking into the water patiently waiting to catch a bite to eat. It’s not justContinue reading “Majestic Herons”

Its a totally different miniature world in amongst the meadow grasses, but no less spectacular for that. Everyone loves to see a ladybird. Did you know there are 5000 species of ladybird in the world and in Britain there are 26 recognisable species? Wow! I need to be looking out for more than just thisContinue reading “Meadow Minibeasts”

Last week’s wanderings took place along the West and South of Kintyre where I was on the lookout for otters. Alas no otters were spotted, despite this being good otter terrain. Dawn and dusk are best times to spot them but we’ve seen them in the past in daytime, sitting eating their fish on rocks.Continue reading “Seals and Seabirds”

Buddy and Holly have finally branched out from their nest. They are now ready to begin flying and hunting lessons. Here are some pictures of them this evening. When I braved the midges in Buzzard Wood this evening I could hear their high pitched squeals from the trees. I saw that the nest was emptyContinue reading “Branching Out”

Now that lock down restrictions have eased and we have been able to go further afield I was able to visit Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve in East Lothian. It was lovely to get a change of scene! The tide was in over the estuary and I was welcomed back by the evocative call of aContinue reading “Bay Watch”

A month or so ago I was going up to the woodpeckers’ hole and watching young woody poking his head out and squealing for food. Now I have the pleasure of watching him feed from the nuts hanging in my garden. Sometimes its the dad that comes but I know this is one of theContinue reading “Young Uns”

If you came across this bright yellow bird in a hedge you could be forgiven for thinking that someone’s budgie had escaped. You would not hear “Who’s a pretty boy then”, as this bird gets the reputation for cheeping “a little bit of bread and no chee…eese”. It is the yellowhammer and I’ve been hearingContinue reading “Hedgerow Beauties”

As well as keeping my eye on the buzzard chicks I’ve also been seeing a family of wrens in the wood and the other day I was delighted to see a deer and her fawn. First, here are some pictures of Jenny Wren tending to her hungry fledglings. She may be Britain’s second smallest birdContinue reading “Woodland Families”

Visitors returning to the Isle of Coll each year get called “summer swallows” by the island residents. Unfortunately this year we have not been able to migrate there for summer but thankfully nature is not in lockdown. This year our swallows returned in April and have paired up and got busy with the nesting season.Continue reading “Summer Swallows”