Author Archives: sarahthurlbeck

I’ve seen triangular road signs on the Islands of Mull and North Uist warning motorists that otters might be crossing the roads. There is only one main road on the Isle of Jura, and no signs warning of otters. Maybe they don’t need any, as an otter I encountered whilst cycling seemed to know itsContinue reading “Otter Encounters – Part Two”

I’ve just got back from the Isle of Jura where I was lucky enough to spot an otter at least ten times! They were enjoying the good weather as much as us humans and it was a treat to watch them fishing along the shoreline. This one crossed a sandy beach in front of meContinue reading “Otter Encounters – Part One”

As well as the puffins on the Isle of May there are also loads of other birds of interest. On the sea and the cliffs are guillemots, which I think look a bit like penguins. A ranger pointed out a variant which had white rings around its eyes called a “bridled guillemot”. There are 20%Continue reading “Also on the Isle of May …”

Yes, 55,000 pairs have landed on the Isle of May! Last Wednesday we took a boat trip on “The May Princess” from Anstruther to see them. There hardly looked anything like over 100,000. However most of those on land had now reunited with their life partners and were now sitting on single eggs in theirContinue reading “The Puffins have Landed”

Nesting and breeding is hungry work so there are still birds taking advantage of the peanut feeder in my garden. A new visitor this year is the nuthatch, which spends most of its time upside down, whether on tree trunks or bird feeders. Nuthatches are striking looking birds with their dusky blue backs and buffContinue reading “The Nutty Upside Down Bird”

There must be so many nests at this time of year but they are so, so hidden. However I am excited to have found this tawny owl’s nest and am keeping an eye on it from a distance, hoping to see some owlets in the weeks to come. Still hardly any ducklings to be seen.Continue reading “Waiting …”

Madeiran firecrests are tiny endemic island birds which in 2003 were found to be a separate species from common firecrests. They are members of the kinglet family. In the UK our goldcrests are our smallest birds, but firecrests are even smaller, weighing only 5 grams. You can see why they get their name. In theContinue reading “Wee Beauties – Madeiran Firecrests”

Last week I was out walking with a friend when we stopped to look at some long tailed tits in the trees just off the path. We noticed they were gathering bits of lichen off branches. So we looked to where they were going and to our delight saw they were building a nest inContinue reading “A Grand Design”