sarahthurlbeck

Hare Raising!

I was out for a walk this morning, hoping to see a hare as always, but little did I know there was a treat in store for me. I spotted a few hares together at the top of a field so I made my way for a closer view of them from behind a hedge.Continue reading “Hare Raising!”

Froggy Encounter

Today has been an exceptionally mild day for the start of the second week of March. As well as blackbirds starting to sing I heard frogs croaking and purring close to the edge of the Alloch Dam where I live. As I got close to the sound I started to make out these slimy amphibiansContinue reading “Froggy Encounter”

Pond Party

There are some amazing sights to be seen around our ponds and lochs at this time of year. Just look at these crested grebes! They were courting and mating on Hogganfield Loch on the outskirts of Glasgow. I wasn’t expecting to actually see the mating take place so was surprised when it happened right beforeContinue reading “Pond Party”

Morton Lochs Visit

This month we visited Morton Lochs, part of Tentsmuir nature reserve in Fife. Around the lochs there are several hides from which to watch the wildlife and what I was really hoping to photograph was a kingfisher. However the lochs had been frozen and no kingfishers had been seen there since December. I’ll need toContinue reading “Morton Lochs Visit”

After the Storm

This great tit could be forgiven for looking a bit raggedy after the recent storm Eowyn. The birds and beasts must have been hunkered down as the storm raged and many of the trees in my local patch were toppled. These were a couple of huge beech trees in owl wood, fortunately not the oneContinue reading “After the Storm”

Coping with the Cold

This week has been great for getting out into the crisp winter sunshine. On a walk yesterday I saw this young swan standing stock still and looking like it was missing its head! I was a bit worried about it, however it was just sleeping and when I passed by later it was fully awake,Continue reading “Coping with the Cold”

Feeder Firsts

We’ve had some new visitors to our garden feeder this winter, smaller than the goldfinches and tits, wee redpolls. They have a maroon streak on their heads and pinkish breasts. I’ve never ever seen them in the garden before. There was a group of three feeding from the feeder and on the ground. We’ve alsoContinue reading “Feeder Firsts”

Chilling Out

Happy Christmas! It’s cold and dreich outside but the wildlife just gets on with it. As long as there’s water and food most can survive the cold. There seems to be an abundance of robins and not just those pictured on Christmas cards. They add a splash of red to the winter landscape and theirContinue reading “Chilling Out”

On Return Tickets

The whooper swans have flown in from Iceland to spend the winter here. Down in an English nature reserve they have seen thousands, however I was pleased to see seven at my local Hogganfield Loch. There are a couple of young ones in the group whose grey plumage is gradually changing to white. Whooper swansContinue reading “On Return Tickets”

Some American Wildlife

I was fortunate to be able to visit the states of Colorado and Utah during the first fortnight in October. Here are some photos of wildlife observed during the visit. Firstly I came across Mule Deer, I guess so called because of their large ears. They were not too timid so I was able toContinue reading “Some American Wildlife”