sarahthurlbeck

Goosy Ganders

The other day we witnessed a wee gaggle of greylag geese and eleven fluffy goslings trying to reach the pond for a swim. We first came upon three adults and one gosling on the path in front of us. The adults seemed to be encouraging the youngster to go back to the group it hadContinue reading “Goosy Ganders”

Also on the Isle of May …

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 …”

The Puffins have Landed

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”

The Nutty Upside Down Bird

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”

Waiting …

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 …”

Wee Beauties – Madeiran Firecrests

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”

A Grand Design

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”

London Exotics

I went hunting in the centre of London for ring (or rose) necked parakeets and then realised I didn’t really need to hunt as they seemed to be everywhere! They originally come from Africa and Southern Asia but were kept as pets in the UK. However many escaped and they are living in the wildContinue reading “London Exotics”

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”