I’m so chuffed that there is at least one kingfisher regularly fishing a patch of the canal near me. There may even be a pair. I think this one is a female, as there is orange on her lower beak. I tried to capture her in flight and managed a couple of shots of herContinue reading “Small Wonder”
Tag Archives: birding
If you go into the reed bed today …
On my recent birthday we travelled to the Tay Reed Beds at Errol, between Perth and Dundee to hunt for rarely seen bearded tits, also known as bearded reedlings. If lucky enough to spot one for the first time ever it would be such a birthday treat. We’d been once before in early spring butContinue reading “If you go into the reed bed today …”
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”
The Waiting Game
May is a month of waiting. Nests have been constructed, eggs laid and now the parent birds sit it out and wait. Let’s hope this moorhen’s nest on a branch over the river Tyne at Haddington survives any deluges of water. The swan has her nest on an island in the middle of the river.Continue reading “The Waiting Game”
Wetland Wonders, Mallorca
As well as the flamingos in Mallorca there were many other wetland waders which were new to me. I loved seeing the black winged stilts, named because of their stilt like legs. When they flew their legs trailed out behind them. The heron was as common as back home, always so photogenic, especially when reflectedContinue reading “Wetland Wonders, Mallorca”
Are ye dancin’?
This Spring is the first time I’ve seen the elaborate courtship dance of Great Crested Grebes. It’s quite a remarkable sight involving puffed up crests, bodies drawn up together out of the water, head shaking from side to side and beaks offering pondweed. When not courting a Great Crested Grebe looks like this: When tryingContinue reading “Are ye dancin’?”
Feeder Friends
Lately it’s been dreich and cold and my walks through the countryside have been a bit deplete of any visible wildlife. So I thought I’d take a closer look at the variety of birds flocking to the fast food joint in my garden. Long tailed tits fly around in large flocks, whistling to each otherContinue reading “Feeder Friends”
Sarah's Wildlife Watch 