Today we returned to Hogganfield Loch and were delighted to see that the great crested grebe chicks had hatched and were riding along on their Mums’ backs. Two lots of chicks were on their parents’ backs far off in the middle of the loch but we saw that one lot were being kept close toContinue reading “Great Crested Grebe Chicks!”
Tag Archives: birds
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”
The Long and the Short of it
Always expect the unexpected. A few weeks ago we took some friends to see if we could catch sight of a barn owl at dusk. When we arrived by the barns we were excited to see an owl on top of a post. At first I thought it was our male barn owl, but thenContinue reading “The Long and the Short of it”
Joys of Spring part 2
You know Spring is well and truly here when you see the first ducklings taking to the water. On the first day of May a friend and I went looking for them along the canal. At first there was no sign of any female mallards or ducklings, but then a family of 9 ducklings appearedContinue reading “Joys of Spring part 2”
The Joys of Spring Part 1
Spring has arrived at last! I’ve been out and about enjoying the sunshine and listening to the birds. I mostly hear them before seeing them. (A wonderful app to help you identify birdsong is the Merlin bird app.) The wren is our second smallest bird but its song is a real belter! Rather more sweetlyContinue reading “The Joys of Spring Part 1”
Hoping for a Hoopoe
Whilst in Mallorca I was always on the lookout for an exotic looking bird called a hoopoe. It is nothing like any bird we get in the UK. I’d seen one in France years ago but never photographed one. I’d read that they could be found almost anywhere in Mallorca. Whilst hunting them I gotContinue reading “Hoping for a Hoopoe”
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”
Flamingos!!
I’m just back from a week in Mallorca where the highlight was seeing flamingos in the wild. I’d read that they could be found in the southern part of the island, an hour and a half from where we were staying. But it turned out we didn’t need to drive so far to see them.Continue reading “Flamingos!!”
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’?”
Kite Flying
Twenty years ago Red Kites would have been a rare site in Scotland, due to relentless persecution the century before. This century they have been reintroduced into select areas and now, happily, our third largest raptor is making a good comeback. Red kites are quite easily distinguishable due to their warm brownish red colours andContinue reading “Kite Flying”
Sarah's Wildlife Watch 