A diary of my wildlife encounters
31st December 2010 M74 - northbound cariageway, 2 miles south of Junction 18
Grey Heron on grass verge at 13.15
27th December 2010 A8 Junction with Carnbroe Road (NS 74750 62429)
Grey Heron on grass verge at 21.15
23rd December 2010 Strathclyde Loch
The loch is frozen over and the only birds to be seen were Mallard, Mute Swan, Black-headed Gull and Common Gull.
8th December 2010 Wishaw
Hooded crow outside the library on Kennilworth Avenue.
24th November 2010 Greenhead Moss
Perchy Pond is all but frozen over and the ducks are learning to land without thumping their beaks into the ice!
I was only there for an hour but managed to see 24 species:
Mute Swan, Mallard, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Starling, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Rook, Chaffinch, Goldfinch (flock of 60 or so), Bullfinch, Greenfinch and Reed Bunting.
21st November 2010 Hill of Allargue (NJ 254 098)
Came across 4 male Red Grouse
Crief
18th-20th November 2010 Carrbridge
Stayed at the MacDonald Lochanhully Holiday Resort (many thanks Elaine), in a lodge overlooking some wonderful old woodland. Red Squirrel were the highlight from the window.
Loch Garten/Cairngorm.
The Heather Centre
A wonderful 'wildlife' area that attracts countless birds and affords close up views of Red Squirrel.
16th November 2010 Lesmahagow
Saw my first snow of the winter.
13th November 2010 Slamannan
Chalked up 2 new species, although neither produced half decent photographs - Bean Goose and White-fronted Goose. The birds had been reported for some days now and I took the opportunity of going and having a look. They were just where I had been told they'd be but it was not possible to get within 800 yards of them! Still, it was good to see them and I also saw some beautiful Buzzard along the way.
10th November 2010 Motherwell
The day dawned frosty, but with blue skies and no wind. Were the Waxwing still there? Yes! At least 60 birds. I watched them for over three hours; saw them feeding, not only taking berries and sycamore seeds but insects as well, and also pairs of birds feeding each other.
9th November 2010 Motherwell
Watched a flock of well over 200 Waxwing. Having only ever seen two Waxwing before in my life, both at Greenhead Moss 2 years ago, I was amazed at how noisy these birds are. As might be expected, the day was really dull with some light rain and offered little chance of getting any really good photographs.
4th November 2010 Ayrshire coast
Explored the coast between Prestwick and Irvine but heavy rain prevented me from seeing very much!
20th October 2010 Lothian coast (Aberlady Bay to Yellowcraig)
13th October 2010 Lothian coast (Cramond and Prestonpans to Aberlady Bay)
3rd October 2010 Mersehead (RSPB)
My first visit to this site on the Solway produced a new (photographed) species for me: Tree Pipit.
Other birds seen:
Little grebe, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Pink-footed Goose, Barnacle Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Wigeon, Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Kestrel, Pheasant, Lapwing, Curlew, Woodpigeon, Swallow, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Wheatear, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Starling, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rook, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Greenfinch, Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting.
Sadly, I also came across a dead Buzzard.
27th August 2010 Vane Farm (RSPB)
My first visit to Vane Farm today. This is a lovely reserve although all the action was taking place a long way from any of the hides.
500+ Curlew from the furthest hide (sorry, can't remember what it's called!).
Also: Grey Heron, Lapwing, Coot, Woodpigeon, Swallow, Carrion Crow, Pochard, Black-headed Gull, Shoveler, Greylag Goose, Robin, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Buzzard and Mute Swan.
The highlight of my day was driving to the reserve, from Perth, at J10 on the M90 an Osprey flew across the motorway with a large fish in its talons! Presumably caught on the River Earn.
Of course at 70mph and with my camera in the boot!!!!!
21st August 2010 Crick:
14th August 2010 New Lanark:
2nd July - 12th July 2010 Lanzarote:
Southern Grey Shrike 
Hoopoe 
Linnet 
Trumpeter Finch 
Collared Dove 
Yellow-legged Gull 
Spanish Sparrow 
Rock Dove 
Berthelot's Pipit 
Kestrel 
Atlantic Lizard 
28th May 2010 - Scone Palace
First Photographs of:
Hawfinch 
8th May 2010 - Lake Vyrnwy
2 new species photographed, bringing up my 150!
Redstart 
Pied Flycatcher 
27th March 2010
1st Bumble Bee of the year in our garden this morning.
1st Swallows of the year. 2 seen at Castle Road, Dunure, Ayrshire (NS 251 149) at 12.00 (Midday).
Also
My first ever Iceland Gull seen and photographed on the river Ayr (NS 339 220) - on a sandbank SE of the Old Bridge.
26th March 2010
5th batch of frogspawn in our pond this morning.
22nd March 2010
4th batch of frogspawn in our pond this morning.
21st March 2010
3rd batch of frogspawn in our pond this morning.
Sparrowhawk harried by a Carrion Crow overhead.
20th March 2010
2nd batch of frogspawn in our pond this morning and 12 frogs!
At least 13 of last year's baby goldfish have survived the winter.
19th March 2010
Frogspawn in our garden pond - 2 days later than last year (+ 5 Frogs)
Sparrowhawk over garden.
18th March 2010
4 Whooper Swan this morning (09.30)
17th March 2010
5 Whooper Swan this morning (09.30). None this afternoon.
15th March 2010
4 Roe Deer at Garrion Bridge
13th March 2010
Kestrel photographed at Grandborough & Skylark at Shuckburgh.
11th March 2010
Bank Vole Ferniegair
10th March 2010
32 Whooper Swan at Larkhall this morning (09.30) but a tractor ploughing the field this afternoon and, not surprisingly, no birds to be seen.
A flock of 12 Geese sp. flew high over garden this pm.
9th March 2010
12 Whooper Swan still present at Larkhall this morning (09.30) and 22 there this afternoon (16.30)
7th March 2010
Dimsdale: Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard
5th March 2010
My first visit today to Hogganfield Loch (NS66).
This is certainly a place to get up-close-and-personal with the birds!
Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Teal, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Goldeneye, Goosander, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Feral Pigeon, Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Robin, Starling, Carrion Crow.
No sign of Lesser Scaup which has been reported recently!
4th March 2010
40 Whooper Swan again this morning (09.30) at Larkhall but only 5 this afternoon (16.30).
A kestrel flew over garden pm.
3rd March 2010
40 Whooper Swan at Larkhall, 09.30 and a similar number at 16.30.
Short-tailed Field vole nest at Ferniegair.
2nd March 2010
Visit to Baron's Haugh
Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Mallard, Teal, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye,Goosander, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Wood pigeon, Grey Wagtail, Robin, Dunnock,Blackbird, Fieldfare, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Treecreeper, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch.
A pair of Roe Deer
Still 12 Whooper Swan present at Larkhall.
Visit to Strathclyde Loch
Little Grebe, Cormorant,Mute Swan, Graylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Goosander, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Pied Wagtail, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow.
1st March 2010
28 Whooper Swan (Larkhall) in Field between A72 and the River Clyde (NS772529).
28th February 2010
Watched a Short-tailed Field Vole feeding at Ferniegair.
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