Scotland

Not the easiest time of year to find many things, but with Graham's local knowledge we were able to maximise our chances of seeing something of interest on most days.
Mostly Fife locations: loch Gelly, Loch Ore, St Andrews, Kingbarns, Kirkcaldy etc. but also did a trip up the A9 to Aviemore (Cairngorms); and also spent an afternoon in Edinburgh (29th)
The golden eagle was seen - albeit distantly - on the return journey from Aviemore (28th).
The sibe chiff was heard and then seen briefly along the coast of Dysart (29th).
And watching two otters feeding together was the non-bird highlight.

 

whoppers

 

smew at Lochore

 

BT diver

 

 

 

Two surf scoters seen from St Andrews: with a huge raft of c.scoters (1000+), some velvets, long tailed ducks and scaup.

 

Corn bunting - novelty for me as now seemingly extinct as an island bird.

 

 

Aviemore: some snow - but not much for this time of year.

 

Waxwings: large flocks feeding in Edinburgh (70+ around this park).

Christmas in Scotland

Just returned from Scotland after spending the Christmas period with family: and of course ventured out with the birding brother. Suffice to say an enjoyable time was had by all; and with exceptionally decent weather throughout: even mild at times..
Avian highlights included golden eagle, surf scoter, smew, sibe chiff, waxwings, twite, to name but a few. Not to mention the stunning scenery.

Auk spp

Fort Vic:

During what was overall a fairly pedestrian sea watch, and whilst watching a guillemot preparing itself to land on the sea: two smaller birds suddenly came into view and overtook it. So I naturally locked on to them and tracked them as they continued in a westerly direction - and soon deduced they were auks. When they'd passed the guillemot I was able to make a size comparison and it was obvious they were considerably smaller; I'd also noted their flight path and action: both kept low just above the water and consistently veered (or zigzagged) doing so in unison; very much reminded me of the puffins I usually see when I visit Scotland. I further concluded that they were probably little auks. Just slightly out too far to pick out any other conclusive details.

Hirundine?

St.Caths: As the exceptionally mild autumn continues with what could influence a protracted period of migration, I tried a vis mig session from the ridge yesterday; and as soon as I stepped out of the car a flock of 100 woodpigeons were heading east - along with a noticeable movement of chaffinches and goldfinch; so my hopes were immediately high-ish. However, not long after setting up at my V.P on the ridge it soon became apparent that it wasn't quite going to be that productive - felt more like end times..
The woodpigeons seemed to be blogging and not really moving in any direction: a poor autumn for them, at least on the island.
At least one brambling heard, but again, given the good numbers (flocks even) seen moving over other mig sites on the mainland recently, it's been surprising not to have picked them up here too in slightly bigger numbers.
A black redstart and common scoter were present. Goldcrest numbers had increased in the area too.

The most interesting bird though, not to mention frustrating, was what appeared to be a hirundine over the sea moving west: but I was limited to extremely distant scope views and in poor light.

In the end, as I watched it get ever more distant and trickier to ID, I settled for it being a late-ish swallow, which isn't impossible - but I wasn't wholly convinced.
But given the pallid swift influx of late it's had me wondering..

 

woodpigeons

 

Lone common scoter near Watershoot Bay 

Quiet times

 

Blackgang

 

common sand at Newtown (8th)

 

GWEgret at Brading (8th)

Finally

A yellow-browed warbler was along the 'old Blackgang road.' Watched it with a couple of other local birders Andy & Pete - but it wasn't at all vocal or showy. And at least one firecrest nearby too.

St Cath's

LAPLAND bunting

Luccombe down: Found yesterday/still present today; very obliging in the car park. Aside from the confiding obvious: a black redstart pitched in nearby. First redpoll over (for me). Good finch movement in general. Flyovers:13 crossbill and 3 ring ouzel were great to see and hear.

 

 



 

I haven't sound recorded much for a while. And though the bunting rarely showed any signs of being perturbed by, well. anything really - including numerous unleashed dogs - it did fly up for a time and called frequently right over us; but with so much talking going on I never got a recording of it.

My attempt at the crossbills wasn't much better but at least I picked them up.

 



Focus on vis mig

Love it - bottom pic courtesy of Mark Buckley

 

And a short video (edited and reduced quality) of the cranes from the other day:

  

WHD

Last day with the bro - just a flying visit - but out in the field it's been (again) interesting and productive.
Today we tried west Wight, but didn't extend our luck any further with finding anything too unusual.
A bank of fog over the Solent made for interesting scenery. Overhead vis mig was steady with alba wags etc. On the deck a good count of stonechat (41) was indicative of their movement. It was also interesting to see more commoner species acting like migrants too and possibly arriving or trying to leave: namely blue tits, great tits, great spotted woodpecker, and dunnocks; all of which were seen either high up over the headland, or landing upon it - all notably well away from perhaps their 'normal' cover.

 

A GSW was seen high up over the most western part of the cliff line - it stalled and went back inland and eastwards

 

 

Dunnock flying over

 



 

Looking west: the other side of this fence is a sheer drop - these tits were seen to filter inland



CRANES - St.Cath's

We concentrated on a vis mig session (me and the visiting bro), 7am - 1:30pm, and it was an odd mix really; definitely quality over quantity. An early flyby cattle egret would normally be an oddity, but perhaps not so much these days given their numbers in and around UK of late - but still a quality bird and fairly unexpected.
But the highlight came when five common cranes were picked up west of Blackgang chine. We tracked them over Chale Bay as they continued along the coastline towards us. They suddenly turned inland and were lost to view for a time. Such distant views would have been quite something; but moments later they came back into view over Gore cliff and proceeded to circle right over St. Cath's in front of us: an astonishing spectacle. We watched them gradually gain height like raptors - and it felt like they were getting ready to leave. Sure enough when they were ready they departed out to sea and due south to cross the English Channel. (Postscript: over a few days they were seen migrating southwards across Britain from as far away as Aberdeenshire. About an hour before our sighting they were seen on the other side of the Solent at Lymington).


 

 

 

A cattle egret went by west - pic by Graham Sparshott

 

Jays on the move west

St. Cath's

Not long after arriving I found out I'd just missed a juv hen harrier going north over Gore Cliff.
Slightly gripped. I did some vis mig - really felt autumnal this morning temp-wise; with bright conditions. Of note: first movement of siskins for me this autumn. And a continuous movement of mipits and house martins etc.

 

merlin - not my best camera work



Ventnor

Brading

I'm definitely guilty of neglecting this area of late, but had look about today:
One LRP of note near the new bridge; but it's very dry there now compared to previous years I'd say. Up to 40 yellow wags with the cattle. And at least one great white egret seen. Plenty of hirundines in every direction - and a couple of hobbies hawking. Whinchat etc.

 

Distant GW egret and a spanking male m.harrier - record shots

 



Dunlin (7th Sept - Bembridge lagoons)