Mega Courser 21/5/12

Sunday night 10.49pm - MEGA alert - CREAM-COLOURED COURSER Herefordshire. Bugger, I was working 9.30-5.30 on Monday.

Monday morning - Courser still present. My only option was to go into work and beg to have the day off so I could see this superb rarity. Luck was on my side and I was given permission for a day off, and the journey began.

I soon picked up Bob Self and then Adam Bowley and I drove 4 hours to Herefordshire arriving at Bradnor Hill just after midday after some great traffic conditions. About 20 minutes later we were all watching the Cream-colouredCourser (on the very scenic golf course) at about 30 metres range, allowing great scope views.

It soon got closer and photographic opportunities began, although the heat haze didn't help. We watched the bird for over an hour taking in it's strange feeding action and it's fantastic plumage. What a bird!!

After this, we drove back home via Hampshire and saw the adult female Woodchat Shrike at Martin Down NNR.

Great day with great company.

 Cream-coloured Courser - Herefordshire

Woodchat Shrike at Martin Down NNR

Buchan Country Park 16/5/12

Watched 2 male Wood Warblers for about an hour this morning near the picnic area. They were both constantly singing less than 100 metres apart. Also present was a Spotted Flycatcher and a Grey Wagtail.

Corncrake - Iona, Isle of Mull 12/5/12

Scotland 8/5/12

A weeks trip with Jake and Mick was very successful with a whole batch of yearticks for our UK yearlist. The areas we concentrated on were the Cairngorms and Mull. We flew up to Aberdeen airport and hired a car. The total number of bird species seen was 137.

Tonight and tomorrow night were spent at Mondhuie B&B in Nethy Bridge and is well recommended.

Ythan Estuary
King Eider - 1 drk
Green-winged Teal - 1 drk
Lots of different Terns, mainly Arctic.

Burghead
White-billed Diver - 1 adult s/p
Great Northern Diver - 1
Red-throated Diver - 4 s/p
Great Skua - 1

Nr Lochindorb
Red Grouse - 2

Loch Garten RSPB
Capercaillee - 2 (both males displaying at 4pm!!!)
Osprey - 1
Crested Tit - 1
Red Squirrel - 1

 King Eider with Eider

 Capercaillee

 Slightly better views

Red Squirrel

Scotland 9/5/12

Good weather and good birds today. The whole day was spent in the Cairngorms clearing up on all targets, with a bonus Eagle added on.

Tulloch Moor
Black Grouse - 2

Abernethy Forest
Parrot Crossbill - 1
Common Crossbill - 8
Tree Pipit - 3
Redstart - 1

On route to Glenshee along A939
Black Grouse - 5
Red Grouse - lots
White-tailed Eagle - 1 juv
Ring Ouzel - 2
Dipper - 1
Peregrine - 1
Red Deer - 20+

Glenshee
Ptarmigan - 4
Merlin - 1
Wheatear - 4

Loch an Eilein Pine Marten Watch
Badger - 8
Red Deer - 20
Wood Mice - 2

 Red Grouse

 White-tailed Eagle juv

 Ptarmigan

Badger

Scotland 10/5/12

Today we drove from Cairngorm down to Oban where we stayed the night at St Annes Guest House. Today was the wettest day with constant heavy rain all day.

Avielochan
Slavonian Grebe - 1 s/p
Osprey - 1
Redstart - 1 male

Lochindorb
Black-throated Diver - 1 s/p
Red-throated Diver - 3 s/p
Red Grouse - 2
Snipe - 2
Red Squirrel - 1

Nr Fort William
Goosander - 1 drk
Hooded Crow - 5

Oban
Black Guillemot - 8
Hooded Crow - 2

Scotland 11/5/12

A much better day weather wise apart from the strong wind, which fortunately didn't effect the boat trip. We got the early Ferry from Oban across to Mull. Part of the day was spent seawatching then we drove down to Oran-Na-Mara B&B in Bunessan.

Oban
Black Guillemot - 10
Hooded Crow - 4

Oban - Craignure
White-tailed Eagle - 1 Adult

Ulva Ferry - Loch Na Keal - Boat Trip
White-tailed Eagle - 2
Golden Eagle - 1
Great Northern Diver - 2
Hen Harrier - 1
Buzzard - 4
Otter - 1

Calgary Bay
Manx Shearwater - 1000+
Great Skua - 2
Arctic Skua - 1
Rock Pipit - 2

Loch Scridain
White-tailed Eagle - 1
Great Northern Diver - 3

 Black Guillemot

 White-tailed Eagle (with fish)

Great Northern Diver