I'm meant to be cleaning my room out, ready for a paint job and a new bed. So far today all I've done is watch our juvenille Great Spotted Woodpeckers flying around the garden and eating the peanuts, our Starlings have been sunbathing (yes, there was really some sunshine!) and our Grey Squirrel is going a bit loopy running around the garden.
Oh well, time to get to work on my room I suppose!
Friday, 15 June 2012
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
An Open Letter.
To whom it may concern, and you know who you are,
You should be ashamed of yourselves, destroying a Site of Special Scientific Interest, levelling homes, and destroying farming lives. Are you going to build around the historical buildings? Probably not, do you care? Definitely not.
Why exactly do you need a new bridge? Are you moving the M25? Why do we need another airport, when several airlines are filing for bankruptcy?
Its okay, we understand, those of us without a large sum of money, a privileged background, or that ever so wonderful silver spoon, are just here to be trodden on aren't we?
Take note, because we're gonna stir things up.
The peasants are revolting, and we are gonna £$%^ you over until you back down.
VIVE LA REVOLUTION!!!!!
You should be ashamed of yourselves, destroying a Site of Special Scientific Interest, levelling homes, and destroying farming lives. Are you going to build around the historical buildings? Probably not, do you care? Definitely not.
Why exactly do you need a new bridge? Are you moving the M25? Why do we need another airport, when several airlines are filing for bankruptcy?
Its okay, we understand, those of us without a large sum of money, a privileged background, or that ever so wonderful silver spoon, are just here to be trodden on aren't we?
Take note, because we're gonna stir things up.
The peasants are revolting, and we are gonna £$%^ you over until you back down.
VIVE LA REVOLUTION!!!!!
Thursday, 24 November 2011
A book for all seasons, literally!
Today was a bit of a mixed day, the weather was very hit and miss, so we decided to stay local and potter about. I'd had my eye on popping into Wigtown since I arrived, and there are a few birding spots in the area. So we decided to go to those first and then have lunch in Wigtown.
First stop was the new RSPB reserve at the Crook of Baldoon, and on the approach we found forty plus Whooper Swans in a field. The wind was biting cold though and there is little to no parking as yet at the reserve, especially in winter when there's mud everywhere, so we gave up and headed back again. It was a shame, but it means a return trip maybe one summer to see how they're progressing with the site.
From there we decided to drop in at the gift shop at Bladnoch Distillery, but they couldn't sell alcohol before ten o'clock so it was off to Wigtown Harbour to see the birds at their hide. Or at least that was the plan until we arrived and discovered the tide was up so high that the path was flooded. Off to the bookshops!
We spent the best part of two hours walking around the bookshops in town, apparently there are over two hundred and fifty thousand books in Wigtown. I was in heaven, and spent far too much money, and now I've realised I didn't even look for half the stuff I wanted to. Dammit. By the time we were done it was too early to have lunch and the tide still wasn't out, so we made the five minute journey back to Bladnoch and went for a distillery tour. It was brilliant, and I've done a few now, despite only having been legal to drink for just under two years, I used to trail round after Mum and Dad listening avidly to the guides. I could probably give a tour myself, with what I've picked up over the years. Anyway, after a wee Dram we headed back to Wigtown and got some delicious food at Blooming Lovely cafe.
We did pop back to the Harbor but decided that it was too cold for a walk and so headed off to find a cemetary on the coast that had some special headstones. We found it, and there was the headstone with Skull and Crossbones on it, which was apparently not uncommon at the time. So that was interesting, if not cold! We also popped round to a place called Knockbrex, near Bogue, and saw some amazing architecture on what looked like it should be an old monastery. I did some research when I got home though, and discovered that it was in fact a dairy farm, and part of Knockbrex Estate which was owned by James Brown, Chairman of Affleck and Brown. Frankly, I need to find half a million pounds, because I need to own that building. It's captured my heart and I want it, Dad says his pockets are sewn up, I don't blame him, it needs so much work to restore it, but it could be beautiful when its done, and a tourist attraction too.
Anyway, before I get carried away with dreaming about a derilict dairy farm, I should add that today was our last day here, and I probably wont be blogging for a while. I wish that I had more interesting things to blog about, but I rarely get time to go birding on the days I work, so I have to fit it in on the days I don't, which doesn't always work. Maybe mum and I will go up to WWT Barnes soon, while Dad is at work. We'll see what the weather holds.
Thirty Two days until the chaos is over folks, thirty seven to the New Year and Fifty till my next trip to Scotland, and probably my next blog! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year if I don't get to blog beforehand.
Coming Soon: A Highland Diary
First stop was the new RSPB reserve at the Crook of Baldoon, and on the approach we found forty plus Whooper Swans in a field. The wind was biting cold though and there is little to no parking as yet at the reserve, especially in winter when there's mud everywhere, so we gave up and headed back again. It was a shame, but it means a return trip maybe one summer to see how they're progressing with the site.
From there we decided to drop in at the gift shop at Bladnoch Distillery, but they couldn't sell alcohol before ten o'clock so it was off to Wigtown Harbour to see the birds at their hide. Or at least that was the plan until we arrived and discovered the tide was up so high that the path was flooded. Off to the bookshops!
We spent the best part of two hours walking around the bookshops in town, apparently there are over two hundred and fifty thousand books in Wigtown. I was in heaven, and spent far too much money, and now I've realised I didn't even look for half the stuff I wanted to. Dammit. By the time we were done it was too early to have lunch and the tide still wasn't out, so we made the five minute journey back to Bladnoch and went for a distillery tour. It was brilliant, and I've done a few now, despite only having been legal to drink for just under two years, I used to trail round after Mum and Dad listening avidly to the guides. I could probably give a tour myself, with what I've picked up over the years. Anyway, after a wee Dram we headed back to Wigtown and got some delicious food at Blooming Lovely cafe.
We did pop back to the Harbor but decided that it was too cold for a walk and so headed off to find a cemetary on the coast that had some special headstones. We found it, and there was the headstone with Skull and Crossbones on it, which was apparently not uncommon at the time. So that was interesting, if not cold! We also popped round to a place called Knockbrex, near Bogue, and saw some amazing architecture on what looked like it should be an old monastery. I did some research when I got home though, and discovered that it was in fact a dairy farm, and part of Knockbrex Estate which was owned by James Brown, Chairman of Affleck and Brown. Frankly, I need to find half a million pounds, because I need to own that building. It's captured my heart and I want it, Dad says his pockets are sewn up, I don't blame him, it needs so much work to restore it, but it could be beautiful when its done, and a tourist attraction too.
Anyway, before I get carried away with dreaming about a derilict dairy farm, I should add that today was our last day here, and I probably wont be blogging for a while. I wish that I had more interesting things to blog about, but I rarely get time to go birding on the days I work, so I have to fit it in on the days I don't, which doesn't always work. Maybe mum and I will go up to WWT Barnes soon, while Dad is at work. We'll see what the weather holds.
Thirty Two days until the chaos is over folks, thirty seven to the New Year and Fifty till my next trip to Scotland, and probably my next blog! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year if I don't get to blog beforehand.
Coming Soon: A Highland Diary
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Mulling things over
Today we headed out to the Mull of Galloway RSPB reserve, in the pouring rain and with the wind howling a hoolie across the Mull. Needless to say we didn't actually get out and go for a walk! We took a bit of a drive around the penninsular, and went to the filming location for "Two Thousand Acres of Skye." Which is neither on Skye, on an island, or anywhere near Skye.
Seeing as the weather was refusing to improve, we popped into Portpatrick for a look around, and then headed to Stranraer to pick up the A75. Creetown was next on the destination list, and the Gem Rock Museum. The setting for the museum couldn't be more idyllic, housed in the old school building, overlooking Creetown itself, it cuts an impressive figure. The collection itself is mindboggling in size, considering its a self made collection. We were lucky enough to be greeted by the original owners son, and he gave us a short history of the collection and the museum, as well as little annecdotes about his father, who had started the collection and his interest in lapidary. We stopped for lunch there and the food was as good as the collection, well worth the visit!
After that we headed into the Galloway forest park to go see the Wild (feral, whichever) Goats. They were by the pull in car park, where they get fed during the winter months, and obviously I decided to take a few photos. Then a large black corvid appeared, at last! A Raven in full view and close enough for me to photograph, perfect. So despite the cold, wet and grey weather, I got my bird of the day and recorded a new species for Birding365!
Tomorrow: A book for all seasons, literally!
Seeing as the weather was refusing to improve, we popped into Portpatrick for a look around, and then headed to Stranraer to pick up the A75. Creetown was next on the destination list, and the Gem Rock Museum. The setting for the museum couldn't be more idyllic, housed in the old school building, overlooking Creetown itself, it cuts an impressive figure. The collection itself is mindboggling in size, considering its a self made collection. We were lucky enough to be greeted by the original owners son, and he gave us a short history of the collection and the museum, as well as little annecdotes about his father, who had started the collection and his interest in lapidary. We stopped for lunch there and the food was as good as the collection, well worth the visit!
After that we headed into the Galloway forest park to go see the Wild (feral, whichever) Goats. They were by the pull in car park, where they get fed during the winter months, and obviously I decided to take a few photos. Then a large black corvid appeared, at last! A Raven in full view and close enough for me to photograph, perfect. So despite the cold, wet and grey weather, I got my bird of the day and recorded a new species for Birding365!
Tomorrow: A book for all seasons, literally!
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
Swan Lake
A quick entry tonight, because I am completely shattered from our trip to WWT Caerlaverock. We spent four hours there today, and it was amazing.
We started the morning before dawn, heading along the coast to watch the sunrise over the sea as we drove. Its such a lovely coast, and the sun rose clear and bright for what was a beautiful day weatherwise. The journey to Caerlaverock is a longish one from Port William, but we saw various birds along the way, including Buzzards and Curlews.
Once we got to Caerlaverock I was once again disappointed to be told that there were no geese in the fields by the centre entrance, as their had been when my parents had visited previously. This is becoming a running theme and its getting annoying. Anyway, we saw some Barnacle Geese from the first hide we went to, and then some Teal and Mallard at the next. I was pleased to hear the sounds of Whooper Swans coming from the main feeding pond, and we headed up there for the morning feed. Nine Whoopers greeted us as well as about thirty Mute Swans and heaven knows how many more Mallard, Wigeon and Tufted Duck. Slightly disappointing in the numbers of Whooper, but given the mild weather, and the fact that most of the grain fields nearby are either uncut or covered in spilt grain, its hardly surprising that the birds are elsewhere. Once the feeding was over however, about fifteen Canada Geese dropped in, followed by twenty plus Greylag Geese. A slightly more positive outlook at least.
Time to head to the next hide, to be greated with an empty field, barring three Rooks. As I got up to leave though, a flock of roughly three hundred Barnacle Geese appeared and landed in the field by the hide. Big thumbs up, I thought that was an achievement, until a helicopter passed over whilst we were walking to the tower that looks over the Solway Estuary. How wrong was I? Nigh on four thousand Barnacle geese took to the skies, and there is no way I can do any literary justice to what I witnessed. If you're that curious, book a trip to the Solway Firth during the next two months and camp out at Caerlaverock, because its amazing with just four thousand geese, let alone the ENTIRE Barnacle Goose population from Svalbard. Anyway, it was amazing and the noise was outstanding, not only could you hear the whoosh of their wings, but Barnacle Geese are possibly the noisest geese around. They do not shut up all the while they're awake, they even talk with their mouths full. I'd best stop, before I write an essay on the wonders of geese, but seriously, if you can make the trip, its worth it.
Heading back along the track, we came across a Treecreeper, something I've never had a chance to photograph before, and spent the next fifteen minutes doing so. The best bit was he didn't even seem to mind, just flitted from tree to tree, finding food and ignoring us completely. Then we bumped into the same people we'd seen at RSPB Ken Dee Marshes yesterday! Small world, wonder if we might bump into them tomorrow too? On that note, I should go to bed, the house is creaking and giving me the creeps.
Tomorrow: Mulling things over.
We started the morning before dawn, heading along the coast to watch the sunrise over the sea as we drove. Its such a lovely coast, and the sun rose clear and bright for what was a beautiful day weatherwise. The journey to Caerlaverock is a longish one from Port William, but we saw various birds along the way, including Buzzards and Curlews.
Once we got to Caerlaverock I was once again disappointed to be told that there were no geese in the fields by the centre entrance, as their had been when my parents had visited previously. This is becoming a running theme and its getting annoying. Anyway, we saw some Barnacle Geese from the first hide we went to, and then some Teal and Mallard at the next. I was pleased to hear the sounds of Whooper Swans coming from the main feeding pond, and we headed up there for the morning feed. Nine Whoopers greeted us as well as about thirty Mute Swans and heaven knows how many more Mallard, Wigeon and Tufted Duck. Slightly disappointing in the numbers of Whooper, but given the mild weather, and the fact that most of the grain fields nearby are either uncut or covered in spilt grain, its hardly surprising that the birds are elsewhere. Once the feeding was over however, about fifteen Canada Geese dropped in, followed by twenty plus Greylag Geese. A slightly more positive outlook at least.
Time to head to the next hide, to be greated with an empty field, barring three Rooks. As I got up to leave though, a flock of roughly three hundred Barnacle Geese appeared and landed in the field by the hide. Big thumbs up, I thought that was an achievement, until a helicopter passed over whilst we were walking to the tower that looks over the Solway Estuary. How wrong was I? Nigh on four thousand Barnacle geese took to the skies, and there is no way I can do any literary justice to what I witnessed. If you're that curious, book a trip to the Solway Firth during the next two months and camp out at Caerlaverock, because its amazing with just four thousand geese, let alone the ENTIRE Barnacle Goose population from Svalbard. Anyway, it was amazing and the noise was outstanding, not only could you hear the whoosh of their wings, but Barnacle Geese are possibly the noisest geese around. They do not shut up all the while they're awake, they even talk with their mouths full. I'd best stop, before I write an essay on the wonders of geese, but seriously, if you can make the trip, its worth it.
Heading back along the track, we came across a Treecreeper, something I've never had a chance to photograph before, and spent the next fifteen minutes doing so. The best bit was he didn't even seem to mind, just flitted from tree to tree, finding food and ignoring us completely. Then we bumped into the same people we'd seen at RSPB Ken Dee Marshes yesterday! Small world, wonder if we might bump into them tomorrow too? On that note, I should go to bed, the house is creaking and giving me the creeps.
Tomorrow: Mulling things over.
Monday, 21 November 2011
Red is the colour.
Red was most definitely the colour today, as we went searching for Red Kites and Red Squirrels as RSPB Ken Dee Marshes. The weather was a decided improvement on yesterday, and seeing as Ken Dee wasn't all that far away, we were able to have a slow wake up and take our time getting there.
I was disappointed again when we arrived, because of the lack of geese. Ken Dee is reknowned for its Greenland White Fronted Geese, ALL of which were conspicuous by their absence. We squelched, for want of a better word, the mud was ankle deep in places, to the Goose viewing platform. All we saw were two Red Kites, a grumpy looking Buzzard and two Geese on a fly-past.
Off we squelched to the next hide, which was shut for maintenance. Today was shaping up poorly, until we reached the wooded part of the track. Fieldfares were everywhere, we saw a Willow Tit and a Bullfinch, which cheered me up immensely, then a Nuthatch appeared. For me, this was a good day, the weather was nice, and I'd seen a new bird and my two favourites. I could go home happy, and a little healthier after a 3 mile round trip once we were done.
We decided to head on to the furthest hide, to see if there were any geese out on Loch Ken, and see what else might be around. Well, there weren't any geese, but there were Teal, Snipe, a lone Goldeneye and a Cormorant. On the nut feeder there were masses of Coal Tits, Great Tits, Blue Tits and Chaffinches, a Greater Spotted Woodpecker and a Nuthatch and I got a brief glimpse of a Goldcrest! Not a bad days birding in all. The walk back was a killer, but it was topped off at the end by about forty Greenland White Fronted Geese flying overhead.
What about the Red Squirrels? Well, we decided to kill time before dusk and head down a few minor roads to see what wildlife was about, and as we where heading down one such road, we paused to look at some Roe Deer. Just as we pulled away, a Red Squirrel ran across the road in front of us, but I couldn't see him in the tree for a photograph! Today was good, tomorrow is promising to be better.
Tomorrow: Swan Lake
I was disappointed again when we arrived, because of the lack of geese. Ken Dee is reknowned for its Greenland White Fronted Geese, ALL of which were conspicuous by their absence. We squelched, for want of a better word, the mud was ankle deep in places, to the Goose viewing platform. All we saw were two Red Kites, a grumpy looking Buzzard and two Geese on a fly-past.
Off we squelched to the next hide, which was shut for maintenance. Today was shaping up poorly, until we reached the wooded part of the track. Fieldfares were everywhere, we saw a Willow Tit and a Bullfinch, which cheered me up immensely, then a Nuthatch appeared. For me, this was a good day, the weather was nice, and I'd seen a new bird and my two favourites. I could go home happy, and a little healthier after a 3 mile round trip once we were done.
We decided to head on to the furthest hide, to see if there were any geese out on Loch Ken, and see what else might be around. Well, there weren't any geese, but there were Teal, Snipe, a lone Goldeneye and a Cormorant. On the nut feeder there were masses of Coal Tits, Great Tits, Blue Tits and Chaffinches, a Greater Spotted Woodpecker and a Nuthatch and I got a brief glimpse of a Goldcrest! Not a bad days birding in all. The walk back was a killer, but it was topped off at the end by about forty Greenland White Fronted Geese flying overhead.
What about the Red Squirrels? Well, we decided to kill time before dusk and head down a few minor roads to see what wildlife was about, and as we where heading down one such road, we paused to look at some Roe Deer. Just as we pulled away, a Red Squirrel ran across the road in front of us, but I couldn't see him in the tree for a photograph! Today was good, tomorrow is promising to be better.
Tomorrow: Swan Lake
Sunday, 20 November 2011
A little bit of bread and no cheese!
Today we headed out to RSPB Mersehead, to see the geese that flock there on migration and stay the winter. It's been a mild winter so far this year, and most birders are noticing that the migratory birds just haven't been arriving yet, specifically the geese and swans. Anyone watching BBC's Autumnwatch will know what I mean, poor Chris has been predicting the migration wrong for the last 4 weeks or so, and the truth is that this mild weather isn't helping.
With that in mind, as we drove along the track to the car park, my mum remarked that the last two times they had visited there had been huge flocks of geese in the field by the track. There were about 30 Barnacle Geese taking a keen interest in the grass, and that was all. My heart did sink a little, I will admit, because one of the main reasons I agreed to come on holiday with my parents was because it was going to be a purely birding holiday.
As we arrived so did a few more geese, but nothing like the numbers my parents had been describing. We bumped into one of the reserve volunteers, had a bit of a chat and discovered they had about four thousand geese on the reserve, which sounded pretty impressive till he added that they usually get about fourteen thousand. Great, I thought, today is going to be a total let down for geese, time to get the camera out and make the most of whatever else might be around.
We headed off up the trail to the first hide, and there were little birds flitting around everywhere! Coal Tits, Great Tits, Blue Tits, House Sparrows, Robins, Blackbirds, Chaffinches and to top it off, Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer. Today is only the second time in my life I have seen a Yellowhammer, the first being at WDCS Spey Bay, Scotland. So for me it was well worth the trip and I got some photographs of birds I'd not photographed yet. When we reached the hide we were greeted by Pintail, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Greylag Geese, lapwings and a Mute Swan cygnet. Plenty to look at, then there was a commotion and suddenly there were hundreds of Barnacle Geese flying past. Not quite the spectacle I was hoping for, but it was impressive nonetheless.
Then, as we were walking back to the centre, another commotion and nigh on two thousand geese took to the sky. THAT was impressive, and I got to see what I wanted. Thinking that was the end of impressive displays, we popped into the centre for coffee, and discovered two Tree Sparrows on the feeders, whilst chatting to a few of the staff. I managed to pick up six new pin badges too which helps the RSPB no end. As we were leaving, we were discussing the Starlings that roost there, and how big the flock is compared to others, when a flock of roughly fifty small birds appeared on the wire behind the volunteer's head. They were Twite, a flock of about fifty Twite, and the best bit was that I got to identify them because he had no idea what they were. A very accomplished day in the end, and I am going to sleep like a log tonight.
Tomorrow: Red is the colour.
With that in mind, as we drove along the track to the car park, my mum remarked that the last two times they had visited there had been huge flocks of geese in the field by the track. There were about 30 Barnacle Geese taking a keen interest in the grass, and that was all. My heart did sink a little, I will admit, because one of the main reasons I agreed to come on holiday with my parents was because it was going to be a purely birding holiday.
As we arrived so did a few more geese, but nothing like the numbers my parents had been describing. We bumped into one of the reserve volunteers, had a bit of a chat and discovered they had about four thousand geese on the reserve, which sounded pretty impressive till he added that they usually get about fourteen thousand. Great, I thought, today is going to be a total let down for geese, time to get the camera out and make the most of whatever else might be around.
We headed off up the trail to the first hide, and there were little birds flitting around everywhere! Coal Tits, Great Tits, Blue Tits, House Sparrows, Robins, Blackbirds, Chaffinches and to top it off, Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer. Today is only the second time in my life I have seen a Yellowhammer, the first being at WDCS Spey Bay, Scotland. So for me it was well worth the trip and I got some photographs of birds I'd not photographed yet. When we reached the hide we were greeted by Pintail, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Greylag Geese, lapwings and a Mute Swan cygnet. Plenty to look at, then there was a commotion and suddenly there were hundreds of Barnacle Geese flying past. Not quite the spectacle I was hoping for, but it was impressive nonetheless.
Then, as we were walking back to the centre, another commotion and nigh on two thousand geese took to the sky. THAT was impressive, and I got to see what I wanted. Thinking that was the end of impressive displays, we popped into the centre for coffee, and discovered two Tree Sparrows on the feeders, whilst chatting to a few of the staff. I managed to pick up six new pin badges too which helps the RSPB no end. As we were leaving, we were discussing the Starlings that roost there, and how big the flock is compared to others, when a flock of roughly fifty small birds appeared on the wire behind the volunteer's head. They were Twite, a flock of about fifty Twite, and the best bit was that I got to identify them because he had no idea what they were. A very accomplished day in the end, and I am going to sleep like a log tonight.
Tomorrow: Red is the colour.
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