Monday 26 May 2014

Scotland - Red-throated Diver

The previous day had yielded a few Scottish specialities for the year amongst other birds: Lochindorb yielded 1 Black-throated Diver, 2 Scottish Crossbill and 1 Spotted Flycatcher. Loch Mallachie loop:  2 Crested Tit, 3 Scottish Crossbill, 2 Spotted Flycatcher. Dava Moor in the evening 1 Short-eared Owl, 3 Black Grouse, 1 Cuckoo.....

No images of note other than distinctly dire record shots which I wont bore you with! It was pure birding again today with a 3 hour sea-watch at Burghead. The year ticks flooded in with Rock Dove and Hooded Crow on the rocks followed by Razorbill, Puffin and Red-throated Diver at sea. Also seen were: Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Arctic Skua, Eider, Kittiwake, Guillemt, Common Scoter, Gannet, Shag and Cormorant.

Whilst I was busy taking record shots of Red-throated Diver, little was I to know that a much closer encounter was to follow on a small lochan not far from Lochindorb - whilst still record shorts, I feel a bit more motivated to sort these! Probably as good a view of this species as I've had in Scotland!

All taken from the roadside....


Homing in on the individuals.....


Full moon apparently?




A preen was followed by wingflap!


Further away as they drifted against the far bank but nice colour to the water....




Dava Moor, produced 2 Short-eared Owls 1 Cuckoo and 3 Black Grouse again in the evening :-)