On this day (May 31st) - Black Guillemots

#OnThisDay May 31st 2015, I was 'warming up' for the trip to Mull by taking in the Black Guillemots in Oban harbour...

With seven days in the Highlands etc behind me, it was time for a change of scenery and I was off to Mull for another four nights! Eagles and hopefully Corncrake awaited me but for now, I was at Oban harbour...... very early!

Planned of course :-) I wanted to get amongst the Black Guillimots - first task was to park up and find them! It didn't take long......

It was low tide and only one or two were hanging around the harbour - very vocal!

Tricky light too as the aspect was directly into the sun but at least I could get on the 'beach' to improve the angle.....

 A wingflap was prelude to.......

Flight! Almost impossible into the light!

but as the day wore on, one or two reasonable 'keepers'?

One individual climbed up on the jetty wall in front of me.....

Nice iridescent  colours brought out amongst the 'black' plumage!

And this is the reason they are there - nesting in the harbour wall!

The side aspect.....

Calling and showing off the contrasting bright red gape and throat - it's not just the feet!

Apart from the occasional Rock Pipit, not much else showing nearby but who cares - I was here for the Black Guillies and what a welcome! Then off for the ferry, which was 40 mins late but it's Mull here I come......

My Garden Pond - White-legged Damselfly

I was just sunning myself in the heat of the afternoon when the flutter of wings of a Damselfly caught my eye... It came to rest next to #MyGardenPool and eventually I relocated after fetching the camera and managed a few shots, clearly a pale immature insect and I knew at a glance it wasn't a garden resident - it was a White-legged Damselfly. Probably having made its maiden flight from the Rea Brook which is one 600m or so down the road...

Difficult to sex but in view of what appear to be claspers, a (probable) immature male...

This close up shows the bristly hairs on the legs which are used to grasp prey...

And a new species for the pond!

On this Day (May 30th) - 2008 Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher were in a declines and not 'easy' birds back in 2008! This one was taken in a Ryton garden on May 30th 2008 and I haven't bettered them since... (Thanks again Will!)

Late May is is a good time for Spotted flycatcher!! This species was voted 'best pic' from 2007 on the blog and I have a sneaking feeling that one of these may not be far away for 2008?

A 30 minute visit to a private site yielded about 15 secs of action! You learn to make the most of every fleeting chance in this game and fortunately I grabbed this one....

On This day (May 29th)... 2009 Ben Macdui

Probably one of my most memorable 'Adventure' days was climbing Ben Macdui #OnThisDay May 29th 2009... Here goes with the original post...

The summit of Ben macdui is the second highest point in the UK, it is also a significant distance from the nearest road access! It is a bleak yet wonderful place which everyone who has been there on a 'nice' day raves about! It would hopefully yield a lifer for me (Ptarmigan) too!

We faced a walk/climb of some 9 miles there and then 9 miles of knee jarring descent. We had been admiring the snow laden peaks and slopes of the Cairngorm range since arrival - another factor the mountain would throw at us!

The biggest problem facing us today would be dehydration. The full Scottish breakfast was a big energy boost, accompanied by a pint of fresh orange juice, plus even more water!

The big lens was obviously out of the question but I couldn't go without a camera could I? I opted for the 100-400mm zoom which together with 2 litres of water, food and spare clothing meant I had to carry at least 5kg on my back - this was getting scarier by the minute!

We weren't 'Munro purists' so settled for starting at the ski station car park rather than Loch Morlich.

The temperature and wind speed made interesting reading, just look at that wind speed - and 41'C bloody hell!!!








The first part of the climb was the worst bit, steep and relentless. Two of the party bit the dust at this stage but eventually we reached the snow covered ridge with the peak of Cairngorm to the East! The hard work done, it was now the long walk across the desert like plateau....






This looked like Ptarmigan country and it was! We found our first one here (others would come later) and this was a confiding male! Not surprisingly, the weight was lifted from my back as the camera finally was pressed into action!!
















The snowfields soon followed (who needs crampons!) Despite opting for my 'trainer style' walking shoes, I was able to use the footprints of those before me. More of a problem was the glare - I now understand what snow blindness is all about!!







The final stretch to the summit saw another two of the party pass on the experience but there was no way on this earth I was not going to do it! Another bird was to make it even more worthwhile too! Hearing a persistent call (which none of us recognised) Ian Baggley eventually pinned down the culprit - a male Snow Bunting in Summer plumage!! Was I even more glad the camera was carried........











I got left behind with one of the guides and a Snow Bunting!

Then, the final push......






Four and a half hours of climbing and walking and at last - we had made it!!!






Now, the bit that everyone was dreading and by far the worst bit - several miles of bone jarring descent!

Just when you need even terrain - along comes the boulder field!! Best tactic is to stick to the huge ones - they don't move!!







Business acumen was rife during the final part of the descent with Dave Pearce conceiving the novel idea of a bottled water franchise (just hope there wasn't a dead wee beastie further upstream!!)







After enjoying a male Ring Ouzel flying around the ski station buildings, one final activity.... One of the key briefing issues was the need to drink plenty and keep your pee clear, was it? - I'll spare you the pic - it was!!







There's an oft asked question - Why do people climb mountains. Are they just plain daft cos it's bloody hard work! Is it because the're there, the Ptarmigans or even the crow "I climbed Ben Macdui"? I'll do all of these - a magical experience!!

And just to prove i made it.......

On this Day (May 29th) - cute Lapwing chick

#OnThisDay A Lapwing chick taking tentative steps in the rain - taken from the main hide at VP on May 29th 2010

Lapwing chicks have had a hard time of late and all bar one have perished due to the local corvid population. A close encounter gave the opportunity for a 'cute' assortment?

Coming closer....








Head on.....








Fingers crossed for survival.....

On This day (May 28th) - 2015 Common Cranes

Here's a turn up for the Shropshire list? Common Cranes in torrential rain near Crudgington on May 28th 2008

I had a feeling something might happen today! I was up early noting the heavy rain and low cloud as I prepared a nice big bowl of cereal...

A chance of something dropped in at Venus Pool? The cereal was put to one side and a quick drive down to check things out. Apart from a bedraggled Common Tern and 4 LRPs, nothing special.

I was just going back to the car when I got a call from a somewhat animated Andy L. Crikey Jim (or words to that effect!!) got two Common Cranes near Crudgington! I agonised: back for breakfast or the Cranes, I only had 40 minutes to get there and back....

No contest in the end and I'm soooo glad I didn't have to spend the morning at work fretting whether they would stay? The camera does lie as these record shots prove! It was torrential rain and total gloom as I grabbed these.....








Shall we dance? An interesting bit of interplay before one of the twosome strutted away....










Phew, back just in time and still manage to eat my breakfast before work!! Now then, what did you see on your way to work today' - nice one Andy!!