The surest signs of Spring

This time of year is an exciting one for wildlife watchers as each outing can bring exciting sightings of new arrivals.

I have a couple of local routes that I take every year to try and find birds that are on their migratory cycles, specialised local knowledge together with information passed on from trusted friends can be really helpful, far better than wandering aimlessly round the countryside hoping against hope for some sightings!

Heading up to a local moor which has an enclosed plantation near the top I saw a lovely meadow pipit taking a rest on a wall top...

The main object of the walk was to listen to, and hopefully see, cuckoos.

This area has been a reliable site in the past and it was not too long before the distinctive call rang out across the moorland. As I neared my usual watchpoint the calls became louder and louder...little wonder as a cuckoo was in clear sight..

Continuing my walk I saw plenty more meadow pipits...

...and an occasional curlew..

A visit to RSPB Blacktoft Sands is always enjoyable, this time of the year especially so as the east coast is the landing place for many incoming birds such as the sweet sedge warblers.

We also heard but did not see the elusive grasshopper warbler and cetti's warbler despite a lengthy watch over the reeds.

Marsh harriers were plentiful on the day, here a female is hunting over the reedbeds...

A great crested grebe called for a partner, alas it was in vain as the calls went unanswered

A large colony of avocets was seen from one hide...

We spotted a male reed bunting..

A couple of rarely seen garganey ducks were having a rest in the distance...

A black tailed godwit came in quite close..

Male marsh harriers were plentiful on the day...

A grand day out!

On a lane near home a male wheatear posed nicely..

Willow warblers are delightful to watch and listen to

Peacock butterflies are emerging in good numbers

In a wood near home I found a chiffchaff

Similar in colour to the willow warbler their distinctive call of their name makes identifying them much easier, if they are not singing the chiffchaff has much darker legs and a habitual tail flick.

Wrens are very visible and vocal at this time of year...

Great spotted woodpeckers are noisily drumming

Plenty of goldfinches to be enjoyed too

On duty with the RSPB at the peregrine watchpoint and during spells with no visitors I take a few photographs to record the different birds we see.

A puffed up pied wagtail..

A male redstart..

The peregrines have been incubating eggs and consequently are only seen at change over times, occasionally we get a fly by...

One of local woods is a favourite place for blackcaps, this is a male..

RSPB Bempton Cliffs is a big journey for us to undertake in a day but we decided to visit to enjoy the spectacle of the nesting birds.

Our first sightings were linnet..

and reed bunting

Gannets nesting on the cliffs provided a magnificent spectacle...

Kittiwakes and fulmars, respectively

Add to these guillemots and razorbills and you get an idea of the scale of things to enjoy...

....and they have puffins too!

The stars of the day had to be the gannets though...

Many thanks to all who read, please don't forget if you do leave a comment they come to me first for moderation.

Isle of Mull 17-24th May 2014

A damp day to herald our return to a treasured and much visited Isle, we now know several good sites for wildlife so it was with much anticipation that we spent our first night in a lovely and comfortable cottage between Bunessan and Fionnophort in the south west.

As with the previous blog I will attempt a brief summary of our sightings...these lovely dunlin were our first beach sighting...

A brown hare is not what I expected in the sand dunes!

We thought at first that this was an otter sighting, it has been a while since we had live sightings...

It is in fact a female mink, confirmed by the appearance of the much smaller male...

Not native and not welcome, the sighting was reported to a local wildlife watcher who assured us the area was heavily trapped. We went to Iona as foot passengers, heard corncrakes and photographed a spotted flycatcher taking a break on a fence post...

Another day and patience and stealth was required to get a near water level close up of the enigmatic and beautiful great northern diver..

A calm and slightly misty early morning allowed me a reflective heron...

....and another near water level shot...a male eider duck...

A lengthy perusal of Loch na Keal....otters!

Unfortunately 70 metres+ away and impossible to get closer!

This nesting fulmar was photographed on Lunga, another fun and interesting boat trip! We also found a delightful wren...

Of course the reason for going to Lunga was puffins! Wonderful, photo friendly and photogenic beyond belief...what a delightful experience...

Another day, another boat trip and we enjoyed a full day as foot passengers to Iona. Peace and quiet and a feel of life in different times to be enjoyed here in the quiet bays away from the busy areas...

gannets dive....

Herons seem to pose well...

...and the corncrakes kept up their teasing....until we went into super patient mode! After much effort my first ever photograph!

Convinced we would get a better view we waited and waited and....

Oh my! how patience pays off...and luck!

Our last day and a favourite couple of locations, who knows what persistence and fortune would bring...

A hard bird to photograph well unless you wish to hike up steep hills with all your gear and wait all day to see potentially nothing is a golden eagle, we contented ourselves with some trusted information, great binocular views and a couple of long distance photographs...

We had some decent otter views during the day, on the way back down Loch Scridain for the last time on this visit we stopped at a favoured place. Dressed in very dark clothing and settled in some black rocks we sat for a while...waiting pays again....

The otter undoubtedly knew something was there but staying perfectly still works well, even with the shutter noise the otter was not too disturbed, just perfect...

And as if to provide a suitable last photograph...it did with a lovely silhouette as it returned to the sea.

A brilliant experience and a wonderful end to a special holiday.

Many thanks to all who view , don't forget if you do comment they come to me first for moderation.