Amphibian Vehicle Wanted

Friday October 12
It was dry when we set off from Annan, then mist which became increasingly heavy and sustained rain. I've known much worse, this was accumalative. Misty mountainsides and roadside banks cascaded with  white-foam rivulets hurtling downwards. Many roadside meadows were lochans, the River Spey had spread across the valley, tops of bushes showing the original water course meandering. Awesome.
Despite several road works involving convoys and lengthy delays, we reached Aviemore at mid-day. The village was incredibly crowded, we didn't expect that at this time of year on a Friday. We quickly filled a parking space in Tesco, waiting whilst someone moved out, walked to the chemist for some more Night Nurse for Pam - and earplugs for me! We then bought some lined waterproof trousers ( seemed an essential) and lunched at Roo's Leap. 
Lyndsay greeted us at the Fairwinds Hotel, where we usually stay in a chalet in May, and showed us to our comfortable room. Hurrah, my laptop accesses the internet fine here. What happened last night? I caught up with my farm, had a shower and dressed for dinner. We'd ordered Carrot Soup, Venison in a pepper sauce, followed by ice-cream and chocolate fudge sauce. The other starters and mains were fish based. All very good. Lucy the Maltese Terrier came to see us plus Lily, also a Maltese  who belongs to friends who are on holiday.
No football to watch to-night, Scottish TV is restrictive. England beat San Marino 5-0 and Wales beat Scotland 2-1, the second an absolute screamer by Bale.
Time for bed after watching devastating flood scenes on Scotland's east coast somewhere........

A Barnacle Day?

Thursday October

We set off in sun and ended up driving in torrential rain. We stopped several times but still got to the Annan area with enough light left to drive to Caerlaverock - well that's what Pam decided! I didn't think it was a good idea after a long drive and her persistent hacking cough - and the heavy rain.

Befgore reaching Caerlaverock, we spied a flock of about 80 beautiful Barnacle Geese amongst a flock of Gulls in a lane side field. How lovely  to see a flock other than the one or two, amongst thousands of Pinkfeet, that we may be lucky to get in Norfolk. I took a few photos in the heavy rain and mist.......

Here they are....

The First - on the Second

Tuesday September 2

Pam was insistent that we do a day's birding despite her viral upper respiratory infection. The doctor pronounced her chest clear yesterday! Despite this, she has a dreadful cough. If she stood near the sea-lion enclosure at the zoo, the keeper would throw her a fish. 

Abbey Farm had plenty of water and 30+ Teal in addition to the usual Coot, Moorhen, iffy Mallard and one Little Grebe. Not even any Greylag.

At Snettisham, the tide was receding fast with plenty of the usual waders scattered on the mud, all feeding avidly - apart from the flock of Golden Plover which just sat there in a tight huddle.

Pam thought she could manage a walk at Titchwell, we got as far as the bench overlooking the Freshwater pool. Here we added 10 Spoonbill, witnessing one big youngster begging for food, one Little Stint, a Curlew Sandpiper, Pintail, Gadwall, Shoveller, 30+Avocet, Reed Bunting and four of our first Dark-bellied Brent flew over. A sharp 'chevit' alerted us to the presence of a Spotted Sandpiper on a Thornham Marsh pool. We added 16 birds to our list in a pleasant temperature. The wind was starting to increase as we made our way back.

The only picture I took all day. This Beetle sp was bumbling along the path verge. What is it?

Why were several birders viewing Thornham Marsh through a gap in the trees near the Centre? Three Whinchat were zipping about on the large bales in a hay field. Our first this year. Too early in Scotland and we'd missed the passage in Norfolk. Lovely surprise bird.

No Ibis at Salthouse but Egyptian and Canadas were day ticks, as were the Red-throated Divers and Gannets seen from Cley Beach.

We saw three House Martins at Thornham and a single Swallow at Titchwell, no other hirundine to-day. We also missed Little Egret (!) and Skylark which we usually expect, other 'misses' often are.

To-day's total was a pleasing 83, all but 16 from the car..........

Most enjoyable - apart from the result

Saturday September 29

5.30 kick-off so we were able to drive to Manchester in the morning. We'd gone posh this time and booked a hospitality package based on Salford City rugby league ground. All the Old Trafford deals were taken. This involved parking at OT and being bussed to the Salford stadium, built two years ago. Lovely room and facilities.

Champagne on arrival and then a notified table. Ours was number 4 and we ended up four missing from the ten settings. Two siblings, she from Malta he from Norwich. An English man from Florida and his Venezuelan girlfriend ! Very good meal. I had pea soup followed by chicken, a delicious chocolate tart and cheese and biscuits. Wine with the meal was part of the deal ,  as there were four missing Pam and I had most of the bottle of red - over three hours. 

Bussed back to the ground, Man U magazine and a Twix on the seat, we walked to the Megastore. As Pam was passing a big bloke he stepped back and knocked her flying. First Aid was quickly there but she was unhurt apart from shock and a few bruises. Very lucky. After form filling we made our way to our seats near the Stretford End in the NW quadrant to enjoy the pre match atmosphere and team warm-up session.

Man U always warm up at our end.

Stretford End - the fanatics are in the top tier.

Paul Scholes was fantastic throughout, all over the pitch.

The calls of Roooooneeeeey went up at the end of the first half. He was on for the second and made a difference.

Dreadful performance by us in the first half, 2-0 to Spurs. Wonderfully exciting in the second half, the noise from The Stretford End was incredible, wish I'd been sitting there. End score was 3-2 to Spurs which they deserved, don't know how we didn't score 5 or 6 goals, they were really under the cosh. AVB said that they were shattered by the end. Spurs all looked bigger than us too, Bale is enormous and so fast. He had a brilliant game.

Very slow drive to the Travelodge, thank goodness fro the SatNav, so many roads closed off. We got in at 9, had a meal in the restaurant which we'd pre-paid, far too late for Pam's stomach, she had a bit of mine, delicious Lamb Shank and chips followed by ice-cream with chocolate sauce. Pam had her own of the latter.

We drove home on Sunday morning after a cooked breakfast, getting in at 2ish. I want to go again and again......

Migrant Hunt

Wednesday September 26

After finding somewhere to park, the Winterton Quilters were meeting in the Village Hall, everywhere was chocablock, we walked Winterton South Dunes. Well, the landward side with its steep bank of bramble, bushes and trees which small passerines love. Plenty of food and cover, not easy to watch.

Eventually, after two hours of standing, walking and searching, we saw three Redstarts, a very yellow first year Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Stonechats and a Sparrowhawk. Another birder had had brief views of a Yellow-browed Warbler in the favoured bushes below Hermanus - where we had searched diligently. It had flown off with Long-tailed Tits. We saw the Tits.

It rained as we walked back to the car, eyes down meant that I saw this hairy caterpillar which I have yet to identify.

It's walking right......

Birdtrack Attempt

Tuesday September 25

We sea watched at Winterton from 1.11 - 2.25 p.m., trying to shelter behind a car park shed from the strong and blustery SWesterly. When the sun went in we needed coat, hat and gloves.

There was enough activity to keep us interested although not a great variety. We added Red-breasted Merganser, Black-throated Diver, Med Gulls, Razorbill and Kittiwakes to the  month list.

Best was seeing at least 30 Red-throated Divers, most of them in full - or almost - summer plumage. I tried some digiscoping towards the end and this is what I got lots of.......

A heaving sea

A sudden shower brought a spectacular and complete rainbow - couldn't get it all in. I had my little Canon in my pocket so had a go on the wrong setting. I'm ever so good at getting a wonky horizon with the Powershot. Must be something to do with my looking at the screen instead of a viewfinder. I am aware of it too but still got a sloping sea.

Rainbow at Winterton Beach

When I got home I tried to load my first BirdTrack report after hearing the talk at Club last night. As usual, anything new has problems for the beginner but I managed in the end.

Missed Lots

Sunday September 23

Man U were playing Liverpool at lunchtime,  we still went out birding. Our ginger cat woke me early pawing at my face, I got up and so did Pam. 

A Wryneck had been reported from Holme last night plus a Red-breasted Flycatcher, that and the promising weather conditions made Holme the first stop. Several other birders were patrolling the Paddocks, none of us saw the Wryneck, not reported all day, it must have gone.

Spending an hour sea watching at Gore Point was enjoyable, sitting on our waterproof boot cover.watching the tide - and the birds - come in. Almost the first bird I saw was a Bonxie sitting on the water. It sat throughout the time we were there, occasionally flapping its wings, drifting slowly west. Not even passing Sandwich and Common Terns tempted it into flight. Many Gannets to-day, of all ages, mostly far out near the wind turbines. Two small groups of Common Scoter flew past, several Teal but nothing more interesting. On the shore, it's always lovely to see about 70 scurrying Sanderling, 80+ Knot, a few still showing red, half a dozen moulting Grey Plover with dalmation like spotted breasts, Turnstone, Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew and numerous Oystercatchers. One female Reed Warbler landed in front of us, Linnets, Skylark and Meadow Pipits came in off the sea. 

Inland, large flocks of Pinkfeet swirled over the marsh. Winter is here. Still no Brents, despite the northerly wind at the beginning, changing to south westerly.

By the time we got to Holme NOA, the Red-breasted Flycatcher's favoured Sycamore was waving madly in the brisk breeze. A good crowd of other birders had been looking intently for an hour, without success. We sat for twenty minutes, commiserating with Sophie who had spiked under her right eye with the net raising pole on Saturday and was sporting a bruise and a small dressing, probably covering stitches. Everyone was drifting off, we followed. Halfway along the raised walkway,m a man called that he'd got it as I was passing. 'In the tree with the drooping branches, in the branch going from the top to the bottom' he said. Classic. I didn't see it despite looking in the correct area I discovered. It didn't show again. A Buzzard drifted by as we walked back to the car.

Checking the book in the NWT Centre, we'd missed Hobby, Brambling, Red-breasted Merganser, Arctic Skua and Med Gull !! How many people had seen any of them I wonder. We added our Bonxie to the list....Enjoyed it all though.

Watched the match, well Pam did, I listened mostly. We played so badly again, it's been the same all season, so frustrat6ing. You look at the names of the players and wonder why it can happen, I should think Alex got the hairdryer out at halt-time. We did win 2-1, at Anfield where we haven't won for five years.

News of a Booted Warbler at Gun Hill this afternoon was groanworthy. Always a good bird.