MarSue Wildlife - News 2010

NEWS 2010

Our June/July Break

Chanonry Point

Well another short holiday upon us and Sue had booked us in to a lovely little cottage at Chanonry Point where the dolphins swim by, Chanonry is just past Inverness in bonnie Scotland. But before our holiday began we had the pleasure of watching our son Kevin graduate, he got a degree in Physics, umm clever, may I say at this point that we are all very proud of him and he does a sterling job of keeping our web site running. Anyway onwards, Chanonry point, Black isle, what a lovely area and people, we stopped in a rather charming cottage right on the point, very close to the light house, we could see the sea and watch dolphins from the kitchen window, not bad eh. The dolphins were not the easiest subject to take pictures of as they are under water but they do come to the surface to breathe, play, jump about and I think have a look at us standing on the beach. If you are planning a trip up here have a look at Charlie Phillips web site from our links page.

On one of our days we dragged ourselves away from the dolphins to take a trip to Loch Insh to see the Osprey that were nesting nearby, we spent several hours watching the male bird bring in fish for the chicks and for the female and here we also caught up with friends Graham and Claire who we first met two years ago at Chanonry point. Around the Loch Insh area Martin wandered off and took some photo's of wild flowers which included Orchids. Following a little bit of local knowledge we visited an area where Pine Marten had been spotted on occasions and being that we had never seen one or ever thought we would see one we set off in the evening and after a couple of hours there in front of us was our first ever sighting of a Pine Marten although sadly it was to dark to get any photo's, however early the following morning and after waiting for only 50 minutes there it was and although it was only there for a minute or so it was an unforgettable experience and a chance to get a few photo's.

Our May Break

Dumfries and Galloway

Our 1st holiday of the year saw us heading off in our trusty Peugeot 406 in the direction of Southern Scotland to spend a week at Bellymack Hill Farm in Dumfries and Galloway. Just in case you have not read our previous years pages Bellymack Hill Farm is near Laurieston and Loch Ken and here they feed the Red Kites who come from miles around for the free hand out of food, there is normally at least 40 red kites to dinner and sometimes up to 70 or 80. Photographing them is sometimes a bit tricky but alter your compensator and shoot to a blue sky and the results should start to happen, if you are lucky towards the back end of feeding time one or two may come in and perch for a short while. One of our days out took us to The Mull of Galloway RSPB where there is ample to keep you busy for a day and a superb coffee shop just off the reserve to feed you, the walk along the cliff top from the coffee shop is good for views and spotting seabirds but we do stress that extreme caution needs to be taken. On the reserve we found many flowers, butterflies and birds with the odd roe deer thrown in.

From the Mull of Galloway we made our way to Port Patrick as we had been told there was Black Guillemot nesting in the walls of the harbour and we were not disappointed, as soon as we got out of the car we were greeted with the sight of 7 or 8 in the water. After watching for a few minutes one flew up onto a boat which was a great photo opportunity for us. Another day out took us to the Woods of Cree for a lovely 3 mile walk through mixed woodland. Here we saw many woodland birds which included pied flycatcher and crossbill, woodland flowers, ferns and mosses and chance to see and snap photos of a dor beetle. We made several visits to a place called Retreat wood near Laurieston which had a lovely hide with feeders near, having found all the feeders empty we filled them up and were rewarded with sightings and pictures of red squirrel, woodpecker, nuthatch and wren to name a few.

Another reserve we visited on several occasions was Ken Dee marshes RSPB on the side of loch ken. There are 2 lovely little hides here approximately one mile from the car park, on the walk down to the first hide we came across two Tawny owl chicks high up in a tree and were lucky enough to see the adult fly in with a mouse to feed to them. On the walk round to the second hide we stood and watched a tree creeper disappearing behind some loose bark on a tree where it had clearly built its nest. We also had real confirmation that the camo gear we were wearing works as a red squirrel came bounding towards us, it kept stopping to have a look and just kept on coming closer and closer until it was right at our feet. Here we also learnt that pied flycatcher were nesting in nesting boxes and that the male often provides for two females and keeps them close together, so we decided to settle ourselves down a discreet distance away and fully camouflaged despite the heat. We were both rewarded with excellent sightings of the male flitting between 2 boxes , one either side of the path, it was a little dark to obtain really good photos but we managed to get one or two not so good ones in the belief that sometimes you just have to give it a try.

Bempton Cliffs

What a superb place to visit, easily the best place we have been to see, hear and smell seabirds! More than 200,000 birds from April to August make the cliffs seem alive. Our first day gave us glorious sunshine and excellent views and photo opportunities of all the seabirds. We found the staff at the R.S.P.B. visitors center unbelievably friendly and knowledgeable and although refreshments were available they were only light refreshments so pack up is recommended.

Over night we stopped at Bempton Guest House (www.bemptonguesthouse.co.uk), spot on rooms and a fantastic breakfast.The best opportunity we had to photograph the Gannets was when they were collecting nesting material from a grassy bank near one of the view points. Back at the visitor centre Tree sparrows were posing on the roof for anyone that took notice. Although at the time of our visit there were not many Puffins we still managed to see about 15 and more are expected to arrive over the coming weeks. Early evening it was time to abandon the cameras and just enjoy the walk and watching some of the birds habits and antics. Please check our Coastal and Seabirds page to see a selection of photo's.

Snow Geese or not

The three greylag are unmistakable in the center picture but the goose on the left could be mistaken for a snow goose, this one is either a wild farmyard goose that is flying and grazing with the greylags or it could be a greylag with partial albinism. Its not uncommon to see some birds with partial albinism and they do survive quite well but the bird with complete albinism have a tendency to be picked on and often killed by other birds, they are also of a softer nature when it comes to our winters. The true Snow geese are on the right in a group of three and clearly shows their distinctive black wing tips which are clearly visible in flight, the rest of their feathers are white in colour, these were snapped in fields near Leighton Moss RSPB.

Pennington Flash

What a super little place and yet so near the major city of Manchester as well. This reserve is best visited in a morning when the crowds are still at home, the open playing fields and children's play area does attract families on sunnier days but the fact that it also has several hides and various habitats is also a big draw for the serious bird watcher and photographer, especial as one of the hides overlooks a tremendous feed station area which really does deserve a look at. While we were there in early January a Bittern had been spotted. At the bird feeder hide we spotted bullfinch (we have never seen as many pairs as we did here), willow tit, reed bunting, woodpecker, Squirrel, brown rat, coal tit, great and blue tit, chaffinch, goldfinch and greenfinch, moorhen and pheasant, robin and many blackbirds just to name a few, we were also told that brambling visited the station. We think the best time for photographers will be February and March before the leaves appear on the tree's and mid morning to mid day, well thats the bird feeder hide done but we can assure you the other hides are well worth a visit too. To find out more and where Pennington Flash is the Internet is the best starting place.

January

Snow and ice, snow and ice, photo opportunities are a bit thin on the ground when all is frozen but never mind its got to thaw soon.

As the above says snow and ice, so off to one of our winter hot spots Martin Mere and Swanlink hide, its swan feeding time and the Whooper Swans and other birds gather for their much needed feed, some of the other wildlife to join them were Shelduck, Pintail, Ruff, Mallard, Greylag, Teal and Wigeon.