around Lincoln for good birds, butterflies and flowers

A day in Lincs, I started at Whisby Nature Park on the outskirts of Lincoln with Nightingales on the agenda, I’m a bit later doing this trip this year and the birds weren’t singing as much, were more secretive and there was more undergrowth, nevertheless at least four were heard and after a lot of perseverance I eventually got some views of one, no pics this year though, also a good selection of Warblers and a Cuckoo around plus hundreds of Common Blue Damselflies and Chimney Sweeper Moths. Early afternoon I headed off to Chambers Farm Wood, I thought I would reacquaint myself with Marsh Fritillaries this year, been a while since I last saw one unfortunately with the weather etc it’s got a bit late in the season, I managed to see three although only one was posing and that was starting to look a bit tatty, a good number of Common Blues were also about plus a couple of Dingy Skippers and a nice little bonus in the form of a Greater Butterfly Orchid, rather fitting. I called in at Alkborough on the way home, it was fairly quiet, a few Avocets and Black Tailed Godwits in front of the Hide and a Marsh Harrier over the reeds were about the best of it.

Chimney Sweeper

Common Blue Damselfly

Marsh Orchid I think

Garden Warbler

Marsh Fritillary on Ragged Robin

Dingy Skipper

lots of Common Blues about

a nice bonus in the shape of this Butterfly Orchid

Ragged Robin

Mr & Mrs Montagu

An afternoon jaunt after work to see the returning Montagu’s Harriers that have been around at Blacktoft Sands for a few weeks now, showing well albeit distantly, the male coming in with prey at least three times while I was there, lots of Marsh Harrier activity as well plus five or six Little Egrets and a Hobby shot through.

Monty's Harrier pair

flew across in front of the hides as it went off hunting one time

returned with prey half an hour later

Black Winged at Bothal

A trip up to Bothal Pond in Northumberland last Sunday for what was possibly last years returning Black Winged Pratincole, present for its third day, I called in at Whittle Dene Reservoirs on the way up as there had been a Black Tern on the Saturday but I only saw Common that morning, I later found out it had been present but was feeding high up so I had probably overlooked it thinking it would be over the water with the other Terns. At Bothal Pond the Pratincole was showing well along the Western edge even coming reasonably close on a couple of occasions (far better views than last year) but seemed reluctant to fly only giving one short flight view while I was there, I gave up on getting the flight shot early afternoon and headed South calling in at Teesside on the way home, highlights were a Spoonbill on Back Saltholme, Little Ringed Plovers from the Phil Stead Hide, Water Rail and Little Egret showing well from the Wildlife Watchpoint and two drake Garganey on the Fire Station Pools.

Common Tern at Whittle Dene Res

better on the ground views this year

distant Spoonbill on Back Saltholme

LRP at Phil Stead Hide

a couple of bully boys dropped in

Stock Doves looked nice in the sun

Garganey on Fire Station Pools

Mull weekend Day 4

Monday the 25th, Last day and the ferry off wasn’t until nearly 11am so we had planned a steady drive to Craignure birding along the way but just as we finished breakfast Paz, who had booked the ferry, received a text from the ferry company saying owing to technical difficulties there would be a limited crossing, we decided to get straight there, upon arrival we were informed they were having problems with the hydraulic ramp but as an alternative we could take the ferry from Fishnish to Lochaline, a bit longer drive home but it would get us off the Island sooner and the route home would take us past Loch Sunart and Strontian of Black Duck fame, we took that option, it was a relatively short crossing but we managed four White Tailed Eagles distantly over the Rubha an Ridire headland and a flock of Arctic Terns near Lochaline. As we were passing Loch Sunart we had an Otter close to shore then we spent a bit of time around Strontian on the offchance we may come across the Black Duck, we got some local gen on where it had been seen recently but there weren’t many Ducks around at all let alone that one, Paz who had took a walk along the river got a couple of ticks though, literally. We undertook the long journey home passing through the very scenic Glen Coe, along the incredibly long Loch Lomond and back into England with a late afternoon diversion into Teesdale for the Black Grouse, a good few males were showing including half a dozen lekking but were all fairly distant although a female dropped in reasonably close, first female I’ve seen for a few years, still a good end to very enjoyable and successful weekend in very good company as usual.

leaving Fishnish

Loch Sunart looking over to Strontian

Glen Coe scenics

Loch Lomond

distant Grouse

still lekking

female