Inverlael continued......

30 June - Another strenuous walk, this time the Beinn Dearg group, and highlights today (in very windy showery conditions) included a flighty pair of Ring Ouzels (pic), a calling Cuckoo and more Ptarmigan heard on the slopes. A big herd of Red Deer, including a calf and a young stag, seen during the descent.

Seana Bhraigh birdlife

29 June - Mixed conditions for our (10h!) hill walk to Seana Bhraigh in Inverlael, sun in the morning and mist and some drizzle - 2 very confiding pairs of Ptarmigan (pic), a Red Grouse flushed, a Dipper and several Common Sandpipers. An enjoyable day amidst spectacular scenery. A group of Red Deer at dusk down the mountain around our accommodation.

Slimbridge - Spoonbill and Avocets......

22 June - A quick lunchtime visit to Slimbridge after work, and good views of the adult Spoonbill on South Lake, sleeping most of the time but it took it's bill out and preened briefly a couple of times allowing a few photos (1,2,7). Also present - 37 Black-tailed Godwits, 16 Redshanks, a Green Sandpiper and an Avocet. The breeding Avocets still incubating on the Rushy Pen (3-5). A noisy pair of Oystercatchers had a juvenile in tow (6) - photos JM.

Midsummer......and a virtual Phalarope!

20 June - sunset was at 2128h this evening......warm, calm and fairly humid......spring into early summer is my favourite time of year.....and, a sign of the future perhaps?......the nearest I got to seeing the Red-necked Phalarope at Slimbridge today was to watch it live on the webcam as it fed near the Avocet nests on Rushy Pen.....maybe that's why I ran late in surgery......

Nightjar and Woodcock at Snelsmore Common

19 June - A late evening detour off the M4 to the heathland at Snelsmore Common at Newbury, and good views of a male Nightjar in flight at dusk, after hearing it calling from 2150h onwards, with its strange ventriloquial churring. Another was calling distantly in reply. A Woodcock was also roding over the trees giving its squeaky call. Warm and still conditions this evening made it perfect for a visit.

Brownsea Island

15 June - A visit to Brownsea Island, principally for the Tern colony, where the Roseates seen most days this week did not put in an appearance, but I had excellent views and photo opportunities for the Sandwich (5-9) and Common Terns (4) at close quarters. Photos JM. ps don't mention Pacific Swifts!......

Garden Red Kites

9 June - Very close views of 2 Red Kites over the garden this afternoon, together with 3 Buzzards. Photo JM.

Staple Island, Farnes.....

7 June - A very enjoyable visit to the seabird spectacle of Staple Island, Farnes, in fine weather. An hour was hardly long enough to do justice to the cacophony of thousands of seabirds an arms length away.....Shag (3),and Fulmar (4)....then the Auks - Puffins of course (5-11), smart Razorbills (12-13) and Guillemots (14-15)....together with Arctic (16-17) and Sandwich Terns, and dainty Kittiwakes (18-19). Good numbers of Grey Seals were lounging around on the rocks. Altogether an amazing spectacle. Photos JM.

Coquet Island.....

6 June - Fine weather for the first Northumberland boat trip - Coquet Island, the highlight here being Roseate Terns, and we saw half a dozen or so, both on the rocks and in pairs by the nest boxes. Elegant and rare, pale upper parts with long tail streamers, dark bills and attenuated shape - not seen in flight this year, but apparently few present in the very late spring. Many Arctic, and Sandwich and Common Terns also seen. Also on the sea and cliffs large noisy groups of auks, especially Puffins, with Guillemots and a few Razorbills. Kittiwakes and Gannets around, and Grey Seals hauled up. In the evening we paid a visit, across the causeway at low tide, to Lindisfarne - very peaceful and other-worldly, and I would like to spend longer there to see it properly.