One good Tern deserves another.....

28 July - A long-staying Caspian Tern an hour and a half away doesn't happen very often, so I saw my second rare tern this month in the shape of the immature at Rudyard Lake, Staffs, seen both on the shoreline with gulls, and in flight - large bulky size, and huge orange bill, very distinctive. Photos copyright (1) Bob Duckhouse and (2) Steve Seal.

Scottish wildlife spectacular......

27 July - A very scenic cycle ride up Glen Tilt in sunshine, and an amazing list of wildlife sightings - Red Squirrel in the forest, then by the moor/riverbank a female Merlin flew over (2) and a male Ring Ouzel hopped around calling noisily - the river itself held Sand Martin, Common Sandpiper and Oystercatcher, and an Osprey that circled up and flew east. The slopes of Carn a 'Chlamain produced a flyover Peregrine and, best of all, an adult Golden Eagle (1) that circled right overhead, showing its massive wingspan, then drifted off west.

En route back to Edinburgh a brief stop at Loch of Lowes gave good views of this year's juvenile Osprey, with scaly plumage, practising flights over the loch, watched over by one of the adults.

The Atholl estate

25 July - A long walk encompassing Beinn Dearg, in the Atholl estate, and a surprisingly good tally of birds for late July - a hunting Hen Harrier over the moorland, a female Peregrine, 4 Golden Plover (1), a fem/imm Ring Ouzel (2) and a family party of Whinchats. Many young Meadow Pipits on the moor. Buzzard and Kestrel completed the tally of raptors.

More Bridled Tern....

21 July - these photos of the Bridled Tern on Inner Farne were taken while I was watching the bird on Friday 19th and posted by John on Birdforum, and used with permission.

Unbridled.......well, relief.......

19 July - A long day, to Northumberland, and arriving in plenty of time for the boat to Inner Farne revealed a perfect day for a boat trip. I joined a surprisingly large number of birders on Serenity for the afternoon crossing to Inner Farne, and we disembarked at 1.30pm. By 3, we were beginning to feel despondent, but at 10 past 3 there was a cry of "there it is!" And panic ensued until everyone had got onto the superb adult Bridled Tern that has been around the northeast coast for several weeks. A very smart bird, with black/brown upper parts and a white supercilium extending behind the eye. It remained on view for nearly half an hour, on the rocks and in flight (1-4). Definitely worth the trip. Also seen - 2 stunning Roseate Terns (5-6), 100s of elegant Arctic (9-11) and Sandwich Terns (7-8) - and auks, with Razorbills (14-15), Guillemots including a few Bridled birds (13), dapper Puffins (16-19) Kittiwakes (12) and Fulmars, all now with young after my last trip in June. An Arctic Skua also cruised past. A fantastic day in a northeast heatwave, photos JM.

Memories

17 July - I will always be profoundly grateful to my mother, who died 23 years ago today, for passing on to me her love of natural history, which has provided an ongoing fascination wherever, and in whatever circumstances, I have been throughout my life, and has always helped me to get things into perspective. Two of her favourite birds were the Cuckoo and the Swallow, and whenever I see or hear either of these I always think of her. And she loved Scotland as I do.

The Eastern Fannichs....

13 July - A day of Munros in the eastern part of the Fannichs in the northwest Highlands, fine weather with some mist that burnt off by afternoon, and while bagging 4 peaks birds included a distant Golden Eagle (pic) with distinctive large flat-winged profile, that soared off east, 2 stray Grey Herons flying over the ridge, Ptarmigan heard calling, and a Common Sandpiper and a pair of Grey Wagtails on the river. Redpolls and Siskins were fairly common in the forested areas.

Common Rosefinch at Loch Tummel......

12 July - A minor diversion off the A9 heading to Inverness took me to the peaceful environs of Loch Tummel, where after a few minutes I heard the distinctive song of a male Conmon Rosefinch - the bird was fairly obliging, perching on a low birch then the top of a pine, a large finch, with distinctive scarlet colours on the head and breast. A couple of Spotted Flycatchers were also around. Schiehallion ( on my Munro list) was visible in the evening sunlight across the loch. Photos JM.

Spoonbill at pit 74!.....

6 July - A lunchtime call from Bob Philpott and a few minutes later I was watching an adult Spoonbill on the bank at pit 74 - probably the Slimbridge bird - in full breeding plumage with a yellow bill tip, a buff breast band and a crest. It had gone at 6.30 pm when I returned with the camera.......photo courtesy Bob Philpott (CWP birding website).

Little Bitterns at Ham Wall.....

5 July - Warm sunny weather, and a morning visit to the extensive reedbeds of Ham Wall in the Somerset Levels, where Little Bitterns are breeding again this year. I had views of both the male (pic) and female in flight from the viewpoint that has been established. A productive morning for other species - amongst 5 Heron species, a Great White Egret in flight, a Bittern over the reedbed briefly, 13 Little Egrets and 4 Grey Herons. Both male and female Marsh Harrier were hunting. 2-3 Hobbies were feeding on insects. Some warblers singing including several loud Cetti's Warblers and 10+ Reed Warblers - a Water Rail also heard, and a Kingfisher seen in flight.

Loch Fleet and Inverness

1 July - A good few hours this morning, firstly at Loch Fleet where a good selection of waders included no less than 10 Greenshanks (pic), 5 Bar-tailed Godwits including one in summer plumage, 50+ Curlew and several Common Sandpipers. Duck included Teal, Wigeon, Eider and 2 female Red-breasted Mergansers with a total of 9 young. 2 Ospreys were hunting over the estuary. Elsewhere, birds included another Osprey on its nest on a pylon, 2 more Greenshanks including one with a well-grown chick, several Dunlin, and a Spotted Flycatcher.