Midsummer Swifts......and sunsets

29 June - The Swifts in the village seem to be having a good year, I've counted 20+ in the screaming group at dusk the last few evenings. The photos freeze the bird at 1/1250 sec, and the full crop can be seen. And the amazing sunsets go on and on......

Ravens etc.....

29 June - A pair of Ravens displaying over the garden this morning, and I managed to grab the camera......also in the last few days, whilst driving, a flyover Hobby and 6 Red Kites.

Gannet still in CWP..........

24 June - The subadult Gannet is still in the CWP for its 11th day.....a record? It's been moving between pits so can fly and,presumably, feed? It may move on if weather turns unsettled. Photo JM.

Midsummer sunsets.......

23 June - Our spell of superb summer weather should last another couple of days, with magical long evenings and orange/red sunsets......it's hard to capture the immensity of the sky and the gradual colour changes but I've tried the last couple of days.....

Deeside......

21 June - A scenic walk in Glen Ey, up onto Carn Bhac, with Ring Ouzel, Tree Pipit and a Wheatear along the glen, and waders in profusion - Oystercatcher, Curlew, Lapwing, and 4 pairs of melancholy-sounding but striking Golden Plovers on the moors (1-3). 2 pairs of Red Grouse with small chicks were in the heather. En route to Aberdeen, a short stop at Loch of Skene (4,5) paid dividends with views of a hovering Osprey.

Snow Buntings.....

20 June - another day in the Cairngorms and 2 singing male Snow Buntings on the summit of Beinn Bhrotain at 3,800 ft....confiding for the camera. Several Ptarmigan heard during the day, but, surprisingly, none seen.

Dotterel.......

19 June - a walk in the Southern Cairngorms in good weather, the highlight being a confiding group of 3 Dotterel, below the summit of An Sgarsoch, which walked towards me and the camera! A female Merlin also gave a flyby view, and a Red Grouse seen, with Wheatears in the rocky areas and 10+ Common Sandpipers on the river.

Short-toed Eagle......finally!.......

17 June - Very conveniently, I didn't have to be at work til 12 midday, so an early trip was in order to Ashdown Forest, round a nice quiet M25, and after an early morning wait, the superb 2nd summer Short-toed Eagle suddenly appeared from its roost, and soared overhead against the early morning clouds, showing its powerful but elegant shape, large wingspan and extremely pale underparts. It then perched on a treetop and gave excellent views of its large owl-like head. A really stunning bird and I would say one of my best ever UK sightings......,also there, a Nightjar singing early morning, a singing Woodlark, Redpolls and Stonchats. LGRE himself was in attendance.......photos JM, except the one below, taken later in the day with better light.....

Pre-work Hoopoe at CWP!

16 June - An unexpected pre-work bonus on a Monday, in the form of a confiding Hoopoe on Ashton Keynes cricket pitch.....photographed at 6.45am on a slightly cloudy morning......an excellent addition to my CWP list. It was feeding unobtrusively under the trees at the edge of the playing field. My second in Wilts.

Midsummer Sunsets......

13 June - Some dramatic sunsets this week, all taken at home looking NW, with those lovely long evenings, and superb weather....my favourite time of year I think, feel so energised by the sun and prolonged daylight. I hope it lasts a while longer.......