RIP Ray Turley

I was very sad to hear this week of the recent death of Ray Turley, who was very much part of the Dungeness landscape, not to mention the birding scene, when I lived in Kent. I did not know him well but had the benefit of his sharp eyes and wit during several sea-watching sessions at the Point. Next time I think I see a distant Pom or Sooty scudding past at sea, and wish I had someone more knowledgeable alongside to talk me through the finer points of their identification, I will remember him.

Tits and Treecreepers

Some more pictures taken during a rare bit of sunshine this week: from top, Crested Tit (x2), Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Treecreeper

SAS Crestie

This Crested Tit visiting feeders at Loch an Eilein today appeared to have had SAS training: it's mission was to get in an out without anyone noticing. Unlike its showier cousins it would approach from the rear of the tree laden with feeders, sneak through the branches, drop in to grab a peanut and go. Much more obliging was this Treecreeper in the same area which also had the decency to pose for photographs during the only hour of sunlight of my five days in Scotland.

Winter Ptarmigan

More Ptarmigan from today's efforts:

Snow Bunting on Cairngorm

The rapid rise in temperature in recent days was illustrated by reports that Snow Bunting were present in the Cairngorm car park a few days ago, but I only came across these birds much higher up the mountain at around the same altitude as the Ptarmigan (see previous post). Three birds were feeding in the small areas of exposed grass near the lochan at the base of the Coire. They allowed a close approach, and on the way back down I realised that the pictures would have been better had I had the presence of mind to wipe increasing amounts of rain from the lens. Always nice birds to see, but particularly in the snow!

Cairngorm challenge

En route from Stirling to Speyside, a detour to Loch Laggan produced a female Black Grouse perched in a birch tree this morning. My main target for today was, however, another grouse - Ptarmigan, still in winter plumage at this time of year. I approached Cairngorm near midday to find the upper car park full - after the indignity of sharing a shuttle bus with a colourful army of skiiers, I began the arduous 90 minute climb to Coire an Lochan where the birds are usually present. The weather was breezy but clear on setting off, and despite stepping through rapidly melting snow into streams beneath on one or two occasions, it remained so for the rest of the climb. When I heard the croaking call of male Ptarmigan nearby I knew that only mist and rain could get in the way now. Unfortunately, both turned up, driven by increasingly strong gusts of wind, just as I caught sight of two male birds and a female on the coire walls. The next couple of hours were spent happily, but damply, getting close enough to huddle under rocks for shelter and hope the birds would come closer. Eventually a pair did - close enough even to hear the female's soft clucking calls. Had the light been better I might have got some excellent photos but given the deteriorating conditions, I was happy enough with these. My third grouse species of the day was seen on the return journey when three male Red Grouse and a female flushed from beside the path.

Every Tit but Willow

Ken Dee Marshes was my second new RSPB reserve of the day, and I was hopeful of photographing Willow Tit as this is reportedly the best site in Scotland for the species. Not this afternoon though - Great, Blue, Coal and Long-tailed Tit all came to feeders, but the closest I came to Willow was reading about its regular appearance at the same feeders in the hide log. Still, Brambling, Nutchatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Red Kite around the reserve made for a worthwhile visit. Shooting at ISO1600 in dark and damp conditions stretched the camera to its limits, but it seemed to cope reasonably well.