RSPB Building Season Upon Us Again!

Soon after posting yesterday's Blog, Tunisia appeared on the screen as the 134th country to join our readership. I would like to extend a warm welcome, hope you enjoy the read and request you encourage many of your countrymen to do likewise by sending them the link.
Thank You & Enjoy!

Next, I have to hark back to yesterday's theme (What a Difference a Week Makes) as during my Scottish absence yet another swathe of our valuable reed-bed at Radipole has fallen under the 'jack-boot' of the RSPB. What is believed to be a 'pond-dipping' access would be fine if it were not in the heart of a Site of Special Scientific Interest and, after last years performance, the time of build had been sympathetic to 'breeding birds'. It is a serious offence under the 1981 Wildlife & Countryside Act to knowingly disturb breeding birds, and anyone who has spent more than 10 minutes at this 'reserve' in recent years will know that this platform has been constructed in what had become a nesting site for Mute Swans! Add to this the direct proximity of Cetti's Warbler and Bearded Tit, I would challenge the RSPB (and more particularly so called local management) that they are contravening the law by building anything on an SSSI during the month of APRIL?

but onward to something they haven't strimmed, a variety of Buttercup I presume, but looking at the Field Guide it's difficult to decide which - help please!

Apart from the fact that Chiffchaff plus Willow, Sedge and Reed Warblers have now become a part of the country scene once again there was little else to report until arriving at Lodmoor, except maybe this

Heavy Lift Vessel at anchor in Weymouth Roads, in calm but overcast conditions. Whilst on the Moor it soon became obvious that

This is what you get if you mess with Shelduck nuptials!

2 separate pairs seemed to be vocally sparring, before one took off to attack the others.

Followed by the second of the pair

that launched straight into the melée

followed by a 2 minutes free for all.

Just before arriving at the redundant Council Tip, this Green Woodpecker perched briefly close by, at which point I detected my first

'reeling' Grasshopper Warbler of the year and with just 2 Dunlin to add to the list it was time to look at Ferrybridge.

On arrival, 2 Common Terns were resting on the small mooring buoys, but still no sign of the Little Terns or anything else for that matter.

Portland was also fairly quiet except for a Blackcap or two, a slow trickle of Swallows and a good show of Alexanders (which I note are a member of the Carrot family)

but this Brown Rat saw me before I saw it and was gone in a flash.

In the Portland Bird Observatory garden, there had been some success with the 'mist netting' and my arrival coincided with the capture of this rather handsome adult, female Wheatear.

There followed only a short wait before the Warden recovered this male Blackcap

which was thought worthy of a head detail.

While checking the progress of the local Tadpoles, there was a moment of excitement as 2

Stock Doves were caught, not at all a common event as numbers have drastically reduced

on the Island in recent years,

but these 2 were safely released hopefully to breed.

On the way home, the air was filled by the songs of several Skylark as a passing Sparrowhawk

seemed to spook this fine looking male Pheasant.

That's it for today as I have to get ready for another party tonight, we're having an Italian night with Roy & Joy next door so:-

Buona Sera

What a Difference a Day (Week) Makes - Dinah Washington

Rain had been promised by the forecaster for mid-afternoon, so the earlier the start the better the outcome? The day was already overcast but relatively still , but leaving home just before 07:00 there was still a chill to the air while all that was found in the cemetery was a lone, singing Chiffchaff. Most birds were vocal today and even before reaching the kissing gate leading onto Radipole Lake this

Reed Bunting was singing from the reeds. It was not alone in this as both

Reed Warbler (my first of the year) and

Sedge Warbler where chattering away, seemingly in good numbers, while

Chiffchaff plus

Garden Warbler (another addition the the Year List) were singing from nearby bushes.

Before setting off for Lodmoor, there was a chance to admire the many early flowering Bluebells as well.

On the way to the next location this lorry, one of two, drove past and considering we were in Dyce at that time yesterday it was considered quite a coincidence to see them so far from home.

This male Chaffinch was first to catch my eye if only for the striking contrast between it and the soon to flower Hawthorn (May blossom).

This Wren was also performing a pretty decent solo, but a single

'second summer' Common Gull was content to simple watch the world go by.

By far the best bird of the day had to be the ever changing Long-billed Dowitcher which has to be one of the 'best value' rarities of recent years. It has been in the county for several months now, putting in appearances at 4 locations to my knowledge, allowing all to see and photograph it at close quarters. In recent weeks it has been moulting into an adult plumage, and I was most surprised to see what difference a week has made in this development. When it first arrived it could only be described as a dull 'grey' bird

but by January (this photo) it was developing some tinges of rufous to the wing feathers.

During February more colour was showing again on the smaller wing feathers (coverts and tertials).

My first sight of it today was to see it fly into the favoured pool and it looked like an orange ball,

while further examination showed just how dramatic the change has been over just one week. particularly to the under-parts. Let's hope it stays and shows us its 'true colours. Finally at Lodmoor, before leaving for Portland, a female Marsh Harrier put in a brief aerial appearance as my first

Common Whitethroat of the year started singing from a nearby bush. A brief stop at Ferrybridge in the hope of seeing the recently reported Little Tern drew a blank, in fact all of note was a single Shelduck plus a handful of Red-breasted Merganser.

There were a total of 3 Blackcap at Sweethill, this a male and this

a prospective mate? while at the Bird Observatory things were pretty quiet there too! A fluke Red-throated Diver, spotted by the Warden, was a bonus, but all else amounted to a

Meadow Pipit

caught by one of the visiting 'ringers'.

On the way home both Herring Gull and
Pied Wagtail presented such good opportunity

that a few shots had to be fired off. Here's hoping for a little more 'movement' and less rain (which did start in earnest as predicted) tomorrow.

Short But Sweet

Joe Robertson, Moi + Malcolm Brand

It was considered the King Eider of yesterday was a fitting and perfect finalé to our adventure, but unbeknown to us there was more to come. Having returned the hire car we then decamped to the Speedbird Inn at Dyce (Aberdeen) Airport, which was where I would stay the nights prior to going off-shore. Mid-evening Dave and I went to the bar for what was to be a quiet pint, but then met 2 of my mates from the Buchan Alpha. Malcolm Brand, Joe Robertson and I were in the same shift together and as we all flew south on the same crew change we got to know each other very well, unlike those who simply went in other directions not enjoying a beer or two as we did.

It was a real pleasure to see you both again Malcolm and Joe - take care off-shore!

and as today has been taken up by travel a few photos from the archive to fill in until tomorrow when, it may surprise you to know I plan to go 'birding' hopefully to get species number 220 on the Year List. 'Till then keep reading! CHEERS.

To late for photos, and as Lorne and Sheila have left me a few cans of cider I'll drink a couple of them and talk to you again tomorrow - Asta la Vista!

The 'KING' Will Come - Wishbone Ash

It was to be a 'single pronged' attack today with blinkered vision and only one target. Pulling the curtains back in the St Olaf Hotel, Cruden Bay the sun came pouring in, there was not a cloud in the sky and the trees were still as night, not a breath of wind, all set for a good day. A full Scottish breakfast is also guaranteed to kick you off on the right foot, but as we stepped out of the hotel the rain started and in a nutshell lasted for the rest of the day.

Driving north, we stopped to look at the Peterhead Lighthouse (another shot for The Lighthouse People) before turning down the track that led us back to Rattray Head. Once again the were a few Corn Bunting and loads of Pink-footed Geese and we also managed to get a shot or two of

Yellowhammer

Similarly to yesterday we searched the sea area close to the lighthouse and the rocky outcrops to the north for the King Eider but again without success, but quite a few 'Divers' seemed to have move in since our previous visit with at least 10 Great Northern, 13 Black-throated and a single summer plumage Red-throated. After this we moved back to

where there was just one addition to the Trip List, a spoonbill feeding in the Tower Pool and I caught my first sight of Coot, Gadwall and Moorhen, leveling the score with Dave.

There was also this unusual looking Pheasant

which will need to be looked up at a later date.

The view out of the Visitor's Centre window looks directly onto the Black-headed Gull colony

and beyond to the Tower Pool,

Loch of Strathbeg in the far distance and

the stone built Windmill that once drained this whole area.

A Grey Heron patrolling the reeds. Our last ditch chance to see the King Eider would be to return to Newburgh where the tide was rapidly falling, but optimistic as ever I had a strong feeling that we were going to get lucky. Time was running out as the hire car had to be returned by 16:30 but we did stop briefly at the second lay-by to try once again for the Bonaparte's Gull, then as quickly as you like to Inch Point overlooking the River Ythan.

Within minutes of arrival, I had the little bugger sat preening on an exposed rock with a few of its close cousins the Common Eider.

What a moment of elation and what a way to finish our trip that had also been a great success to watch this beautiful

male King Eider slip into the water not really bothering about our approach.

We must have got to within 40 yards which made for reasonable photographic range, but to look at one of the smartest ducks in the world through the telescope was astounding!

We did decide to end our advance there, as the bird and its companions started to look a little edgy,

but just to clap eyes on it was privilege enough.

It wasn't until returning to the car that it was realised I had the camera setting on 'landscape' and so doubtless the images could have been better, but hey who's complaining?

It was hoped that I might get to see the North Sea Bird Club Recorder and his assistant Alma Frazer at the Culterty (Cooterty) Field Station which is now incorporated in the brand new Oceanographic complex here but they were both away. Over my years off-shore I had sent 13,000 records of wildlife seen from various rigs I have served on and so it would have been great to see my old friends again - maybe next time guys?

We returned to the Ythan for our final hour where we found the Long-tailed Ducks just a little closer to the shore,

and although we would have loved to have seen the King Eider again it was not relocated.

Finally, the sight of a Bristow's 'Oil Rig Crew Change' helicopter flying high above the river quite put the wind up me as I thought they may be looking for me, so I dived for cover. While I loved every aspect of the off-shore life, especially on the Buchan Alpha, it made me realise even more how good it feels to have the shackles shaken off as I am enjoying life so much in retirement.

A quick word about our trip in general to the 'magic country' which is Scotland, for Dave and I has been a resounding success. We only 'dipped' on 2 potential species, Parrot Crossbill (not a sniff) and Glaucous Gull (which had been reported while we have been here but luck was simply not on our side). Besides this, the Pied-billed Grebe on Mull was just a 'bridge too far', while the Green-winged Teal (Loch of Strathbeg) and Snow Geese (various locations) seemed to be long gone. Once again there were no Pine Martens for me but we did record 8 species of mammal with the bird list for the trip concluding at 112.

For anyone who has not been here and loves the countryside Scotland must not be missed, and if as we your interests stretch to 'birding' particularly there is much to see that England cannot provide, so in the words of the Bard remember:-

Growing Old is Compulsory
Growing Up is Optional

From the 2 youngsters in Jockville, see some of you in the next few days!