Eric & Lesley's Wildlife Blog - Wildscotphotos

A Covert Sighting

11/2/2019

Its a no-brainer that birds have different strategies for survival. The Treecreeper has a pretty extreme strategy - it tries not to get noticed any time, any place. It does this by living in a woodland where it mimics a bit of branch. In going for the invisible option , even it's call cannot be heard by some older humans and is pretty faint at the best time. The rest of the time it imitates a bit of tree branch which is does expertly.
In winter they can be attracted to food - either something oily on a branch or even on the ground. With repeated visits they can be more accommodating and stay longer. Such was the case yesterday with this confiding individual.

The King

14/1/2019

I know its a bit presbyterian but I like to work hard at getting pictures. I assume that I will have hardship - long waits in cold or rather hot conditions with much frustration along the way. That's usually the case but not always.
Occasionally a subject doesn't follow the script. This kingfisher has been much admired by regular walkers, families with children and the like. For some, it is probably the first kingfisher they have ever seen and for others the previous sighting would have been the famous blue streak.
I am wary of situations with other keen photographers but I need not have worried. Not too many turned up and everyone left satisfied with their views of this male who performed for everyone, regularly catching sticklebacks in front of our eyes in a decidedly urban setting.

Consequences

14/12/2018

Birds don't all make the same decisions. This seems trivial but can have mortal consequences. This Mistle Thrush has been basically living in the same tree for some time. It intends to stay for another month or two or until the berries are gone. It defends the bush from all comers, in particular other thrushes. It has made a decision and, as a result, is forced to endure the fact that it is an urban area. Humankind pass by close and cars too, honking their horns and such like. It must be stoic and stay put.
We heard about a different Mistle Thrush defending a berry bush in a similar situation. One day, the Sparrowhawk came along and killed it. The berries disappeared within two days from the Blackbirds.

Grey Geese

29/11/2018

We are currently in a run of poor weather. I can even hear the rain and the wind outside as I write. Going outside for the past couple of weeks has meant mainly topping up feeders and getting back in the car. Hopefully we will have something to show for our efforts in due course although the forecast is for more of the same.
At my local Reserve winter always bring in Greylag Geese. Pinkfeet Geese are more prized just as Whooper Swans are more prized than Mute. They are just wilder and more challenging, their lives more exciting and precarious. Still a flock of honking Greylags winging their way down to the loch are impressive enough so we went with what was on offer.

Bogey Bird

10/11/2018

We all have a bogey bird - one that we feel we should have seen better, or more often, or in better circumstances. The Sparrowhawk is one for me. Not having a feeding station at home I have only rarely seen one there. My feeding stations in the countryside seems not to attract them or, if at all, rarely.
Today I had a break. In the car I saw one flying low and settling on a post. Before I could get my gear into place two cars came the other way whilst the bird remained. I then approached slowly and enjoyed the male Sparrowhawk for some time. Another car came approaching from the other direction; by this time I was nearly off road and the car approached to ask if I was all right. Yes, it was my day, made by a beautiful bird.

Birds do the Funniest Things

14/10/2018

Early on during our Namibia trip we undertook a pelagic at Walvis Bay. There are a few boats of various sizes that do this. Naturally ours was the smallest. That said, there was no noticeable swell and the provided lunch was just the job.
Over time, the operators have begun by taking people to see the Fur Seals which are interesting and quite attractive. Lately they have managed to get Jackals to come to fish bait. That was a real surprise.
However the real fish fanciers are the Pelicans. They have learnt that fish is available to they get in on the act. You might think they are clumsy. No so, the they can catch fish in the air no bother. Nowadays they also land on the boats to "encourage" the fish production line. Yes, they are almost cute. My strategy was to stick close to the fish thrower and got some pleasing pictures.

Plumage Problems

24/8/2018

We are not long back from a short visit to England, incorporating Lincolnshire, the Rutland Birdfair and the Zoological Photographic Club (ZPC) 2018 Convention.

After that we spent a couple of day looking for birds and butterflies. Many Butterflies were nectaring, in preparation for winter. Birds are feeding too but the other noticeable impression is that there's a mix of young and adult birds. Often the young birds are changing plumage. One sight that is fairly uncommon for us was to see this juvenile Water Rail. Out of the nest it would be black; later it will be much greyer, with a red bill but for now it more resembles a Crake. The striped Crake perhaps.

Swallowing

11/8/2018

Its a quiet time away from the coast where bird migration is in full swing. Around us, we are seeing plenty of butterflies enjoying the sunshine and warmth, notably Painted Lady and the locally uncommon Commas.
The dry weather has one obvious benefit in that the remaining water attracts wildlife more than ever. The pool in front of my hide is attracting more bird bathers than any previous year but I needed a bigger pool for today's photo. I noticed a wet flush where Swallows were drinking so I waited and over a ten minute period I only took one burst of two pictures. As you can see, Swallows are able to drink on the wing such is their flying skill.

Northumberland Coast

25/7/2018

A change of scenery was needed, so we decided to head south and visit the Northumberland coast for a couple of days. Not a county we know well. A particular target was Roseate Tern, but there were plenty other things of interest to seek out along the coast. Visiting one of the many coastal wetlands to look for Barn Owl (which we failed to see!) we passed a farm with this Little Owl sitting outside on the wall. Another highlight was a damp meadow with a Grasshopper Warbler in full song.
We did a couple of boat trips and did see Roseate Terns as well as plenty Sandwich and Arctic, but never close enough for good photos.
Butterflies were abundant too with lots of Small Skippers and Dark Green Fritillaries around the wet ponds.

May Time

12/6/2018

Last week we spent the whole week on the Isle of May in the Forth. Like other places we visit on our travels it felt a real privilege to be there as part of a fairly exclusive club.
It was the height of the bird breeding season. Oystercatchers were widespread, piping away, protecting their young from the marauding gulls, however the Terns were causing anxiety since they were late to arrive and even later to settle down.
The stars of the show for us were the auks, and in particular, the clowns of the sea - the Puffins. From the start of the week they began hatching their eggs. We know this by the fact that they carried sand eels increasingly as the week wore on. Being resident meant being able to use the whole of the day for photography which was a hoped-for bonus once the sea haar dispersed.