So my wife and I started the new year with a walk around Gartmorn Dam, a retired gravel pit nearby in Clackmannanshire. We walked clockwise from the carpark and, in between wishing all the anti-clockwise walkers a “Happy New Year”, we managed to get the birding year list off to a flying start. Of courseContinue reading “A walk around Gartmorn Dam”
Author Archives: Wild Scot
My 2021 Year List
Listing isn’t for everybody! But I do receive an extra motivation by trying to see as many bird species as I can. For me listing is both a means and an end. As an end in itself, it is great to try to beat last year’s total or indeed see more in January than IContinue reading “My 2021 Year List”
RSPB Vane Farm, Loch Leven
We took a drive out to Loch Leven, near Kinross today to get some fresh air. I haven’t visited since they re worked the carpark (now a pay and display for non-members by the way). They have a much larger feeder area now which is well worth walking around for the common woodland birds. NothingContinue reading “RSPB Vane Farm, Loch Leven”
Esk Mouth, Musselburgh
Firstly, I should apologies for not posting for a while, work has been crazy busy. I have been out bird watching frequently enough and happily got my bird species list for the year up to 204 (a new record for me) but not really had the time to photograph or write. Looking ahead to JanuaryContinue reading “Esk Mouth, Musselburgh”
A drive along the Lothian Coast
We recently took a drive along the Lothian coast from Musselburgh to Gullane. There are several good spots to stop and look out to sea and along the coast itself. At Port Seton, a large flock on Ringed Plover flew down the coast but didn’t stop. But then an even larger flock of Golden PloverContinue reading “A drive along the Lothian Coast”
Birdwatching at Musselburgh Lagoons
As Autumn is kicking in I decided to take a trip out to Musselburgh in the hope of adding a few birds to my year list. The east coast obviously attracts a range of seabirds we don’t get in Clackmannanshire and can also have migrants travelling through. A Ruff, Little Stint or Curlew Sandpiper wouldContinue reading “Birdwatching at Musselburgh Lagoons”
Boat trip to Bass Rock
Bass Rock is the world’s largest Northern Gannet colony. I have been wanting to visit it for ages and finally made it at the weekend. We booked on a fast RIB boat trip organised by the Scottish Seabird Centre at North Berwick. This “Three Island Seafari” trip also visited the Lamb and Craigleith but itContinue reading “Boat trip to Bass Rock”
Bottlenose Dolphins at Chanonry Point
I have been meaning to visit Chanonry Point, to see the Dolphins that are famous for coming really close to shore, for several years. But for one reason or another I have never made it before last week. A week in a camper van with my wife in late July provided a fairly open opportunityContinue reading “Bottlenose Dolphins at Chanonry Point”
Wildlife watching on Mull
At the end of June/start of July we had a week on Mull and our main focus for the week was wildlife watching as most our holidays are these days. This post shares three great locations where we explored the wildlife of Mull. Grass Point We had a couple of hours after getting off theContinue reading “Wildlife watching on Mull”
Photographing Golden Eagles on Mull
For the last few years I have tried to set myself a wildlife photography objective for each holiday we go on. It is just enough to give me a focus and more often than not I am able to achieve the objective. On past holidays I have targeted Pine Martin, Otter, White Tailed Eagle andContinue reading “Photographing Golden Eagles on Mull”
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