The Bewicks Swans back in the field opposite Kingsbury Water Park. distant for Photo's but i had ago anyway.

 BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH
House Sparrow..................................1
Starling..............................................2
Blackbird...........................................1
Collard Dove.....................................3
Woodpigeon.....................................1
Blue Tit.............................................1
Magpie.............................................4
Carrion Crow...................................1
Rook................................................1
Jackdaw...........................................4
Black-headed Gull............................5

SCOTLAND

DAY 10


   Eider, Black Guillimote and Shag on the crossing from Craignure to Oban. heading south past Loch Lomand saw Carrion Crow replace Hooded Crow. home now back in Nuneaton England after an eleven hour drive.

SCOTLAND

DAY 9


   The road to Finnonphort found Turnstone, Shag, Hoodied Crow and finally an Immature White-tailed Eagle. Another otter and a lot better views of it this time. Another Golden Eagle and more Buzzards, Herons, Curlew, Rock Dove, Redshank, Red Breasted Merganser, Great Northern Diver and 1 Male Hen Harrier.

SCOTLAND

DAY 8


   Isle of Mull misty conditions along the North coast for most of the day. Loads of Hoodie's, Herons and Buzzards. Also Red Breasted Merganser, Slavonian Grebe's, 1 Black Throated Diver, Great Northern Diver and Goldeneye.
2 Otter's and failed to find any Eagles at all. Oh well we will have to stay another night now and try again tomorrow for Eagles. What a Life.

SCOTLAND

DAY 7


   Spent most of the day traveling to Oban. Enroute we got Greylag Geese, Whooper Swan, Hoodied Crow, Jay, Raven, Goldeneye, Red Grouse. at Oban we had Eider, Black Guillimote, Slavonian Grebe, Re throated Diver, Black throated Diver and Shag.

SCOTLAND

DAY 6


   Slow day today. Cairngorm heaving with skiers so went to Loch an Eilen and finaly got Crested Tit. Did some wandering and thinking and now sorted.
   Tomorrow Ang and I head back to Breamar and collect Richard and Mandy and then we all head for Oban and a Ferry for Mull until Sunday.

SCOTLAND

DAY 5


   Drive out to meet up with Mandy West and Richard Dawkins. on route I picked up Red and Roe Deer. and a Golden Eagle at Lehc Ski Centre and a single Ptarmigan flying below the Eagle.
   after picking up Mandy and Richard we had Snow Bunting, Raven and Red Grouse at Glenshie. Halfway back towards Braemar we had 10 Mountain Hare, more Red Grouse, Buzzard and a Pair of Golden Eagles. In Braemar we had 3 Female Goldeneye and 4 Dipper.

   Eagle and hare distant so just record shots.

SCOTLAND

DAY 4


   Breakfast interupted by Red Squirrel on the B&B's Bird Feeders. then an hour wait to repair the car. Ignition Coil packed up at a cost of £108.00. great.
   I visited Grantown Woods but it didn't help with the woods full of wood smoke and the sound of chain saw's. Garten Woods and Abernethy Woods for crested tit and they are still avoiding me Nothing but Treecreepers.
    On my travels I did get Mistle Thrush, Roe and Red Deer, Greylag and Pink-footed Geese and Whooper Swan.

SCOTLAND

DAY 3


   Birdfeeders at Breakfast saw much the same as yesterday except today a greenfinch and Collard dove. the woodpecker came again but is very flighty. won't settle so photo's not possible on the feeder. Still no Red Squirrel here either.
   A drive to Findorn Valley for Eagles. on the A9 1 Golden Eagle saw over a hill and the road. couldn't stop to view. at Findorn another Golden Eagle seen soaring high over the Valley. to far to photograph.
   Nairn for Sea Ducks had me recording, Redshank, Knot, Pink-footed Goose, Goosander, Cormorant, Mallard, Black Headed Gull and Herring Gull's. Red Kite and Kestrel. Ad A life tick in the form of 4 Long-tailed Ducks.
   Finished off with the Grantown woods but nothing except for another Red quirrel.

SCOTLAND

DAY 2


   Breakfast with the feeders full of Long-tailed tits and a Nuthatch while I ate Smoked Salmon and Scrambled eggs. the feeders soon emptied when a female Sparrowhawk made a pass, She missed.
   The woods by Grantown Golf Course and i found Common and Scottish Crossbill along with Treecreeper and Coal Tit, another Sparrowhawk.
   Cairngorm Ski Slope car park found Snow Bunting dispite the high winds. Chair lift and train to the top closed so no Ptarmigan. Finished the day with Haggis and Chips a few pints and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

SCOTLAND

DAY ONE
    520 miles and 9 hours driving to get Siskin and Coal tit along with Pheasant for the year list. Crap weather mind. high winds heavy rain and mist. However before it was really light enough to take photo's and I hadn't unpacked the camera anyway, I did get a Red Squirrel and a Male Capercaillie in the woods by Grantown On Spey Golf Course.
  Took a drive up to Avimore Sky Lodge in an attempt at Ptarmigan and Snow Bunting but it was usless. mist covered and torrential rain stopped play. not a lot of snow about but Loch Morlich and Loch Vaa are completely frozen over.
   Tomorrow is supposed to be clear and sunny. We will See.

   Back at Coton for the gull roost. Yellow-legged Gull but the Glaucous and Med Gull failed to show. added Ruddy Duck, Goldeneye, Shelduck and linnet to the Year List

   Another attempt at Bewicks swan payed off. found them in a field off cuttle mill lane with Mute Swans, although distant. Also had Smew at Coton and Goosander at Shustoke and then a run through the lanes near Dawmill for Red-legged Partridge.

Coton

   A trip to Coton for the gull roost and to build on the year list. well as for the gull roost something moved them off before they were all in so no 3rd winter Glaucous Gull.
   Birds for the year list though were, Wigeon, Teal, Tufted Duck, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Snipe, Black Headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Moorhen, Kestrel and Fieldfare.

START OF THE YEAR LIST

   first trip out of the year to start the year list. pushed for time so i headed out to Waxwing and Bewicks Swan spots and found none of them. only realy got out the car at shustoke for Mallard, Coot , Canada Goose and Pochard. on my travels i also managed a female Sparrow Hawk and Buzzard.