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.