The Duke is flying

This has nothing to do with the so called nobility of any country except to say that this duke is the noblest I have seen. It is a small butterfly called the Duke of Burgundy which normally flies around this time. It can be found on scrubby chalk or limestone outcrops where the foodplant for its caterpillars can be found. I took this photograph on a nature reserve in the north of England.

Loch Garten

I have been to Loch Garten in the Highlands of Scotland helping to monitor the breeding pair of ospreys.

If you want to know their full story look at the RSPB website at www.rspb.org.uk

This was the view of the area used as a lek by male capercaille as they try to impress the females. There was a capercaille watch every morning from 5.30 until 7.30. This was usually well attended and those who came were rewarded with great views of the birds.

On my day off I went north to the Moray Firth. On the way I called in at Lochindorb to see 4 Black-throated Diver. I then arrived at Spey Bay where off-shore I saw more than 300 Long-tailed Duck, over a thousand each of Common and Velvet Scoter, many eider, gannets and terns as well as 4 Red-throated Diver and a fantastic Surf Scoter. On the shore I spotted 2 ringed plover, 3 wheatear, 2 snow bunting, rock pipit, yellowhammer and linnets. Altogether a wondereful days birding.

On my last morning a totally different sight greeted me than the one shown above.The mist had come down making the whole area a place of wonder