Scottish holiday 2008

We have just returned from two weeks holiday in Scotland.

The first three nights were spent in Benderloch from where we visited Mallaig, Arisaig and Port Appin.
From there we travelled via the Glen Elg ferry and the Skye Bridge to Knockfarrel which is off the beaten track between Strathpeffer and Dingwall.

We stayed here for a week in wonderful weather and from where we travelled in all directions enjoying the Scottish countryside. Our itinerary included visits to Loch Garten and Spey Bay, The Falls of Shin and Inverpolly nature reserve returning via Ullapool and a day trip to Skye with an evening meal in Plockton.

Our final two days involved a visit to Glen Strathfarrar and Glen Affric followed by an exciting morning watching dolphins from Chanonry Point on the Black Isle.

We left the Highlands to spend three nights in Juniper Green near Edinburgh from where we visited the city centre and Botanical gardens.

Our journey home was enhanced by a visit to the Grey Mares Tail (waterfall) and Moffat.

Gwailch Y Pysgod (Welsh ospreys)

I have just returned from two weeks residential volunteering at an Aren't Birds Brilliant site organised by the RSPB. This site, on the River Glaslyn near Prenteg, Porthmadog is the only place you are able to see nesting ospreys in Wales.

These birds were first recorded nesting here in 2004 when they lost both their chicks and have returned each year since, successfully raising two chicks every year. The photograph shows the view from the hide looking towards the trees in which the birds have nested.The site is open daily from 10.00am until 6.00pm.


During my stay accomodation was provided in a two bedroomed caravan complete with lounge, kitchen and bathroom. The caravan site at Aberdunant was a mere 20 minute walk from the public viewing area.


Duties during my first week consisted mainly of showing the birds to the public from the viewing hide where they could use powerful telescopes to view the nest area. Live images were beamed from cameras at the nest site to the visitor centre where they could be viewed on large TV screens.

On Thursday of my first week I visited the protection site and the following day witnessed the first egg being laid. The same day I had already helped to look for the nests of red kite so that someone could ring them.


Saturday saw another partner arrive at the caravan for a week of residential volunteering. We spent much more time at the protection site including two early morning sessions starting at 6.00am. We were rewarded on Monday by the sight of the third and final egg being laid.


Tuesday was our day off which we spent visiting South Stack on Anglesey with a brief visit to Penmon Point on our return journey. The weather was glorious if a little cold but we manages to see many wonderful birds. These included chough, raven, peregrine, kittiwake, fulmar. razorbill, guillemot, puffin, rock pipit, stonechat and wheatear at South Stack and black guillemot, shag, eider and sandwich tern at Penmon.

A return to Glaslyn for our early morning starts at the protection site resulted in views of a second male osprey together with a red kite circling above the nest.

Back at the viewing area we saw a grey seal swimming up the river and finally on Friday afternoon a second female osprey flew over our heads at about 50 feet.

All in all a very exhausting but totally satisfying two weeks engaged in practical conservation was much appreciated.

Another few drops of snow

We are past the middle of February, the snowdrops are out and the weather is said to be warming up.

Lesser celandine are blooming, birds are singing all over the place. Avocet have been seen back in Lancashire at Leighton Moss, Marshside and Martin Mere. Raven are nesting in Warton Crag. The Bittern has started booming (February 12th) Spring is definitely in the air.

Yesterday a chough was seen and photographed at Warton Crag, although I missed it by 10 minutes.

Orkney interlude

My wife and I visited Orkney for the first time this September. We accompanied our daughter who had come over from New Zealand to attend her brother's wedding.

Although we only spent two nights there we found it to be a destination we have to re-visit. There are many amazing places there including Skara Brae, a neolithic village over 5000 years old, and the Circle of Brodgar, a stone circle to rival Stonehenge. These sites coupled with the wildlife and local produce such as Highland Park Single Malt Whisky and Orkney Dark Island draught beer make the Orkney Islands truly wonderful

Wedding

Our son was married at Preston Registry Office on Friday 14th September followed by an informal family meal at the Calderbank Country Hotel, Oakenclough. The day afterwards, Saturday September 15th, the blessing took place at St Lawrence Church, Barton. The reception was held at Tino's Restaurant in Preston.

Friends and family came from Wales, Scotland, USA and New Zealand to celebrate the happy event. The photograph shows the bride and groom with both sets of parents.

August wildlife

This beauty was one of the wildlife highlights seen during a hectic August at Leighton Moss RSPB reserve.
During the first week we saw an amazing Grayling butterfly as we stopped for lunch at the Pepperpot in Eaves Wood, Silverdale. It was perfectly camouflaged but moved for a split second giving away its position against the limestone where it was hiding.
The second week saw a group of young people enjoying a "Wildlife Discovery Week" which included osprey, marsh harrier and various species of moths as well as learning about the plight of the Sumatran Rainforest
The third week included sightings of 18 little egrets, three spoonbills, an osprey successfully fishing and the kingfisher in the photograph. We also saw stoat and at least ten species of butterfly together with common darter, black darter southern hawker and migrant hawker dragonflies.
The last week was capped off by some magnificent views of red deer and the visit of a great white egret to the Eric Morecambe complex

Butterfly search

This was one of the butterflies seen last week during the brief spell of good weather. Searching for them around Gait Barrows NNR and Arnside Knott we saw Gatekeeper (above) High Brown Fritillary, Brimstone, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Scotch Argus and Ringlet.