Hi to you all. I’m new to this sight and have had to set up an account purely on the grounds of my sighting! Having had a long day in the Mountains I returned to the small car park at the end of Loch Ericht yesterday and was stunned to see a Shrike sitting on a fence post. I watched him for some time darting into the rough ground and returning to the post several times. I got a poor photo of him on some barbed wire. I know there are few if no sightings of this bird in this or indeed the West of Scotland. However I am fairly confident of my identification. If anyone is visiting the area I would be very grateful if they could report if they can confirm a sighting. I’m also happy to be corrected on the identification. I’ll add the poor photograph for your thoughts please.
I hate to say it, but it looks like a male Northern Wheatear to me.
Great Cris.Thanks for your input I have just googled the Wheatear and notice the female is noticeably different in markings. I can recall he did seem to be hanging around with a bird that fits the image of the female Wheatear. Taking that into account and the available information It seems far more likely that you are right. Never the less the pair and their lack of concern for me put a smile on my face after a long day in the hill. Thanks again.
Welcome to the community Simmo, hope it's not just a flying visit ;-)
(Pardon the Scottish Accent)
Thanks. I’m hooked already!
First cuckoo heard yesterday in Glen Dessary and one this morning at Loch Eck on the hillside. Great! Two swallows
Now your showing off with a cuckoo! Lol
Even with my little knowledge I couldn’t get the identification of that one wrong !
Well we just gotta take your word for it .....you should be fine with chiffchaff aswell then
Yes I’m well versed in the boring sound of the chiff chaff. Dawn to dusk every day. One nested with us last year which was lovely, and is back again this year. Not nested yet to my knowledge but keeping tabs with fingers crossed. I spent a week on the SW coastal path two weesk and was accompanied all the way by that ‘song’
I love the cheeky chaps really though.