Since moving back to Scotland in 2022 and to a much more rural location my interest in the birds and wildlife in general all around us has increased dramatically such that, I now consider I have a "patch", an area that is within reasonable walking distance that also has lots of variable of habitat and surroundings.
For example, our mailbox is one mile down a lane which has a burn with reed beds, mixed woodland, fields and ponds. Wonderful.
A little bit further afield, heading for town there are two larger burns, another pond, a golf course fields and mixed woodland, much of the land is owned by the farmer whose land we live on so wandering around on it is no trouble, the right to roam still applies in Scotland anyway but there are those (newer) landowners who have brought the "get orft moi land" syndrome with them.
So, I thought I could share my explorations and photos here, yet again I've been trying to work through the backlog and get some of it sorted, edited or deleted, my drives are beginning to struggle
I'm going to stick to 2024 for now and if I stumble upon something interesting beyond that I'll slip it in as I go along.
Well, looks like I didn't go far from home in January! Very few photos outside of my regular walks and garden birds.
This shot in January is of the gulls returning from .......... whence they went!
Every morning they would fly due South from up the glens somewhere, or further afield and every evening, fly back due north again.......... hundreds of them and I've never found out why or where to and from I used the term gulls because they seem to be mixed!
There's a field just across the farmyard that offers a fairly level and clean walk past a rough moorland area of gorse and local trees and shrubs. The farmer's wife has been planting Scots Pines, for example.
So the Pheasant was out strolling with his harem when I walked over there in February.The female Pheasant are much more wary and disappear as soon as they see or hear us so it's always nice to catch a glimpse of them.
We are very lucky to have a pair of Hen Harriers somewhere in the vicinity, I've seen both at different times working across the field behind us but I never have a blooming camera when they appear!!!!
So .....
A very long distance of the female ............. I'm pretty certain.
The white patch above the tail feathers clinched it for me but I'm happy to be corrected as ever
That's it for them, so far and that was back in February, I live in hope.
There are lots of Buzzards around here and Red Kites, which seem to be growing in numbers recently and they often pass over the house which is wonderful.
They also tend to sit in the surrounding trees and on fence posts but still very shy.
Red Kite on the same fence as the Hen Harrier earlier.
I loved this next shot, although a long shot.
A Pheasant below the Kite!
A Buzzard hiding in plain site in the tree down the field from us.
The field behind us can be a haven for all sorts
Roe deer grazing in the back field on January 1st 2024
So that's it for a start, January and February of this year, also shows me how few times I head out but, it was Winter right?
I'll make sure I've edited all the shots for March before I start again, I know there are more.
I hope you enjoy having a nose around the area.
Not seeing the image at all Mike?
Scozmos said:Not seeing the image at all Mike?
Below is a screengrab, even clicking on the icon doesn't show anything.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler
New copy of that image added Mike B
Scozmos said:New copy of that image added Mike B
Perfect.
Great shot Scozmos. I love the nest box, really rustic ...
Not sure how long it's been there BD, the farm we live on is very environmentally managed, which is fabulous and pure chance for us.
Scozmos said:Not sure how long it's been there Mike
I've been called worse ... BD ...
Editing, listening, reading, typing, all too much
Great Photos Scozmos of the barn Owl and the Kestrel and well done with the time you had to take three excellent photos of the Kestrel
October 5th
I went out to the bins this afternoon, it's a drive down a lane in case I haven't mentioned that before, so once I'd transferred everything into its appropriate bin I decided to carry on round the road to the bottom of the main lane and have a wee wander to the ponds, we'd spotted the wee Red Squirrel earlier but no sign of it this time (when I'm carrying a camera).
The landowner down there takes great care of the surrounding areas that he owns, keeping walks clear and cut and maintaining three ponds, as well as the Mill pond next to the house. He had to do a major re-think of the area I'm going to after Beavers moved in and started redesigning things to their requirements, the field in the second shot kept flooding until he made some changes!
This shows the walk in from the lane, there's a grass verge where I parked and a few dog walkers park up.
Standing by the edge of the tree line in the previous shoot, looking towards the ponds, two on the left behind the trees and one right of centre before the larger tree area begins, where the Beaver have moved in!
I have yet to make the time to photograph them but I definitely will, what an opportunity.
I was following the tree line to the right, head on a 360 swivel as ever, when I spotted something on a fence post.
A pair of Ladybirds trying to enjoy some adult activity, I imagine, it was only after moving around for different angles that I noticed there was another one creeping around below them.
You can just see the other climbing up the left side of the fitting.
I have to say, I had the most inappropriate lens on for these shots, I had to stand in another field (practically) I had a 180-600mm on, so I had to step back a little.
It was only when I looked at these shots that I spotted a whole hotel of them below the activities.
How often have you been out and missed something? I do it way too often.
I'll go back when the weather improves a little and see if they're still around.
I'd been seeing Dragonflies flitting around as I walked and finally managed to stop and photograph a couple on the ground.
A male Common Darter?
I see the red ones often but the 'other coloured' not so much. Females?
Look at that wing mechanism! Absolutely amazing. I've been around helicopters a fair bit in the past but this design takes the prize!
Beautiful creatures, a wee bit off putting and not attractive to everyone, I find them fascinating and should make more effort to watch and photograph them more often.