Osprey at Lossiemouth

Our first birding day in Scotland started with a big dip, top of my list were the White-billed Divers of  Portsoy. Birdnet were reporting four present on the Saturday, so, early Sunday morning we were off. By the time we had reached Portsoy Harbour the heavens had opened and a keen westerly was making life uncomfortable. I joined several other birders on the viewpoint and commenced the vigil, it rained, it blew, several Great Northerns and Black-throats appeared and disappeared. Finally, after several hours of constantly wiping rain from scope, bins and spectacles I gave up - thoroughly dejected.  We made our way back towards Lossiemouth, there had been several reports of Ospreys fishing in the estuary - at least we could watch from the shelter of the car because the East Beach car park is right on the river.

However, on the way I noticed a signpost for Loch Oire where an adult Iceland Gull had been reported. On arrival there were plenty of gulls, 100+ of the Lesser Black-backed variety, not sure that I have seen so many together before - at least worth recording as we sat in the layby adjacent to the lake.

With spirits lifted by a fresh brew we ventured to Lossie. With the tide half up or down it was ominously quiet, just a few gulls spread around the shoreline. Then, after a short wait, the unmistakeable outline of an Osprey working its way up the river from the beach. Out of the car, camera in hand, light conditions awful. Finally it dived, right in front of us and came up with a flatfish, as it disappeared to the east I thought that was it. Not so, another bird paid a visit followed by another, two possibly three birds present. Locals reckoned five were about and average time to wait was around twenty minutes. Whilst all this was going on it was great to meet Peter Lewis and his gang of photographers who happily supplied me with information on the whereabouts of birds. Cheers guys - spot on info.

Not the best of record shots but the light was awful - however it was the start of an incredible fortnight of watching Ospreys.

As we left for home we couldn't resist a visit to Miele's - tremendous gelato - this time a double scoop chocolate chip and Kit Kat special.

Snow Buntings

Day 3 Moray and Nairn Coast (cont.)

Following our success with the Twite we were keen to make progress along the coast. At Burghead we had our first disappointment - no ducks on the harbour, just a few gulls on the harbour wall and a single Shag. So we made the short journey to the beach, just around the headland, for a short sea watch. The ever present flock of Eiders were diving for crabs, half a dozen Long-tailed Ducks and a Red-throated Diver were just off shore. Cormorants and Shags were feeding and several Red-breasted Mergansers were loafing just out from the rocks. Further out Gannets were plunge diving. On shore were a Rock Pipit and a rarity, a Hooded Crow that refused the bread that I had thrown for him.

At least it was pleasant here, out of the biting winds. So we made a brew and watched the sea until we were bored. Time to move on, a quick visit to Hopeman produced nothing so we dropped into Lossiemouth. A quick scan of the harbour revealed nothing so we drove round to the East Beach and the estuary. Things were not busy here either, several Bar-tailed Godwits on the far bank, plenty of Wigeon and Gulls but nothing to get the pulse quickening. Recently flocks of Snow Buntings had been reported on the beach, up to 80 plus, where on the south coast we are used to twos and threes. Sitting in the car and scanning the sand dunes opposite we managed to locate a small flock of ten plus. So it was camera gear out and across the small wooden footbridge. When we left the sun was shining, by the time we were in the vicinity of the birds, a squall came over, the skies darkened and it rained heavily. Unfortunately not enough to prevent the sand being blown everywhere, even the Snowies appeared to be sheltering behind whatever cover they could find. Of course it eventually passed and we enjoyed ourselves stalking some charming birds.

Having been half blown away and with sand in everything we moved inland to the hide at Loch Spynie. This is another superb example of how to position a hide and feeders. The front windows provide views of the loch whilst the side windows overlook a host of feeders, all frequented by a horde of tits and even a Treecreeper. A Red Squirrel was eating so many peanuts that he was in danger of becoming stuck!

On the way home we checked out Inchbroom and Anniesland for any stopover Pink-footed Geese. Flocks of 4000 plus had been reported roosting on Findhorn Bay and I was keen to find some of them. Unfortunately the stubble fields were bare but we did find several small flocks of Whoopers. Finally on the way home we spotted a small flock of 18 PfG in with the Greylags, not the numbers I was expecting but at least a tick.

Burghead and Lossiemouth

A visit to Burghead never fails to produce something. During the winter hundreds of sea ducks reside in Burghead Bay and in periods of rough weather take shelter in the harbour. This time we were royally entertained by Eiders, several in the harbour, catching a plentiful supply of crabs.

Eiders have a great way of dealing with the bits of crab they don't want. The specimen is shaken and dunked until all the legs and claws fall off and is then consumed, leaving a lump in the throat, of the Eider that is!

 

Further round on the beach another flock of Eiders feeding off the point, constantly harassed by Herring Gulls.

One day the sun was shining and roosting on the rocks were five Knot amongst the Oystercatchers, one Knot posed for us before the incoming tide caused them to depart. It was good to record two Purple Sandpipers, making a brief visit before being swept from their perch by a large wave.

Seawatching  produced several good sightings, three Bonxies and a lone Pomarine Skua. Lots of Gannets plunge diving, a horde of Shags and the odd string of newly arrived Long-tailed Ducks. Razorbills and Guillemots were about in good numbers. The star sighting was two brief glimpses of a Minke Whale breaching a fair way offshore. Seals are numerous here and they can be easily spotted, poking their heads up just off the rocky beach.

Burghead is a busy fishing port, the bonus is that when one of the boats enters harbour the seals follow and today was no exception.

I reckon this one has landed its last catch, the propeller probably worth more than the rest.

We visited Roseisle for another sea watch and to try to locate a reported Red-necked Grebe. Plenty of birds present in flat calm conditions. We recorded Velvet and Common Scoters, Eider and Long-tailed Ducks, Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser, Slavonian Grebes and finally the sought after Red-necked Grebe.

We rounded off the day with another visit to Lossiemouth, this time the harbour and the estuary. The river and East Beach are home to a large flock of Wigeon and roosting gulls of all kinds. Odd how a common bird on your own patch can cause excitement for the local birders, a lone Mediterranean Gull spotted by a sharp eyed birder amongst the huge numbers of gulls, was a notable record. Two rather scruffy looking Goosanders were in the river and several female Red-breasted Mergansers were feeding where a small burn entered the main river.

Scruffy!

Meanest looking Herring Gull I have ever seen

If you visit Lossie then I heartily recommend that you visit the local home made ice cream emporium on the esplanade. Great to sit and consume a twin cone Snicker and sea salt caramel whilst searching the gulls for something exotic.

The RAF are busy here and we were treated to flybys of both Tornado and Typhoon aircraft, the odd observation is that these extremely noisy machines do not disturb the birds one iota.

One for Dave Shepherd