Highland Fling

Back home last night after a week away on a family holiday based in Aviemore. We a brilliant time up there, all the better for having some great weather - even some hot sunshine on a couple of days whilst it was raining everyday in Leics. For the most part it was family holiday first, finding new things second - the only exception being that I was absolutely intent on getting up Cairn Gorm and finally seeing the 'snow grouse'. I'm pleased to say that it was a sucessful venture with both Ptarmigan and Mountain Hare seen whilst up on the slopes by the whole family - through bins. Sadly neither ventured into camera-range. I did manage to point the camera at a few birds for record shots though. Lots of family and scenery photos to work through, plus some plants and stuff to ID later so more Highland updates to follow, but for now here's Cairn Gorm.

Stunning views from the top

The stone 'cairn' at the peak of Cairn Gorm

Cracking male Snow Bunting - a family party was milling about right at the top

Makes the wintering birds we normally see look a bit dull

This pair of Ring Ouzel were collecting food for their brood

Lots of cocky Red Grouse on the mountain too, lower down than the Ptarmigan

Me, Josh and Alex 1245m up after conquering the mountain! When we started out there was a bit of cloud cover around the peak, half way up it was pretty nippy, but by the time we were at the peak (after some lunch at the Ptarmigan restaurant) it was sunny and warm enough for Alex to ditch his coat.

More birding - with a Tarts Tick to boot

Headed out this morning to Rutland Water for a long-overdue appointment with an over-wintering Snow Bunting. It has been loitering around the Old Hall area, but that was pretty much all I knew. I haven't been to this area for a while and was surprised at how low the water is - well short of the normal shoreline. This in turn meant a big expanse of 'muddy marsh' for a bunting to get lost in.

I head a bloody good search all along the area east of Old Hall, and bumped into a couple of others doing the same. We all drew a blank and aside from a couple of Pied Wagtails there were no passerines anywhere along the 'marsh'. I did pick up a few other nice yearticks though (nothing photographable): Scaup, Goosander, Goldeneye, Redshank, Egyptian Goose and Marsh Tit included. Eventually I had just about got back to the Old Hall when I heard and saw a couple of Meadow Pipits drop in behind me, but a quick search and nothing else with them. Around the same time I bumped into Matthew Berriman who also hadn't seen the bunting but confirmed it has been using teh area I was searching and that it was cohorting with Meadow Pipits. Whilst we were talking a few more pipits came in and, finally, so did the Snow Bunting. Get in - a county tick for me (albeit a bit tarty these days with a few easily twitchable ones in recent years that I haven't twitched!). Also a Reed Bunting knocking about with the flock.

It was a bit distant though seen very well with optics. Whilst Snow Bunts maybe quite approachable, Meadow Pipts aren't so no chance of getting a good close shot. So I opted for a distant pants vidiclip instead - you won't see a worse effort anywhere else on the net.

After filling my boots, I opted to head over to Eyebrook for a quick look. Again I haven't been for a while, and it looks like someone has pulled the plug out. I have never seen the res so low.

A few more nice birds for the year, including: Smew (drake and redhead), Pintail, Gadwall, Golden Plover and Dunlin. I completely forgot about the regular Green-winged Teal until I was half way around the res, and I was not compelled to work my way back and start looking for it. Maybe another day.

I ended the day on 64 species - hopefully a few calories burned with all the walking as well.

No Snow Bunting 04/04/2008

News this morning of a Snow Bunting on 'Melton Airfield' on Thursday caught my interest - would've been another county tick. Sadly there was no sign of it late afternoon today whilst I kicked around. Plenty of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits singing and doing, a few Yellowhammers and not a great deal else. Dave Gray had the same idea and much the same results.

Playing with video

I've acquired an interface and software to upload video footage and save as mpeg etc or write to DVD. After a bit of arsing about I've got something out of it - not the best quality but it's a start - I should point out that this is from an old DV camera, not a new fancy HD-DVD gizmo! Snow Buntings, Salthouse, 13/01/2008 I don't anticipate any contributions to youporn.com