Sunday, 28 July 2019

Arran - a great place for birding.


Wow!!  Some week that was if you are into politics. 

Doris  is now the PM and I’m looking forward to the 100-day event - yes, 31st October - Halloween! If all goes according to plan, we will be coming out of the common market, and our neighbouring kids will be coming out too!....... from their front door to rattle on our front door to announce trick or treat…. with a large bag for donations. (Sounds familiar!)  

meanwhile, until this year, I had never heard of the special day 30th July, next Tuesday known as the International Friendship day.  Not quite sure what I should be doing. Mary has a special lunch for the Church Luncheon club workers, paid for by kind donations from their customers over the year. Yep, I can see how Friendship fits with that event.

Me? Trying to be friendly with some birding news I’ve set you a short quiz. Can you identify which 3 well know bird species have been known by some of these archaic and regional variations.
1
        Bum Barrel; Oven Bird;  Bag & hedge Judge

2      Whip; Hawk Swallow; Shriek Owl

        Harry Redcap; Thistle Finch; Goldie

I’ll give you the answers next week!!

My daughter Sarah and her husband Julian have just returned from a short break on Arran, and on their return, Julian sent me a nice collection of wildlife photographs (he knows my weakness). With grateful thanks to him and his skill, (and in the hope he will continue to send bird photos) I have added some of the more interesting bird photos for your enjoyment.

Gannets and their speed when fishing really tested his camera skills and these pictures reflect their agility and power, and the classic dives with the folded wings clearly show the determination and power.


Searching……
Pinpointing……

On Target…


     

Seconds before contact!!!

There was so much to see on the edge of the shore.


The inevitable Oystercatchers continuously preening……….



A nice female Merganser…





A so colourful juvenile Starling, not a regularly photographed bird…..


A cracking pair of birds that Julian would not have realised were very attractive to birders, a pair of Black Guillemots……… (Memories of a visit to Oban a few years ago, when these birds could be seen flying into their nests UNDERNEATH the wall of the promenade!)

The angle was right for this upward view of a Swallow having a break….



And finally a nice close up of a (one-legged-) Common Sandpiper.

Thanks again to Julian. As I had little of avian interest I was going to tell you about my latest volunteering activities, but that can wait – maybe next week.

Happy Birding

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