Twelve of us met at North Kessock carpark on a grey, cool day with low mist hanging over the water.
Not to be deterred we ‘scoped the calm waters - before moving up the firth stopping at the picnic area and then the layby at Coulmore. Hedgerow birds were skulking in leaf litter whilst finches and tits prevailed at the feeders. Bramblings were spotted as was a Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker. The misty fog closed in so we sped over to Udale, arriving with the tide still quite high and clearer visibility. Good numbers of waders and ducks were on the mud, and Alex managed to put up four Snipes and a Stonechat. The rains began in earnest, so off to the drier south side of the Black Isle. A brief stop at Rosemarkie added Common Scoter and Collared Dove to our list.
Chanonry Point was fairly quiet (and wet) but eider, auks including a Black Guillemot, three flying Red-throated Divers, and pipits were seen. The light was fading, but Avoch burn gave us Moorhen and a very photogenic Grey Heron. Finally, we drove down the Bayhead road picking up Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow and Linnet.
All in all, we recorded 71 species, whilst Simon Cohen ended his day with the Great White Egret at Fodderty (not counted on our list).
Mary Galloway
Not to be deterred we ‘scoped the calm waters - before moving up the firth stopping at the picnic area and then the layby at Coulmore. Hedgerow birds were skulking in leaf litter whilst finches and tits prevailed at the feeders. Bramblings were spotted as was a Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker. The misty fog closed in so we sped over to Udale, arriving with the tide still quite high and clearer visibility. Good numbers of waders and ducks were on the mud, and Alex managed to put up four Snipes and a Stonechat. The rains began in earnest, so off to the drier south side of the Black Isle. A brief stop at Rosemarkie added Common Scoter and Collared Dove to our list.
Chanonry Point was fairly quiet (and wet) but eider, auks including a Black Guillemot, three flying Red-throated Divers, and pipits were seen. The light was fading, but Avoch burn gave us Moorhen and a very photogenic Grey Heron. Finally, we drove down the Bayhead road picking up Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow and Linnet.
All in all, we recorded 71 species, whilst Simon Cohen ended his day with the Great White Egret at Fodderty (not counted on our list).
Mary Galloway
Grey Heron (Josh Allan)
RSS Feed
