October 31st - I set off for a walk with no real plan .... yet, as I often do, so it started as a normal patch walk, over to the barn check on the owl(s), I've never seen two .... yet.
Still, there, still in the nest box :)
I have no shots of birds in the hedge so I must have charged down the lane intent on the walk or, didn't see anything to photograph?
I took this shot at the half mile mark, to give some idea of where I walk most days, you can see the leaves were falling now, won't be long until the trees are bare again.
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| Great Tit in the trees |
I was while I was scanning this area that I spotted a bird foraging on a tree trunk.
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| Nuthatch on the patch |
A Nuthatch, the first I've seen here. I've seen them in the Den and along the Ericht but not this year ... until now!
I was totally chuffed, great to see them here and, who knows, they may breed here next year?
I did spot a Treecreeper while I was watching all the activity here.
They can be hard work to photograph but gorgeous wee birds, so well camouflaged.
I headed on down the lane and decided to cut up through the woods towards the standing stone.
The light was good and I really liked the shadows cast by the trees as well as all the fallen leaves.
I don't usually see many birds in here, a few Roe deer from time to time.
Up to the end of this path I turned right down the hill towards the road and past the standing stone.
Who? When? Why?
There are so many ancient artefacts in Scotland, the entire country, I'd love to to wander round them all.
The hill is quite steep here and dodgy when the grass is wet but it's a lovely secluded green lane surrounded by trees, hedges and stone walling.
I made it down to the road without mishap. Decision time. Right or left, back towards home-ish?
Left. Down to the bridge, it's a lovely day after all.
I headed along the road towards the bridge keeping an eye out for activity, there are always Buzzards to be seen along here.
Sure enough, circling ever closer for a look I guess.
Buzzards can have such a variety of markings and shades of brown.
A pair appeared over the trees ahead, had a swirl together for a few moments before heading off in different directions.
I've just been looking at their markings, the lower one could be the same one as the previous shots?
As I approached the bridge, the sun was really warm and I spotted a butterfly on some ferns.
A Red Admiral basking in the sun and it wasn't about to move for me! This was around the fifth one I'd seen!
Round the bend and down towards the bridge, I stopped and took a few shots of the road and trees and I could see quite a bit of activity down there.
I walked down into the trees, camera at the ready ...
My first sighting, another Treecreeper! There were a LOT of birds up in the branches.
As I spun around, another one appeared around the trunk of another tree!
A Great Spotted Woodpecker flitted across my line of sight.
See him? :)
I was moving around under the trees, staring up into them to try and see what else was up there, almost broke my neck :)
A Goldcrest, right above me, then gone.
I rarely get shots of them so these made me smile.
I really was spinning round, trying to track what was up there, loads of birds flitting around, then I spotted another Nuthatch!
I hadn't seen a Nuthatch all year and today, two on the same walk, wonderful.
It appeared to have a Beech nut in its beak and was looking for somewhere to hide it?
I must add, there were a lot of birds in those trees, Blue & Great Tits that I just couldn't get shots of, for example along with Coal Tits.
I finally dragged myself away from the trees, crossed the bridge and dropped down to the river bank for lunch. It's so quiet and peaceful down there and you never know what you might see? I spotted a Mink on the opposite bank a good while back.
There was quite a loud splash, made me jump out of my skin, I kept an eye on the deep pool for aaaaages and finally saw a good sized fish jumping after flies.
No Otter then :(
I'd also expect to see Kingfisher in this area but I've seen none down there ... yet.
I sat and ate my lunch before heading back up and homeward again.
As I climbed out of the dip I was coming upon to the ferns again when I spotted this basking in the sun.
A Migrant Hawker. I put photos of creatures or plants I don't know onto the iNaturalist app and it suggests what it thinks it might be which you can select or choose something else. Leave it on there and other 'experts' will acknowledge your entry or suggest the right one!
I was pretty chuffed to spot this at this time of year, not sure when they are usually around.
A Red Kite came circling over to have a look as I walked on along the road.
They really are beautiful big birds and amazing flyers.
I was looking up into one of the fields on the right and spotted what looked like a bit of courting going on ;)
The female jumped up into the hedge and disappeared with the male in hot pursuit :)
I fast walked the rest of the way back too the lane where I took yet another wild decision; I'd go back via the ponds so, I carried on to the green lane and headed up that way.
I spotted a Yellowhammer in a tree near the top of the hill and started taking photos. There are often quite a few of them around here.
She could see me getting closer and flew off eventually.
Down the other side to the farthest pond, where I stopped for a look around ... and got another nice surprise!
A female Stonechat, I did see the male in the hedge but he didn't show for photos.
I didn't know they were around down here but now I do! :)
Moving on, I spotted a couple of Buzzards over the woods on the other side.
One was being harassed by a Corvid, a Jackdaw maybe?
Another couple of Buzzards also appeared, also being chased off by Corvids.
No idea what lead to that but it is something I see quite often.
Up through the woods and back onto the lane eventually, almost home. The gulls were heading North as usual, there must be 1000's of them sometimes.
I say gulls because I'm pretty sure they're mixed and I never take the time to try and sort them all out. Probably Herring and Common, maybe Black-headed mixed in?
The final junction before the last stretch ...
A Red Kite was cruising over the fields and wheeled around overhead a couple of times catching the evening light.
And that was that.
Quite a walk, around 5 miles if memory serves me right and a great day of birding.