Having been a way for a bit

Went to Aberdeenshire using my brothers house as my base to set off into the unknown and some places I was familiar with.

I can't remember half the places I went to as some of the names were in gaelic only so I didn't really have a clue.
Drove round heading for a certain place and something would catch my eye as a place of interest and so I would deviate from my origional plans.
Not to be reccommended when the roads are still snowed in especially around the smaller roads.
Luckily, I decided to hire a car once up there as my old banger would not have survived some of the "roads" up there. Mianly chunks of ice still trying to tham out.



Too many places to name and dates to remember but a few lifers were the highlights.
Golden Eagle,
Red Headed Smew,
Throated Divers,
Snow Bunting,
Great Skua (Bonxie)
Red Grouse
Ptarmigan
Crested Tit
Grey Phalarope
King Eiders

Not lifers:
Yellow Hammer
Bullfinch
Tree Sparrows
Skylark
Rock Pipits
Pheasants,
Buzzards
Kestrel
Marsh Harrier

Recently got a Bittern which was a very big plus.

I had hoped the white tailed eagle would have turned up at the reserve but didn't show when I went. (twice)
I got one bird I couldn't ID.
A fellow birder who was there told me what it was and I took note of LYL.
Totally forgot what it was now LOL

SAD affects the memory as well Either that or I have Altziemers LOL


I have all the pics in my imageevent album, just kept the best of a bad bunch but keeping it private as a friend of a friend is stealing pics from me and a few other friends and claiming they are his. He has posted them on Flikr. Bit stupid considering we know who he is.

He is from the Motherwell/Lanarkshire area and he is going to be in trouble as he took pics from copyrighted photos.
I saw he posted some of the pics from my friends photo's in a Scottish forum as well and the origional photographer is going nuts to put it mildly!
Hence the reason why I am keeping mine private for now.


I took some good pics and well pleased with some of them so i don't want them getting them nicked.
I used to joke if someone took my pics, I would consider it an honour but wether they are good or not, it's not nice when it happens.
I seriously would not mind taking my pics but not aknowledging who did take the pics is more annoying.
Once this guy is sorted out then I will open up the album.

Anyway, having more time and some nice but freezing cold weather is great for that area when it comes to seeing birds you would not normally see down south.

Planning to go back in April/May again and looking forward to that.
Anyway, can't wait to get out and about again especially witht he Migrations about to start big time.

Hope the Smew stays at Lochwinnoch till I get there on Monday as well.