Submissive Common Sandpiper
These pictures were taken during my recent trip to the Isle of Mull on the shore of Loch Scridian. They are of a Common Sandpiper in a submissive pose. This behavior occurs when another common sandpiper comes on the scene, The bird bows and lifts it wings submitting to the incoming bird. This seems to occur when either a sibling or an adult comes near to the bird. This behavior also occurs during courtships prior to mating in the...
read moreA chance meeting with a young buzzard, Hassington near Kelso
I was driving through the back roads near Kelso at Hassington and I saw a buzzard dropping on a small rabbit in a field so I stopped the car and watched it for a while. It was a young buzzards and it was doing a lot of calling to a sibling which was sitting high in a tree about seventy meters away. It didn’t seem to want to eat the rabbit an eventually it flew away when a tractor came along and spooked it. I couldn’t bet the picture because I was blocking the way of the tractor and missed it as it flew off with the rabbit. Such is...
read moreRoe Buck in the Pethshire Countryside
I was in Perth last week to visit my mother who was in hospital. I was up early one morning and decided to go out on spec to see what I could see wildlife wise. I left Perth at 05:30 and drove up to Stanley and I found myself on the Clunie road heading towards Forneth, this is typical roe deer country. I eventually found a pair of bucks in some very long grass, they gave themselves away by their ears sticking up above the long grass, their ears were twirling around like a pair of radar dishes. I waited for some time before they moved into an area where I could get a reasonable view of...
read moreBorder Union Show, Kelso, Scottish Borders
It’s the Border Union Show at the Showground, Kelso on Friday and Saturday this week. The weather forecast is looking good and it promises to be a great show. I have a ringside pitch this year so if your around, why not come and say hello
read moreThe wren, the nuthatch and the woodpecker in the garden
It was a very sunny day and just after noon the sun comes around and shines on the trees area near my bird feeders and the background is in the shade, the condition lasts for about an hour as the sun moves around but can give opportunities to get dramatic pictures with extreme light and an almost black background. It doesn’t happen very often or not when I can take advantage of it. Visitors to my garden were great spotted woodpecker, nuthatch and the very elusive wren. These little birds nest around the garden area, I see then regularly from my kitchen window scurrying around looking...
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