This is a post about Foula Wildlife as part of a series about Shetland Wildlife But let us start with some perspective. Shetland is remote, you know this because when you look at a map of the UK it is often shown as an insert box. In fact Shetland is closer to Norway than itContinueContinue reading “Foula Wildlife, Shetland Part 2”
Author Archives: Michael Cook
North Isles – Shetland Wildlife Part 1
For our summer holiday this year we have taken a trip to Shetland for the first time and here is my first blog about Shetland Wildlife and what we have been seeing. First up the northern isles of Yell, Unst and Fetlar. Yell, Shetland Wildlife Now if there is ever an example of why youContinueContinue reading “North Isles – Shetland Wildlife Part 1”
A visit to Trossachs Osprey Hide
I recently heard through a friend that a new Osprey hide had opened up at a fish farm near Callander. I decided to pay it a visit. Ospreys are wild birds but they are not stupid, they like an easy meal and will happily take fish from well stocked fish farms. This is a problemContinueContinue reading “A visit to Trossachs Osprey Hide”
Isle of May (in May)
It appears that a visit to the Isle of May is an annual pilgrimage for me one way or another. So it was good to connect with one old and three brand new birding friends to pay another visit this week. We saw the usual sea birds on the way out including a Sandwich Tern,ContinueContinue reading “Isle of May (in May)”
Cheeky Birding in Madrid
On our way back from Morocco we had a few days city break in Madrid mainly checking out the sites but we also had a few hours cheeky birding with John Muddeman on the last day whilst waiting for our flight home. Our first stop was Laguna El Paso for various water based species. WeContinueContinue reading “Cheeky Birding in Madrid”
Birding in Morocco
Last March – April we spent 13 days in Morocco six days of which were birding with Mohamed Bargache and the other half was exploring the city of Marrakesh. We booked our own accommodation and paid our guide a day rate which kept the cost down. Ourika Valley We started in the Atlas Mountains, findingContinueContinue reading “Birding in Morocco”
Winter Wonderland at Caerlaverock
As a season, winter can be cold, wet and dark but if you can look beyond the weather there is a wonderland of wildlife out there to be observed. Now I look forward to spring and the return of all our summer migrants (along with warm sunny days and emerging flowers) as much as anyone.ContinueContinue reading “Winter Wonderland at Caerlaverock”
Waxwing lyrical (in a roundabout way)
A roundabout isn’t a place you would usually associate with nature. And a fairly busy roundabout in congested Sighthill, Edinburgh even less so. But… this is winter, and winter means Waxwings. Well sometimes it does. Last year it didn’t! It was a poor year for waxwings. Too many berries in Scandinavia for them to botherContinueContinue reading “Waxwing lyrical (in a roundabout way)”
Christmas birding and the year of the Snow Goose
Nothing like a couple of weeks off to plan to get out and see some wildlife after a busy few months with work. And I thought I would just share what I have been seeing over the Christmas and New Year break. Taking a walk from my house in Menstrie and I see the KestrelContinueContinue reading “Christmas birding and the year of the Snow Goose”
Aberlady Bay & Esk Mouth
It is often a rare Scoter (small black duck) that takes me east of Edinburgh. Previously I have been out this way looking for the over-wintering White-Winged Scoter. But this week it was its very close relative (until recently the same species in fact), the Stejneger’s Scoter that peeked my interest. I haven’t been outContinueContinue reading “Aberlady Bay & Esk Mouth”