My wife and I have just come back from 5 nights on the Island of Islay. This place is well known for the quality of its winter birding. So we enjoyed our time seeing 107 species during our days there. Now I am back, I thought I would share a brief guide to Islay Wildlife.ContinueContinue reading “Guide to Islay Wildlife”
Tag Archives: birding
Photograph Osprey in Scotland
I am trying to build a portfolio of classic Scottish species so took a trip back to Trossachs Osprey Hide. This is a great location to photograph Osprey in Scotland. I had booked this workshop with Paul of Touch the Wild. (Update: As of April 2026 The Trossachs Osprey Hide has temporarily closed). A juvenileContinueContinue reading “Photograph Osprey in Scotland”
Landing on Bass Rock
On Tuesday afternoon and evening I took a boat trip landing on Bass Rock from North Berwick and was privileged to be able to land this time. I was keen to spend some time photographing one subject – Gannets – and try a few different styles of more creative shots. Altogether I had 3 hoursContinueContinue reading “Landing on Bass Rock”
A fantastic day birdwatching in Speyside
This week 3 of us got up for a 6am departure and headed up the road for a spot of birdwatching in Speyside. Our first stop of the day was at Kincraig where you get good views of an Osprey nest from the church graveyard. Osprey on nest Whilst we were there we heard aContinueContinue reading “A fantastic day birdwatching in Speyside”
Birding Lake Quarun, Egypt
We are in Egypt for a diving holiday but decided to have a day birdwatching from Cairo. A review of eBird hotspots suggested the best place would be Lake Quarun and we managed to track down a guide and transport from the city. We started the day early (3.40am) to get on site for dawn.ContinueContinue reading “Birding Lake Quarun, Egypt”
Photography at Hogganfield Loch
This week I have had two separate visits for photography at Hogganfield Loch near Glasgow. To date I have been a birder/photographer rather than a true wildlife photographer. What I mean by this is that I have had my camera over one shoulder and my binoculars over the other. I switch from seeking new birdsContinueContinue reading “Photography at Hogganfield Loch”
Out and About in February & March
In this post I share some of the more interesting sightings I have had in Scotland during February and the first half of March. In early February I took my thermal scope out for a spin looking for snipe. I was pleased to find a couple of Common Snipe but also two of the rarerContinueContinue reading “Out and About in February & March”
Leighton Moss, Lancashire
Keen to continue to build my year list, and having a weekend with good friends in Cumbria, we had a good opportunity to visit RSPB Leighton Moss last weekend. A few years back I saw my first ever Marsh Tit at the feeders and I tend to settle at the feeder each time I visitContinueContinue reading “Leighton Moss, Lancashire”
A birding weekend in Northumbria
I have just come back from a weekend birding with two friends, one of several years, Rick, and one brand new from the weekend, Andy. Both are very experienced birders so I was hoping to see some great birds with them and hopefully improve my skills. Our first destination was Ross Sands where we wereContinueContinue reading “A birding weekend in Northumbria”
Out and About in January
Finally I feel I am back to traditional birding in Scotland after the wonderful big year in Latin America. Whilst I ended 2024 with 1445 birds, I start 2025 with zero the same as everybody else. My first bird of this year was a Robin I heard singing outside and tracked down through the curtainsContinueContinue reading “Out and About in January”