August 26th 2023 - I've been heading up to Balintore lately having got a tantalising shot of a Spotted Flycatcher a couple of days back, surely I could get more? SO, after lurking in the undergrowth for an hour or two I'd managed three really bad shots and those only after going back to and sitting in the car. See my post of Glen Quharity
The morning weather was fairly decent so I managed a couple of good enjoyable walks but very few birds around, maybe waiting for some sunshine?
So my walk on the 26th took me to what I call the top of the walk, before the path gets ruined by fallen trees, there is another way, I know but the weather wasn't that great so this would do for today. As I passed through the first gate and headed along the track, I noticed something down on the water, looked like a small Grebe so, I headed across the field towards the shore and of course, it headed further out onto the water.
So my walk on the 26th took me to what I call the top of the walk, before the path gets ruined by fallen trees, there is another way, I know but the weather wasn't that great so this would do for today. As I passed through the first gate and headed along the track, I noticed something down on the water, looked like a small Grebe so, I headed across the field towards the shore and of course, it headed further out onto the water.
Looks like a Little Grebe. It disappeared when the Swan family showed up sadly.
I had walked down to the shoreline to try for better shots of the Grebe but all I got was mucky feet and a photo of an abandoned football.
I headed back down the track and spotted something flitting around on an old wall right in the corner, I got as close as I could and grabbed a few shots of a Stonechat, there had been a pair on the wall but the male had dived under cover.
Both birds dropped into the grasses around the wall, not to be seen again so onward down the track. There are a lot of Meadow Pipits around, gathering in flocks, maybe getting ready to migrate?
Carrying on down the trail, through the gate again and back to the picnic bench, keeping an eye out for the Redstarts from the other day .......... not a peep, I eventually ended up at the foot of the new logging track that heads up the hill. There are a LOT of Mistle Thrush & Fieldfare around but difficult to get shots of.
This area was awash with birds, a lot of the young trees have been cut to clear the space for the logging vehicles so there's a lot of dead wood and felled trees for cover.
There was a Crow / Raven youngster in an Elder chomping on the berries.
Probably a young Crow but that beak!
More Stonechats in this area as well, I've never seen so many in one walk.
More Stonechats in this area as well, I've never seen so many in one walk.
I spent quite a while standing on the track watching and trying to grab shots when something dropped off a pine top, flitted around a while then settled back in place.
A Spotted Flycatcher! I'd been grabbing at distant blurry shots up by Balintore and this bird pops up right in front of me.
Easily pleased eh? It didn't stay around and I'd been up here for a good few hours already so I headed back to the car park with nothing much else to report. I jumped in the car and headed homeward only to slam on the breaks halfway back along the reservoir road, next to the newly felled trees.
Something on the adjacent wire and I was sure it was a male Bullfinch, just a glimpse. I grabbed a couple of shots of the dark bird that was still there.
A young Stonechat? I'd seen one up near the shooting club a few days ago and this looks similar.
So, what started out as a good, fast walk because there was very little bird life showing, turned out to be a good session, for me the difference I could see was that the sun had come out and it was quite a bit warmer.
4.3 miles covered, some at a good pace so, a good morning out.
