Wildlife 2007

[TC]

For something different and a bit more cuddly than snakes, here are some of the creatures round the waters of Scotland at this time of year

 Shag and young.
 Puffin with fish
 Arctic Tern
 Minke Whale.
Bonxie threat display
 Adult Gannet

 

[mark smyth]

great bird shots, Tom

[Gerdk]

According an article in our local newspaper the Spanish vultures arrived in Germany recently. The turn to the east was a bad decision because a new outbreak of birdflue was recorded here too. Poor vultures - they better apply for asylum in a zoo.

Gerd Knoche
Solingen, Germany

[John Forrest]

Great bird shots Tom. I've yet to see a Puffin face to face. I live in hope.

[Susan]

Really fabulous shots, Tom.  How far off the coast was the Minke whale? How exciting to see a Puffin.  Still isolated by snow at my place so am really enjoying the forum at the moment.

Susan

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Great series of brilliant shots Tom - thanks very much !

[Rob]

I'll keep the butterfly theme going with a Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) that I snapped in the garden this morning

Rob

[Andrew]

I've just seen a Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) hoping around the lawn, like the one at the start of this thread. Yesterday was the turn of a Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos) in a tree and unable to get a clear view. On Sunday I saw a Barn Owl (Tyto alba) flying.

[TC]

Really fabulous shots, Tom.  How far off the coast was the Minke whale? How exciting to see a Puffin.  Still isolated by snow at my place so am really enjoying the forum at the moment.

Susan

Susan,

The Minke Whale was taken from a boat on the way to the Isle of May in the Forth estuary, however, they appear in the Clyde estuary from June onwards and can be seen easily from the shore, depending on the location.  The closest I have seen them from land was at Turnberry lighthouse where they can be about 400 yards off shore.  Again, it is a matter of luck being there at the right time.  Just now, we are waiting for the Basking Sharks to turn up although the weather has been cold for the last two months.  We went from 27c at the end of April to 11c today   - at least we don't have the terrible rain and floods affecting the English midlands.  I am patiently waiting for the better weather to arrive so I can get up to N.W. Sutherland for a spot of Birdwatching and seeing Primula Scotica in flower on the Cape Wrath peninsula.  The picture shows the location. 

[mark smyth]

there is a leutistic Puffin on Rathlin off our north coast. The black feathers are yellow as are the feet

[Anthony Darby]

We have 10^oC here today! Not seen Primula scotica in the wild and find it ephemeral in my garden.

[mark smyth]

16c here

[jomowi]

Tom

You may be disappointed over the Primula scotica.  We were up there a couple of weeks ago and the first flowering was over.  We only found two flower heads.  A wonder it ever is able to reproduce, we have hardly ever seen seed pods in this interval between the two flowerings.  Much to our surprise Sutherland has had a long dry spell.  In the Lochinver area we were walking over moorland consisting of sphagnum, peat and heather that should have gone squelsh at each footstep but instead only went crunch as the ground was so dry.  In the 10 days until the 21st we only had rwo hours of light rain.  Plenty of orchids though.

We did get back to find the garden full of wildlife, Not only the pests such as grey squirrels, rabbit, pigeon, crows, snail, slugs fieldmice etc. all busy munching our things but also the anual delight of the Great Spotted Woodpeckers bringing their young to our feeders.  Now the young can feed themselves.  At present we are using nearly 2 kilos of peanuts a week for the two feeders most of it for the woodpeckers but the garden is also alive with other birds including tits, finches and the occasional raptor.



Brian Wilson  Aberdeen

[TC]

Brian,

We will have to take a chance.  From visiting the area for over 42 years, the Primula Scotica average flowering period is usually early July.  The best place to look is on the area between the golf course and the cliffs.  Bettyhill is another good spot.  The Primula S. came into flower in my garden in Ayr about 7 days ago with some still left to flower.  If the flowering is over, it does not matter.  There are plenty of other things to see.  If the bombing range on Garvie Island is in use, this can be highly entertaining.,

[Anthony Darby]

Aaaaarggggh!!!!!