Beyond Barry Hill (6 Viewers)

[Scozmos]

January 25th 2023 - Went for a walk and ....
Good evening all, been a while. To be honest, not a lot has happened up on the hill here, the regulars are still visiting every day and they seem to be a little "spring like" at the moment, more Blue Tits than ever, more Great Tit activity and a flock of Long Tails pass through a couple of times a day, which is always a pleasure to see and photograph.

My big news and reason for this post is a walk along the edge of Backwater reservoir this afternoon, a beautiful, cold afternoon. Lots of Fieldfares on the dam banks but not a lot at as we walked up the side of the water.
Met another couple coming back who said they'd seen absolutely nothing either.
Pleasantries passed, we turned and walked on when Jo said I hear a bird.
We both scanned around, looked up in the trees right next to us and there she was!

Beautiful, posing in full sunshine for over a minute, plenty time for a few shots (40). One happy lad.
I glimpsed a male Crossbill once, many moons ago, way up at the tip of a tree near Findhorn.
I've always wondered when walking up here. A male didn't make an appearance and she flew off up the hill.
I couldn't help but think of that couple we'd met, both with binoculars, who'd just said "not a thing"

 

[delia todd]

Oooh!!!! Nice.... I saw one um.... 20-odd years ago way up at the top car park (you won't remember, but there were thick pine trees there and a toilet block... all gone now.

It's nice to know they're still around.

 

[burnie]

Couple of places where I see Crossbills, Montreathmont and also in the woods on the top of the Cairn O'Mount.

 

[Scozmos]

Looks like there's about to be some heavy felling further up the next hill, currently laying a better road up there, more disturbance I guess. Hopefully they'll stay down nearer the water. Cheers @burnie 👍

 

[Scozmos]

February 25th 2023 - There's a thing, well, two actually.
Decided to take a wander along Backwater Reservoir this morning, many layers on, hats, gloves ...... forgot a scarf, bit chilly though. Drove there and parked up for the stroll, carrying both binoculars and cameras for a change. Took a path along the shoreline for a short while. then back onto the main track. A pair of Bullfinches sat up nicely for me but I missed them together, dammit. so, onward, along the road, I spotted someone standing looking up the bank and using binoculars and a camera as I got closer, I asked what she was seeing and she pointed out a Crossbill sitting high in one of the trees, not too far back, eventually identified as female.
10:18 - watching and photographing the female Crossbill feeding and calling



10:27 - she finally flew off, not too far but in direct sunlight
Stood and chatted with Shaz from Arbroath for a while then went our separate ways. Not 50 yards on and I spotted another one, a similar distance from the track.
10:37 - watching and photographing a second female Crossbill in a tree

10:38 - looked at one of the shots - there were two female crossbills

Called Shaz back, she got a few shots as well..
Walked on to the bench, spotted a pair of GSW and another female Crossbill.
Way too much excitement so, I headed back down the track, towards the car. Saw Siskin, Redpoll, Buzzard, a Kestrel and Coal, Blue and Great Tits so all in all, not a bad stroll.
Nearly Spring 🥰👍

 

[burnie]

Keep you eyes peeled up there towards the opposite end from the Dam, above the trees this time of year.

 

[Scozmos]

Keep you eyes peeled up there towards the opposite end from the Dam, above the trees this time of year.

March 15th 2023 I've been up at Backwater reservoir a lot recently, mostly chasing Crossbills and getting VERY lucky, post to follow. Meanwhile, I took the new looking track last week, just to see where it goes and so on, nosey so'n'so apart from a possible juvenile Buzzard way up a tree, I took a few scenic shots and edited one this morning. There's a big bird in it that I hadn't noticed at the time so.....
Is it a case of, small, far away, a Buzzard in the mi distance OR the elusive Eagle in the distance?

 

[MJB]

March 15th 2023 I've been up at Backwater reservoir a lot recently, mostly chasing Crossbills and getting VERY lucky, post to follow. Meanwhile, I took the new looking track last week, just to see where it goes and so on, nosey son's apart from a possible juvenile Buzzard way a tree, I took a few scenic shots and edited one this morning. There's a big bird in it that I hadn't noticed at the time so.....
Is it a case of, small, far away, a Buzzard in the mi distance OR the elusive Eagle in the distance?
View attachment 1499728

Looks very long-winged and proportionally short-tailed...
MJB

 

[burnie]

There are other raptors in that area that display around now........................................................mums the word

 

[Scozmos]

First Cuckoo call heard just now, all I have to do now is spot it

 

[delia todd]

LOL that can be the tricky part!!

I was up in the hills around Drumderg yesterday and didn't hear one, though was hoping to. Hoped, also, to find Wheatear and Stonechat, but nadda.

Loads of Skylarks and Meadow Pippits enjoying the mist, which made it difficult to see anything beyond the immediate environs of the road.

 

[Scozmos]

LOL that can be the tricky part!!

I was up in the hills around Drumderg yesterday and didn't hear one, though was hoping to. Hoped, also, to find Wheatear and Stonechat, but nadda.

Loads of Skylarks and Meadow Pippits enjoying the mist, which made it difficult to see anything beyond the immediate environs of the road.

I heard this bird? last year so this year I'm hoping to stalk it lol. Got my first Wheatear and Sedge Warblers on Sunday but up in Ardersier.

 

[Scozmos]

May 11th 2023 I was up at the reservoir again today, hadn't been up for a while, nor have I posted for a while but, this was a great day for me. Got some great Osprey shots, there were 1-4 up there during the walk but, heard a Cuckoo calling loudly or is it just so quiet up there? For the first time, that I know of, I spotted it up the bank between pines AND, got some photos, another first. OK, it was MILES away, 300 yds ish, but extra happy to get any at all.

I crept up the bank, between the pines, trying not to disturb it, aware of warblers nest building in some of the trees!
Eventually getting to the break and settling in for the looooooong wait.

I've been checking through the many photos I took yesterday as I write this and just discovered I got a few shots of it in flight! Woohoo!

Jeez, they're way more patient than I am, I eventually gave up and walked on.


During my vigil with the Cuckoo I glanced down at the deadwood in front of me and a Stoat popped out for a look, then slid away again. No time to move the camera
Looking back, the Cuckoo moved closer to my spot
Sorry, Cuckoo overload.
I set off along the bank top, trying to keep an eye on everything, everywhere.

Just caught an Osprey lifting from the reservoir with a catch before heading off West.

The area is awash with Warblers mostly Willow and all the usual suspects.
A Meadow Pipit sat high on a dead tree trunk for quite a while watching me.

Also spotted something on the same tree as the Cuckoo, Pipits maybe?

A Red Kite flew West with Crows mobbing it, then had a cruise round.

One bird flew over, didn't have time to check it out until now, a Curlew, I here them on the hills opposite but never saw one here before.
A couple of Mistle Thrush were singing their hearts out at each end of my walk, this one with its eyes on the sky

All in all, a cracking walk, met some nice people, one of whom told me about the Newts I hadn't seen a Newt since I was a wee lad, I think, great to see three today.
Did I mention the Willow Warblers? I'd guess they currently outnumber the Chaffinches.

Even spotted a bit of advertising and sexual conduct!!!

After-activity celebrations there!
No Crossbills, heard nor seen but you can't have everything right?
So, back at home, everyone is busy feeding by look of things. Both GSW have have just started coming into the garden to the suet after the male only for a while. The Swallows arrived this week, I think, the regulars are back at their nest sites. The local Cuckoo re-appeared at the beginning of the week, I am determined to stalk and photograph it this year , maybe.
A few Lapwing spotted on the farm along with Curlew heard.
There is a pair of Barn Owls in the barn oddly enough, yet to get a good sight of them.
There are a few Jays around but they're elusive beggars.
Just been for a walk in the Den o Alyth and photographed the Nuthatch pair nest building and a pair of Grey Wagtails feeding at a probable nest site.
So, apologies it's a long one, I don't get on often, I ought to but, generally just the same suspects around.

 

[delia todd]

Cor!!! and Wow!!! Some terrific picture there!

I must get up to Backwater again soon, we keep talking about it, but other places keep calling too. It was just too cold the last time were were up there.

Keep reporting please Scoz!

 

[burnie]

I like fishing up there too, nice spot to spend a day.

 

[Scozmos]

I like fishing up there too, nice spot to spend a day.

got to admit to having a wee grump when fishing folk drive up that track it is a beautiful, peaceful place

 

[Scozmos]

May 15th 2023 All kitted up, cameras loaded ready for the reservoir, off I went. Got as far as the gate.

Bit of nest repair needed it seems

Just sitting watching me, watching it.

No Swifts seen yet.
Onwards for another 100yds or so....

Flew off the fence in front of me and settled to watch me drive by
I did eventually get to the reservoir, more on that later.

 

[Scozmos]

May 12th 2023 It's Friday and there's a Cuckoo calling loudly across the field. I've scanned and scanned, nothing, so I grabbed the camera and big boy (Sigma 150-600mm) and took a random set of shots of the treeline opposite.
This morning I discovered those shots amongst many others .....
Terrible photos but, what do you think? Got the so'n'so?

 

[delia todd]

Mmmm... I thought you had for a minute, but that white wing bar makes me think Wood Pigeon.

Hope I'm wrong... someone will be along to help though.

 

[Scozmos]

Mmmm... I thought you had for a minute, but that white wing bar makes me think Wood Pigeon.

Hope I'm wrong... someone will be along to help though.

Mmmmm, there's one more shot but just as bad. The pose lying on the branch made me wonder, hard to tell such poor shots