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Recent content by Brian Robertson

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    Scottish Borders

    I wish I had a little lochan on my local patch :). Then again I'm not really a patch-birder, I like going from place to place. Thought I might have some Shovelers or Pochards, they seem pretty scarce in the borders. That said, there must be dozens of ponds and lochs that are very rarely if...
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    Scottish Borders

    Today was the third and final day of our trip to the Borders - the weather stayed fine, and not as windy or chilly as the previous days. The first stop was the scenic nature reserve at Lindean Loch, a few miles east of Selkirk. This place always seems poor for wildfowl, just 2x Mallard, 2x...
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    Scottish Borders

    The weather didn't look too promising today but we weren't to be beaten. We had a drive around the Oxnam and Hownam area to the South East of Jedburgh, a very remote and quiet area but few birds were around. A sizeable flock of 25+ Fieldfares were seen near Pennymuir Roman Camps. Yetholm Loch...
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    Scottish Borders

    They really are great to see and are increasingly common breeding inland. I've also increasingly seen them in urban areas including park playing fields and even on the roof of my local leisure centre. The scenery today was stunning, an especially good view is the one from the Yarrow to...
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    Scottish Borders

    As the weather looked promising if a little cold, we headed off to the west of the county with some brief stops at various places. First off, a flooded field close to the roadside south of Lilliesleaf held some 52 lapwings, doing their aerial acrobatics. Two each of Oystercatcher, Black-headed...
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    Scottish Borders

    Yeah, it's pretty wild around there yet it's only two or so miles from Hawick. Very cold, too - it seems to be windy every day these days.
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    Scottish Borders

    I was in two minds whether to start a new thread or add to this very old one. We're having a few days in the Borders near Hawick with a few places in mind to visit. Williestruther Loch has a pleasant, short walk around it. Amongst the usual birds, it held 4x Goldeneye, 4x Little Grebe, 1x...
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    Tayforth Birding

    There wasn't much in the way of wildfowl on the loch when I visited last summer. At least the ospreys will be back soon. The Lochs to the east are quite nice although some are more accessible than others. Loch of Clunie is pleasant and seemingly rarely watched for birds.
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    Western Scotland birding

    Started the day with a trip to the harbour at Isle of Whithorn. Was half-surprised to see some chaffinches feeding amongst the seaweed and mud, don't think I've seen them doing that before. A few redshank, oystercatcher and curlew were present along with four turnstones and a pair of mute...
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    Western Scotland birding

    Enjoying a few days in Dumfries & Galloway at the moment. Paid a quick visit to Caerlaverock on the way over, my first ever visit there. Good numbers of Barnacle Geese on the marsh along with sizeable numbers of Great Black-backed Gulls and a Little Egret flyover, an increasingly common site...
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    First time birding

    An Osprey and a Belted Kingfisher is a fantastic start for a first birding outing.
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    Montrose Basin and the surrounding area

    I saw my first skein of Pink-feet today, about 80 or so flying over Hartlepool Headland. Combined with the cold wind and low temperatures, it feels like summer has long-gone.
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    How unusual is it for Oystercatchers to nest on buildings (U.K)?

    I've recently saw a pair on the roof of my local leisure centre, not sure if there was a breeding attempt, though. They're increasingly common in urban areas, I saw three feeding on a park football pitch this morning. Really nice looking birds too.
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    Tayforth Birding

    A brief look at Reekie Linn Waterfall, not for the faint-hearted. Only birds of note here were 3x Grey Wagtail. Didn't see any Dippers here although they're supposedly present. Loch of Lintrathen (western hide) 2x Greylag - 4 Goslings 2x Mute Swan - 4 Cygnets 28+ Mallard 1 Great Crested Grebe...
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    Angus Hills and Glens

    Started my final day in Angus with a trip to Glen Moy. Heard a cuckoo coming from the direction of Airlie Tower getting near the southern end of Glen Clova. A Red Kite was noted being mobbed by a lapwing. Two Kestrels near the road end, hopefully a pair. Also a single raven and a Grey Wagtail...
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