Three Islands in the Firth of Forth, Scotland.

17th - 21st June .

For a birdwatcher and wildlife photographer there is nothing quite as exciting as visiting a seabird colony and these three small island in the Firth of Forth just of North Berwick,Scotland ,offered up a real treat to the senses, with the sight , sound and smell of thousands of seabirds nesting on the cliffs. We visited Fidra, Craigleith and the Bass Rock as well as nearby St.Abbs Head. It was great being so close to Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills and Kittiwakes among others ,and the sheer joy of being among  the 150.000 Gannets on Bass Rock, somewhere I'd always wanted to go. Lots of photos.

Bass Rock

Bass Rock

St. Abbs Head

Puffin

Puffin

Puffin pair

Puffin classic pose with Sandeels

Puffin incoming

Puffin flyby

Puffin flight

Puffin

Razorbill and chick

Razorbill with Sandeels

Guillemots

Guillemot

Kittiwake

Kittiwake with nest material

Kittiwake on nest

Kittiwake scrap

Nesting Shag

Shag and young

Lesser Black Backed Gull on nest

Herring Gull

Herring Gull newly hatched chick and egg

Fulmar flight

Eiders

Gannets

Gannet aggression

Gannets Bass Rock

Gannets fishing

Gannets fishing

VERY close Gannet

Gannet preening

Gannet with nest material

Gannet preening

Gannet diving

Gannet Bass Rock.

Pied Flycatcher

4th June.

A trip to Yarner Wood on Dartmoor at this time of year is always a treat, although on this occasion the weather was a little against us with low temperatures and light rain, though it did brighten up a bit in the afternoon. Pied Flycatchers are one of the main attractions here with nest boxes being used by a good number of birds,. On all previous trips Wood |Warblers have been present but alas this year none have arrived, hopefully next year they might fare better.

Female Pied Flycatcher approaching nestbox

Female Pied Flycatcher

Male Pied Flycatcher

Female Pied Flycatcher

Male Pied Flycatcher

Robins

2nd June.

Its always nice to find and photograph unusual birds and birds that you have to travel to see, but its also good  just to spend time in the garden watching the commoner species come and go. 'Our' Robins are having a very good breeding season, with one brood fledged and another on the way.

Kittiwakes and Fulmars

25th May 2019.

Another visit to Trevone on the North Cornish coast ,this time with Joyce, a beautiful location and plenty to see ,although there was a cold wind blowing and rain came in later in the day. Nice to see the Kittiwakes doing well along with small numbers of Razorbills and Guillemots. And I can never resist photographing the Fulmars ,with their starched wings and tube noses this is a bird which always fascinates me, I never tire of watching them glide around the cliffs.

Nesting Kittiwakes

Kittiwake collecting nest material

Kittiwake and rough sea 1

Kittiwake and rough sea 2

Fulmar fly past

Fulmar over Thrift flowers

Fulmar

Herring Gulls sharing our lunch.