Hi All,
Has been a bit of a while since I contributed to this post but I have been making wee notes of dates and finally got a bit of time tonight to jot them down.
15th June, swallow sitting on nest on outer side of porch roof overhang.
5th July, all huddled together at the edge of the nest.
9th July, the first brood were out of the nest, all sitting (5no) on the ceiling tie.
10th July, on the estate the house martins were going hammer and tongs with young.
15th July, I had a wood wasp about the garden (sea level) the lab and the Staff weren't sure of it.
17th July, having a spy about the hills and one bit of a valley was alive with Magpie Moths.
24th July, came across some cloudberries, (but I'm not saying where).
23rd August, when out with a guest they came across an emperor moth caterpillar.
29th August, out with guests on a hellish day, we saw a group of Golden Plover, a pair of Ptarmigan and a female Ring Ousel.
1st September, the second brood of swallows (5no) were out of the nest and hanging about.
5th September, I saw about 18 swifts in the lee of the trees at the Skiach Services.
6th September, I saw a single whooper swan in amongst a group of Canadas and Greylag at the bottom of the garden, it looked a bit lost to be honest.
10th September, The second brood of swallows were still hanging about although each night after that there were less wee heat sources in the nest at night. We also had a good covering of snow on the high tops that night.
12th September, Good numbers of teal on the tide edge tonight. I counted 75 in one group. I don't usually see too many this side.
I watched a few pairs up on the hill lochs earlier in the season but never saw any young, but I know they are very secretive birds and don't show easily
18th September, Saw my first Fieldfares, always nice to see and hear them.
20th September last time I saw a swallow in the nest although the night before there was nothing but nothing since. Always a tug on the heart when they leave as they are great wee birds and I can put up with the sh1t on the deck as they provide enjoyment watching them going in and out feeding.
Then tonight we were up the farm with pinks and greylags flying all directions I spotted a single swallow was hawking about
Magic!!!
There have been plenty bats about the whole summer and although the butterflies were down big time we saw a few on the buddleia but we had more moths this year than I've ever seen on it during the day.
Never seen so many Blueberries on the hill either and we saw a good few Peacock butterflies way out on the hill the week before last.
The Golden Eagles have been very visible the last few months as well, its nice to see them and I cant help but wonder if the sea eagles displace them.
That's about it for now.
Cheers
