Slimbridge.

WWT Slimbridge, a great place to get some fantastic pictures, sometimes. Unfortunately on other occasions it can be quite unproductive.

However I was up early yesterday (thurs 7th) due to my bad back and decided on the spur of the moment to have a look.

Here are the pics that i took.

Common Sandpiper.

Heron.

I am told that these are Green Sandpipers, they were certainly different to the common.

The coots, of course.

And finally a young Flamingo portrait that I quite liked, not wild though i know.

It wasn't as good as i had hoped but nevertheless an enjoyable morning.

Last of Scotland

This is the last of the Scotland photos, guess I better start thinking what my next submissions will be.

Firstly we've got these two pics of Spotted Flycatchers, there were a pair feeding chicks.

Dolphins were on view regularly on the moray firth. This was however the best shot i managed to get and it is a crop.

This was one of the most regularly seen birds during our trip. This Oystercatcher is doing what they do best mooching in the mud.

This was a real treat, a Red Throated Diver. A first for me. This was seen on one day only and was quite obliging, albeit from a distance.

This pair of Jackdaws were very entertaining whilst at the Harbour at Port Patrick.

A family of Willow warblers were observed feeding in the bushes at one of the sites we visited.

This was, I think, the best of the trip although the pictures don't do it justice. We watched this Slavonian Grebe for 3 days or so. It was extremely timid and would not come close, I got these pictures whilst hiding amonst some bushes on different days. I was amazed at just how far this bird could swim/fly under water before coming up for air. It was a pleasure to watch.

My favourite picture of the trip is hard to identify, however I do like this portrait of a feral pigeon.

Not really Wildlife although as I say it was wild. It's not very old, you can tell that by the pinkness of the beak.

A good trip all round, the weather was not always kind to us and we never knowingly got to see Golden Eagle, there were some sightings in the distance of birds that looked too big to be buzzards but neither Chris or I could or would say they were eagles. However at least 7 new species for me and photographs of some that i haven't got as well. Not bad for 12 days.

If you have never been to Scotland then I suggest you should go there, the scenery and the photographic opportunities make the travelling worth while. I look forward to going again. Check the Galleries link for more shots of some of the species I've featured over these last 3/4 posts.

Let me know if you have any comments I'd be delighted to hear them, oh and don't forget to click the back button rather than the X to return to the post. The X button will take you away from the site.

More from Scotland.

A few more from the recent trip to Scotland.

Black Guillemots, a species I'd never seen before.

The next are Rock Pipits, yet another bird I'd never knowingly seen

This next animal is not wild but very impressive I'm sure you'll agree.

Highland Cattle, very placid and lovely critters.

This common Sandpiper and a couple like it kept me entertained whilst at Loch Garten.

More to follow soon. Sorry for the delay in updating but have been experiencing problems with uploading pictures. Dont forget to check my galleries for other similar pictures hopefully slightly better in quality.

Scotland 2

More Pictures from the recent trip to Scotland.

Scotland is probably the best place to get shots of this sweet British species. Much sweeter than it's grey cousin.

Another Species that is "Scottish" is the Scottish Crossbill, very similar to the more common Crossbill. Also found in the Highlands are Parrot Crossbills. These are pictures of such birds, they were identified for us by an RSPB warden at Loch Garten. Apparently the size and shape of the bill identify it as a parrot Crossbill.

These are pictures of a female and her chick.

I used the trip to try and improve my flight shot skills now that i have my 600mm Lens. Think more work is required, what do you think?

The top two are Herring Gulls and this one above is a cormorant. Did take some more but yet to process them.

More to follow. Check out the galleries for better pics (see links)

You take the high road,

and I'll take the low road... Scotland, bonny Scotland. A must for all photographers and twitcher types alike.

Went to Scotland with Chris Grady recently and took some shots of Species I'd not got and some i'd not seen before.
Pair of Sika deer, I believe they were semi wild, certainly scared of the car and having a camera pointed at them.

Spent a long time with Chris confirming that this was a family of Sika. Even the books don't show much of a difference between Sika and Fallow, I think the tail and the antlers do it.

Okay you don't have to go to Scotland to see swallows but couldn't resist showing you this one of a chick awaiting food.

Again not neccesary to go to Scotland for Wheatear but again a first for me, shot taken from car.

We were kindly invited on to a small farm to take shots of these Sand Martins. These chicks fledged whilst we were watching them.

These are just a few of the many shots that I took in Scotland. I have yet to sort them all, i will update over the next few days.