Back on the road

Pied Wagtail with camoflaged chick

In some ways I can't believe it's been over a month since I posted a blog, but then again it's either been so hectic, I just haven't had time to get out or the weather has been foul.
Last week we were due in Scotland and I was really looking forward to getting out with the camera... until the day we were due to leave when I twisted my ankle and landed on both knees on concrete.  Not a pretty memory, but after a trip to A&E to confirm nothing broken, it took the first 3 days of the long weekend resting to get mobile again.

Waiting patiently by the pond: pied wagtail chick

Ahhh water!

So we finally got the cottage and a good thing too, because although the weekend was cold and windy for June, it wasn't the wet misery experienced further south.  It didn't take the birds long to find the refilled feeders, using them to supplement the ample natural food in and around the garden. The pied wagtail was busy hawking for insects in the lane to feed their fledged young along the top of the stone walls. The sparrows and finches were teaching their young about feeders and also about drinking from the pond, which was lower than normal, providing good perches on the exposed stems of the water lilies.
The story of the wildlife though was yet again the things I missed because the camera wasn't close enough. A pair of ravens playing in the strong winds, the wrens, the full sparrow family drinking at the pond, the buzzards and star of the weekend a beautiful stoat, scurrying along the top of the wall across the lane, who stopped in surprise when he realised I was watching. We stared at one another for a long minute then he bustled on his way, using the wall as his highway.

Male sparrow

Jackdaw eyeing the field

Male siskin

To be or Knot to be

Lone curew

Just a quick trip out yesterday - we set out to get lunch in the tearoom at Sandhead and get a short walk on the beach. no Jays appeared as we left the house today - I was starting to think they were timing their visits just to mess with my head!
It was (very) low tide, leaving a massive expanse of sand for dogwalkers and wildlife alike, with a backdrop of the Galloway hills and their snow covered summits.

Knots with attendant gulls

As we left the tearoom it was eerily quiet - even the rookery behind the main street was silent -most unusual. The plaintive sound of a lone curlew rolled up from the beach and we could see the black and white splash of the ever present oystercatchers spread along the beach.
We walked north past feeding gulls and noticed a curlew feeding on the sand soaked by a small stream ahead of us.  It kept its distance, just ahead of us but still constantly probing for food.  The large variety and size of shells scattered across the beech testifying to the bounty to be found.

Knots

As I tried to capture a shot of the curlew George mentioned the dark rim along the waterline behind it and I realised there was a flock of waders.  George walked to the top of the beach leaving me to try and approach them quietly.  I was amazed at how placid they were.  Attendant gulls (who had been attempting the odd robbery) disappeared as I got closer but the waders which turned out to be knots were not fazed at all. They surged back and forth feeding in the very edge of the water, allowing me to get incredibly close. 

...and they're off!

I eventually overstepped the mark and off they went - all of 100 metres further along the beech. I left them to their feeding and headed home to check out how successful the pictures were ...
That was my last day in Scotland for a while - back home in MK today, just ahead of the wave of forecast snows across the country.