Birds

[George 597]

In my garden earlier. Thought it was a female siskin but now I'm not so sure. Anyone know?

[George 597]

It's a chiff chaff. My first!

[George 597]

[George 597]

I've done well with the terns this year, very happy with the photos I managed to get. The chicks are all flying now so it won't be long before they're off to the north pole.

[George 597]

Love this portrait of Mr Guts. He's looking in fine form. I guess he's had a good summer.

[George 597]

Had a wonderful opportunity to spend some time with a sparrow and one of its fledglings recently. One of the many benefits of taking the time to get to know the birds and put peanuts out for them is the photos they reward you with.

[George 597]

The arctic terns did pretty well this year, the chicks are all fledged and flying, and won’t be long before they’re off flying around the world again. It was good to see them. They must see some sights while flying right around the earth every year. Here’s a fledgling testing his wings out while his dad keeps an eye on me. Might be his mom I guess, I can't tell them apart.

[Titak 59]

Such pretty birds.

[Titak 59]

I simply love places like this.

I should go live closer to the sea someday...

[George 597]

That walk is only half an hour's drive from here, and that was the first time I'd walked it. There is still so much I have to discover around here. I suppose that's the way of it everywhere.

[George 597]

Today the sparrows have been hiding, nowhere to be seen. I thought it was perhaps the heavy rain showers we've had. No sign of Mr Blackbird or Mr Robin either. All very quiet in the garden. Put some grub out, but no takers. All very strange. While making something to eat this evening, look who showed up on my fence. Mrs Sparrowhawk! That explains that then.

[George 597]

A male goosander coming out of eclipse, I'm told, whatever that means. Nice duck! Big duck too, and at the mouth of the River Brora. Not seen him again, but I'm keeping my eyes open to see if I can get a decent photo.

[George 597]

Met this little fella, a sanderling a bit further on. I hope he wasn't pissed off at me nicking his lunch and putting it back in the sea.

[George 597]

Met this young bird down the beach this morning. Thought it might have needed some help, but no, after chatting for a while, it got to its feet and stretched its wings. No broken bones, not tangled up in anything, I hope it makes it.

[George 597]

This was how I found him. Went along the shore today to see if he was around, but he was nowhere to be seen. I didn't see any dead birds on the shore either, and I did see a lone juvenile gannet out at sea flying along the coast so I'm assuming he's okay.