my local patch and wildlife - Ian McDonald

[ian mcdonald]

Seen today was a Mining? bee which dug a hole in the ground then went inside.



The river and valley from a low hill.

[ian mcdonald]

I went to the coast, not far away, for a change of scenery. I noticed a group of Sandwich Terns diving for fish and returning to a rock in the sea.



Turnstones and Purple Sandpipers were picking something from the rocks.



Several Dolphins were leaping but I was not quick enough for a good picture.



A Slavonian Grebe has been at a local site for several days.





A Roe Deer doe was seen at a nearby valley.

[ian mcdonald]

A walk along the local river while the sun was out brought the song birds into song. A Blackcap and a Chiff Chaff were in good voice.





A Comma was feeding on Celendine flowers, the first of the season.



Field Woodrush/Good Friday Grass was in flower. The latter name referring to its flowering time.



Wild cherries, Prunus avium are in flower.



Among the birds seen recently are buzzard, willow warbler, swallow, common sandpiper, sand martin, oyster catcher, reed bunting, wren, blackbird, common tern, osprey, razor bill, guillemot, meadow pipit and jackdaw.

[cohan]

Lots of activity and variety of views-- nice area

[ian mcdonald]

The weather here is mixed, with rain showers and cold winds. Sunny spells but cold. The trees are coming into leaf but the season seems a bit late allowing for the Northern latitude. Willow Warblers are here, compare with Chiff Chaff on a previous post. I can only tell the difference when they sing.



Several Speckled Wood were seen on a warmer day.



A Sparrowhawk was circling above the river.



Goldfinchs were seen in some bushes.



Two Common Terns were diving for fish in the river then resting on rocks.

[ian mcdonald]

Bird Cherry, Prunus padus is just coming into flower. This is a fairly common tree in Northern Perthshire.



Wood Sorrel, Oxalis acetosella is freshly in flower.

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Common Dog Violet, Viola riviniana is flowering on the river bank.

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Red Campion, Silene dioica, is flowering on the river bank. More red than the southern examples.

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Field forget-me-not, Myosotis arvensis is also in flower along the river.

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[ian mcdonald]

[ian mcdonald]

At the coast I saw a wren among some boulders.



Two Dippers were diving into the river.



Slender Speedwell, Veronica filiformis is in flower.



I saw several Pond Skaters on a small pool.



Meadow Pipits were flying around in pairs.

[ian mcdonald]

A tiny moss with long flowering stems was on a track.



Siskins were seen on some bird feeders.



Barren Strawberry, Potentilla sterilis, was along the river.



At the side of a railway line I noticed an old platelayers cabin.



A White Wagtail was leaping after small insects then landing on rocks.

[ian mcdonald]

Two Common Sandpipers were at the river.



Tuberous Comfrey, Symphytum tuberosum, is flowering. The flowers soon go brown.



Cuckoo Flower/Greater Stitchwort, Stellaria holostea, is flowering.



Greater Wood-rush, Luzula sylvatica in in flower. Compare with Field Wood-rush in a previous post.



Leopards Bane, Doronicum pardalianches, is starting to flower along the river bank. Once considered a rare species in the UK it is now more widespread.



Birds seen lately include osprey, buzzard, siskin, blue tit, great tit, rook, jackdaw, mallard, pied wagtail, grey wagtail, sand martin, swallow, house martin, heron, meadow pipit, stonechat, cuckoo, whitethroat? oyster catcher, goosander, common sandpiper, chiff chaff, blackcap, willow warbler, pheasant and blackbird.

[cohan]

Lots of cool stuff!

[ian mcdonald]

Some recent sightings,



Water avens, Geum rivale.



Changing forget-me-not, Myosotis discolor.



Wild garlic, Allium ursinum.



Blaeberries, Vaccinium myrtillus.



Jack-by-the-hedge, Alliaria petiolata.

[ian mcdonald]

Birds eye speedwell, Veronica chamaedrys.



Green Tiger Beetle.



Pink Bluebells.



Fungus on dead elm.



I saw two hares in a field. They both ran off then one turned and ran towards me.

Birds seen include, siskin, great spotted woodpecker, tree creeper, skylark, meadow pipit, cuckoo, stonechat, missel thrush and a pair of crossbill.

[ian mcdonald]

It,s cold and windy here with rain showers. I noticed two Crossbills at a puddle a couple of days ago and decided to try to see the birds again. I managed a not too good photo. and sent it to the local collator of bird records. He said without hearing the call he was not able to identify the bird but said it was an adult. A trip to the coast today to photograph Spring Squill, Scilla verna. I also saw a couple with pinkish flowers. Spring vetch, Vicia sativa is in flower now. Field Penny-cress has set seed. St. Marks Fly are about in sheltered areas.

[ian mcdonald]

Also at the coast were a mixed flock of Sanderlings and Dunlin.



A small group of Turnstones were on rocks as the tide came in, good thing I was wearing wellies.



A couple of Skylarks were in tall grass.



Other birds seen lately were great spotted woodpecker, tree creeper, song thrush, missel thrush, siskin, chaffinch, robin, dunnock, pied wagtail, herring gull, coal tit and great tit.