Highlands Tour Day 2

Well, after a very long day, there is not going to be a lot of text for you to perusal this evening, however a more wordy update will be available tomorrow, in the mean time I hope you enjoy the images I managed to acquire throughout the course of today. All of our guests are now with us and tomorrow marks the official start of the tour, so watch this space!!

Common Gull

Redshank

Pied Wagtail

Above 3 Images: Female Red Grouse

Red Grouse (male)

Above 2 images: Black-throated Diver

Above 3 Images: Long-tailed Duck

Above 2 images: Eider

Pre Tour Birding

With our 5th annual (under the banner of "Aquila") due to commence in full flow on Friday morning, Dad and I decided to drive up over night and have an extra day enjoying this superbly diverse and scenic part of the world. Furthermore, one of our American guests will be arriving tomorrow and as such, we can work on a few of them "rare for you, common for us species".

We are currently taking bookings for the 2015 Highlands Tour, which if booked before the end of May 2014, will be offered at this years prices. For further information please e-mail info@aquilabirdtours.com

Today we visited a number of the usual haunts recording a number interesting species of note- Crested Tit (3), Ptarmigan (1), Red Grouse (numerous), Osprey (3), Redstart (numerous) and of course it wouldn't be Scotland without a Red Deer or 500..... Below are a few pictures which have turned out okay. Click to enlarge.

Above 2 images: Gooseander

Above 2 images: Red Grouse

Off to Scotland

Just a quick blog to say in the morning we will be driving to Scotland for the 5th Annual Scottish Highlands Tour.  A few photos below from an hour or so spent at the Flashes (Sandbach) at the weekend.  Dad finally got Sand and House Martin for his 2014 "Sandbach Flashes Year List" and found a smart male Wheatear near the end of our walk to add a further year tick! 

Sedge Warbler could be heard singing near the road at Elton Hall Flash and I managed to get myself a year tick, with what has to be my favourite wader - Little-ringed Plover. 

Watch this space for blog updates throughout the Highlands tour and a full trip report will be available on the website when we return!

Ash

Swallows, Sand and House Martin

as above.

Peekaboo! Greater spotted Woodpecker

As above.

Above and Below - Willow Warbler