My Back Garden

Hey all! Sorry about the gap between posts. This month has been so hectic!

Before I start the post proper, I'd like to point out that I have a new website. Right now I'm still at the updating stage...but when you read this...who knows? I might be done! The address is http://www.markienelsonphotography.co.uk/

Okay so on with the post proper!

The other week, I got new seed for my bird feeders and took the opportunity to move the feeder a bit. Many keen bird watchers claim to have a "good garden". I for one get a cheap thrill every time I look out and see something on the feeders. Maybe I should get out more? Who knows. At the back of our garden there is a tree. Well...I say a tree. It's more like hundreds of trees packed into what might appear to be an oversized hedge. This environment seems to be great for our little garden visitors. In fact, yesterday I looked out to see a Greenfinch on the feeder. Now we have had Greenfinch in the garden before...but they are hardly common. Maybe one fleeting sighting every year? This year, however, there seems to be a couple coming to the garden everyday which is great as they are one of my personal favourites! Anyways I like to think of the trees as a bird apartment block. There is quite a fair few bird species call it their home and several more call it their dinner table. With the Greenfinch sighting fresh in my mind, and my camera clutched in hand, I stepped out to sit on our back step which overlooks the feeder. Here's the bird list from the 5 minutes or so I spent out there.

Great Tit
Blue Tit
Coal Tit
Dunnock
Blackbird
Robin
Greenfinch
Magpie
Jackdaw
Rook
Chaffinch
Wood Pigeon
Feral Pigeon
Lesser Black-backed Gull



Okay so not as impressive as some bird lists that I've made in the past. Not even the best for my garden. However I saw them all in the space of that 5 minutes. They (the garden birds in the list) were whizzing in, sometimes sitting for a while on the feeder then whizzing off again. This is usually a sign of young birds as they can get wary later. Some of the aforementioned were clearly young birds, but many have molted to all but look the same as the adults! The feeder is definitely, in my opinion, in the right place, and birds certainly seem to like the new seed I got them! Didn't get many pictures in such a short space of time, but here's 3 of my favourites!

The Greenfinch which started it all!

A Blackbird.

Ever the dependable Robin!

Oh...It's "The Oa"!

As stated in Friday's blog, on Saturday, Becky, Lorna and I visited RSPB The Oa (pronounced like "Oh"). A beautiful nature reserve on Islay for our last full day on the Island.

In the morning, we had all been woken up to the sound of severe rain. This got us worried. Would we still get out? After checking the frankly unrealistic weather reports promising us at least some sunshine in the afternoon, we left preparing for the worst. On the way, we saw a Buzzard sitting right next to the car. Even though it flew to a wall slightly further along the road, I still managed to snap off a few photos. I understand from the white fluff on the head and the slightly dowdy feathers that it was likely a young bird. It was at this moment that I realised the possibility that this may very well be a good day!

Indeed that is how it turned out. By the time we had arrived at the cliffs where the Golden Eagles have nested in the past, I was already down to my jumper. The only reason for keeping the jumper on was so as to avoid making my sunburn from the week worse! We had intended to walk one direction along the cliff face and back to the car. Then it happened. From behind the cliffs at the other side of a small valley, the unmistakably large silhouettes of a pair of Golden Eagles could be seen soaring up. Due to the bad position of the sun, my pictures were pretty poor...however the experience more than made up for it. We ended up crossing the valley in the hope of seeing them closer, only to have one soar over our heads back to where we had stopped to have lunch not to be spotted by us again sadly. We still had a brilliant day!


Other highlights included the many young Common Toads we spotted throughout the day, which Lorna absolutely loves! For those who do not like them, I would like to add that I used to agree with you. However, having held them myself, I can profess to having started to love them. They feel not at all as they look. Feeling more tender and soft than rough and slimey! Speaking of Amphibians and Reptiles, I also spotted a Common Lizard which the others hadn't seen and Lorna held it. We believe it is a pregnant female. Becky also saw some Adders!! As far as insects go, despite the bad weather in the morning, we were inundated with insects when the sun came out. Lots of Common Blue Damselflies, several butterfly and moth species, some beetles and a Grasshopper to name but a few! Other key bird species of the day for me was a family of Reed Bunting, a few Hen Harriers, some Lesser Redpoll and some Oystercatchers (again, to name a few!!)


All in all, a FANTASTIC day had by us all! If any of you are in the area, I cannot recommend The Oa enough! For Becky's blog from the day on the Islay Natural History Blog, click here.


Here are a few of my photos from the day.

Juvenile Buzzard. © Mark Nelson

A young Common Toad in Lorna's hand. © Mark Nelson

A Grasshopper. © Mark Nelson

A pair of Common Blue Damselflies mating in the classic "heart" shape. © Mark Nelson

Golden Eagle. © Mark Nelson

Pregnant Common Lizard. © Mark Nelson

Lorna and Becky with a beautiful cloud. © Mark Nelson

A cow looking at me. © Mark Nelson

A self timer of Becky, Lorna and I. © Becky Williamson

Ramble

Today, we had a great time on our nature ramble at Ardnave, Islay. We had received sightings and photographs of Rose Coloured Starlings in the Natural History Centre so were really hoping to see them. I think one or two of our number may have seen one...but not myself sadly!

We did manage to see various other birds, however, which were special in their own way. On the road up, we saw a Merlin flying over a field. Then when we arrived, we understandably had our binoculars straight out to look at the flock of Starlings which their rose coloured cousin has been spotted with. Lots of Sand Martins swooping over the water with Mute Swans swimming close by. Other highlights for me as far as birds go were the Snipe, Skylarks, Lapwings and a female Hen Harrier. This seems a great year for the latter here on the island. We also saw Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull. One of our number also thought they saw a Great Black-backed Gull, but again I didn't. We also had some Song Thrushes following us throughout the ramble.

Half way through the walk, the rain started. This was quite a shock to the system given the roasting weather we have had so far on the holiday. This meant that my job as "butterfly counter" was made a lot easier with only one butterfly spotted. A Small Tortoiseshell being blown around a bit by the wind. I did see it land but thought it best to leave it be after it's ordeal.

As I write, the rain has stopped and the wind died down. Here's hoping for good weather tomorrow when we plan to head out to RSPB The Oa. Sadly I didn't get any photos given the poor conditions but hope to get loads tomorrow!

For a more official account of our ramble, you can visit the Islay Natural History blog entry from the walk.