July 2015

26th-29th. I travelled to Scotland to do a PhD viva in Stirling. I visited my old climbing haunts in the Cairngorms, where I had great times 30 years ago. I stayed in a nice guest house in Carrbridge, and watched dippers on the River Dulnain. On the 27th I got up early, travelled to Loch Garten before breakfast, then returned after breakfast before walking to the High Tops. I walked from Cairn Gorm to Ben Macdui, sometimes in the clouds. Highlights included Scottish crossbill, crested tits, osprey, snow buntings, spotted flycatcher, and red squirrels. Best of all was seeing a family of dotterel 100m from the Ptarmigan restaurant - I also saw a second family on Ben Macdui. No ptarmigan though.

red squirrel

Dotterel

dotterel

Dotterel

snow bunting

siskin

reindeer

7th. A trip to see some American waders with Michael Pocock. First we visited Pagham Harbour to see the HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL. We were the only ones looking for it, and it took a while, but when we found it the bird was quite distinctive. The head pattern was very prominent, and the bird was less streaked than the nearby Eurasian whimbrels. It flew off towards the visitor centre, and the dark underwings and rump were obvious. There were several common and Sandwich terns in the area too.

Next stop was Titchfield Haven, where the GREATER YELLOWLEGS showed well in the River Meon. Breeding avocets and Mediterranean gulls were also there.

greater yellowlegs

avocet

4th - Skomer with the Jennings family. The light was great - sunny, with diffuse cloud. Highlights included 6 chough, and lots of puffins carrying sand eels amongst the daisies.

grey seal

razorbills

puffin

puffin

puffin

puffin

puffin

puffin

puffin

puffin

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