[underground]

Just back from a week in a farmhouse in West Dorset. Before we left I mentioned I'd love to see a Flycatcher while we're away..

within 30 mins of settling down in the cottage garden as soon as we arrived, I noticed a bit of fluttering on a tall stem and there we were 

Had to settle for a greater spotted woodpecker 5 feet away from the kitchen window for the remainder of the week 

[Falling Down]

Erm, Sam - I think our mystery bird we heard calling at the Baldstones the other Friday was a Grasshopper Warbler.

Nice one Jim - hope you had a good week.

[SA Chris]

Got one of my long held Scottish Wildlife ticks last week - was fishing from the bottom of the garden of the cottage we were in and just as it was getting dark and I was packing up an otter swam past along the shore about 10m away. By the time I had camera sorted it dived and then surfaces again at least 30m down the shore, amazing how long they stay under for. I caught bugger all fish though.

[slackline]

Cool otter spot would love to see them in the wild.

Upon your suggestion sticking these in here too

Went for a trip round the Farne Islands recently....


Puffins by slack---line, on Flickr


Busy, but its only going to get busier... by slack---line, on Flickr


Early brood by slack---line, on Flickr


Come any closer and I'll jump! by slack---line, on Flickr


Razor Bill by slack---line, on Flickr


Gull by slack---line, on Flickr


Here lads whats he pointing at us? by slack---line, on Flickr


High Five! by slack---line, on Flickr

[fried]

Nice photos, Slackers.

Just spotted the first Swallows over Paris, same as every year, but an absolute joy to watch and puts me in the mood to head for warmer climes.

[lagerstarfish]

I went up to The Plantation early this morning. I heard a ring ouzel before I'd left the car park - not seen them this far from the crag before. Turned out it was an adult teaching a juvenile the ropes. They stayed 30-50m ahead of me all the way from the car park up to the boulders. It felt like I was having a walk with them. They were all over the boulders while I was up there.

On the way back they were waiting near the gate at the bottom of the trees. I got to within 10m of the juvenile bird while the adult went off down the hill. It waited just long enough for me to get the video camera out of the bag before taking off.

[Will Hunt]

What did I see at Mother Carey's over the weekend? Three black birds with white underbellies. Seemed to be nesting in a chimney. Any ideas? Thought it might be a puffin but no fancy bill.

[slackline]

Did they look like the Guillemot or Razor Bills in my above pictures?

[SA Chris]

Sounds like Common Guillemot, like Slacker's 4th pic (I think that's a common?). I think I've seen them at Mother Scarey's before.

[Will Hunt]

Looking at those pics a guillemot sounds most likely. Couldn't pick out much detail but I think the white was kept to the underbelly. There was also something nesting in the crack of The Arrow but not sure what it was. I assume these birds mustn't be on the RSPBs watch list if St Govan's and Mother Carey's aren't under the bird ban?

[SA Chris]

I think with so much of S Pembroke having seasonal restrictions, that some of the areas where there are one or two non-watch listed birds are not restricted as a concession to climbers.

We have no bird bans on the sea cliffs up here; the birds do the regulation themselves, but you could still climb if you had no nose, a decent helmet and a scatalogical bent.

[Johnny Brown]

Mother Carey's usually does have a route or two banned wherever the Choughs are nesting. Used to be Star Gate usually.

[dave]

Saw a jay in eccy woods tother day.

[Nigel]

Looking at those pics a guillemot sounds most likely. Couldn't pick out much detail but I think the white was kept to the underbelly. There was also something nesting in the crack of The Arrow but not sure what it was. I assume these birds mustn't be on the RSPBs watch list if St Govan's and Mother Carey's aren't under the bird ban?

The bird nesting in The Arrow is a rock pipit, it burst out on my mate a couple of weeks ago. Can't see anything getting restricted on their behalf. There are a couple of restricted routes at Carey's as JB rightly says, saw the Choughs responsible again a couple of weeks ago.

Slackers isn't your "Gull" a kittiwake?

[Nigel]

Oh yeah, the whole point of posting was to mention seeing three juvenile golden eagles doing what can only be described as frolicking (!) together near Ulva on Mull last weekend. Watched them for a good half hour, gliding about 30ft overhead at times.

Also saw a possible white tailed sea eagle in Glen More on Mull, but it was too far away to tell and I forgot my bins.

[Will Hunt]

Cheers for the info. My friend was doing it as his first E1 and got quite a shock when it burst out on him!

[Johnny Brown]

The Jackdaws are the ones to look out for, they nest in a lot of crags and will give you a bit more of a start than a Rock Pipit.

[Bonjoy]

Was belayong Boggo the other day when he got a face full of Tawny Owl at the top of Estremo at Millstone!

[dave]

Saw a heron tonight in padley gorge of all places.

[Johnny Brown]

Was belayong Boggo the other day when he got a face full of Tawny Owl at the top of Estremo at Millstone!

Yikes! Was he hurt?

[slackline]

Slackers isn't your "Gull" a kittiwake?

No idea I'm about as good an ornithologist as I am climber.

[chriss]

Not a sighting, but truly awful......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-13339288

[fried]

Not a sighting, but truly awful......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-13339288

Wouldn't shooting grouse hunters be easier?

[blacky]

Ravens over Raven Tor on monday night. Wierd.

[slackline]

Not mine, but thought this picture of a Fox cub from a Flickr contact is pretty good...


a wee cub by itsfraz, on Flickr