No string attached

See, Kite, Red, no string

Now how do I eat this without dropping it.


Well Monday we just had to make a move, we being Mrs W and yours truly, the weather was just unbelievable. So I decided to give my better half a bit of a surprise and we headed of in the direction of Dumfries & Galloway, the main destination being the Kite feeding station, that being the surprise.
We first made our way along the West side of Loch Ken where by the roadside we saw quite a few of these dark form Pheasants.

This photo doesn't do the colours justice

It wasn't long before the keen-eyed Mrs W spotted the first Kite soaring overhead as we drove along, then the feeding station sign suddenly popped up which kinda gave the game away

I think I've got the idea.

Red Kites not Red Arrows.

A very enjoyable day out, lots of other birds seen on our travels but the Kites dominated the day.

And the sun shone at last !!

Not so much a dog more a drain cleaner

This is what happens when you try to mix dog walking with bird watching. The older dog Kyfer tends to avoid mud if possible and walk round water if possible (Male you see) where as young dog Misty tends to dive straight in , mud, water, doesn't make any difference, also quite partial to poo of various types (Female you see) say no more.
We had a walk up Thacka but there wasn't a great deal about, 2 Lesser Blackbacks, about half a dozen Oystercatchers, a few Mallard, all on the flood.
On the settling pond there was the usual Mallard, Moorhen, Reed Bunting, and Reed Warbler only heard.
The one thing that was good about the day, and the main talking point with every one I stopped to talk to was the SUN, very warm and very welcome.

Sunny Day At Leighton Moss March 17

You are clear to land, Snow Geese & Grey Lags

Last night Mrs W and myself decided to have a ride down to Leighton today as the forecast was good, imagine my shock when on peeping through the curtains at 7-30 this morning I see what I expected frost on the rooftops. Wrong, after wiping bleary eyes I now realise we have had yet another overnight fall of snow, followed by the predicted frost, joy. Care had to be taken when giving the Westies a quick once round the block as the pavements once again were like glass.
We finally hit the M6 at about 8-30 or I should say the M6 nearly hit us, THICK FOG, more joy, so until we dropped into Lancashire it was a slow journey. On arrival at Leighton we spent some time on the causeway looking and listening for the Cettis eventually catching up with one at the far end of the causeway. It was singing practically none stop within a few yards of us (meters for the clever folk) and we spent ages trying to clock it, and I was ready to call it a day , when Mrs jammy W. spotted it sneaking around in the reeds.

Shelduck one of a few

From the causeway we moved on to the centre and spent some time in Lillians hide , this is where we saw the Snow geese fly in . There was also a couple of Great Crested Grebe starting their courtship display. After lunch we had a look in at the Tim Jackson hide, where there was a few Wigeon having a bath and thoroughly enjoying themselves, also Teal, and above us 3 Buzzard soring .

Next we headed for the Eric Morecambe hide, the view that greeted us is not one I like to see, Water everywhere, there had been a high tide and the whole area was flooded, waders could only be seen at a great distance. It was similar as regards water fowl so a bit disappointing really. There was Merlin but that was only just discernible as the sun was right in our faces.

This Kestrel gave us good views as we made our way back to the car.

Is it a bird?, is it a plane?

NO--- its a human suspended
from a thin piece of nylon
by a few strings, How dangerous.

And another fool.

That's Me with the green one, yeah right.

I was just thinking as you do, its about time I changed my header photo and put a more seasonal one up there. Now I'm thinking, considering the weather at the moment it is still in keeping.
I don't believe this, its snowed all morning here, fortunately it didn't stick but on the tops its a different matter.
Now for health reasons I don't like to venture out in cold conditions preferring instead temps. around the 70* plus mark hence the none bird related photos, one doesn't tend to see many birds between radiators. I would definitely become a Snowbird if I could afford it and do my winter birding in warmer climes, but alas.
I get quite annoyed with myself when I see all these other guys out and about in all weathers, and here I am stuck inside waiting for the sun and better temps. (its the thyroid you know) surely warmer weather can't be that far away, can it ? The weather persons have forecast another barbecue summer, so looks like Wellies and wetsuit at the ready for another year.
You've got to laugh haven't you.

Rook who dropped in

Rook at this (for Sun readers)

Its nicking the little birds food.

I know they will eat most things, but I would have thought it would be able to find food more to its liking in the surrounding agricultural fields.

when seen at a distance they just

look like another black Corvid

but not so .

Yesterday I had a walk round Thacka with Kyfer & Misty, the weather wasn't that clever, overcast and damp. On the rooftops of the industrial sites there was six Lesser Black-back Gulls and 1 Herring Gull.

On the flood I found 1 Snipe, a few mallard, Common Gulls, and a few Black Headed Gulls. There was also 13 Oystercatchers, and still a few Lapwing in the fields, but no sign of any displaying yet.

The dogs had been left to their own devices while I scanned the flood with dire consequences as the pair of them was covered in mud.

Sunny Morning at Thacka flood

The markings on snipe are fantastic,

if they are not stood out in water like this they can be so hard to find.

Took the dogs up to Thacka this morning and had a look in on the flood , there was 20 Common Gulls, a few Black-Headed Gulls, 2 or 3 pairs of mallard, 10 Oystercatcher, and 1 Pied Wagtail, and new to me on the top flood, a Redshank, normaly see them in the wet area below the settleing pond.

There was a few Jackdaws around the edges of the flood, along with Crows. Flying around the area there was quite a few woodpigeons and Stock Dove. At one point a Sparrowhawk flew over and disturbed everything momenterily, it went on its way heading towards the woods near Newton Rigg. A mistle Thrush was singing in one of the trees near the big house which was good to hear.

The sun was shining and it was really warm on my back as I scoped the flood, lets hope there is more to come !!.

Thacka & the flood

  A misty morning last month near the flood.

 

             Had a look in at the flood this morning, a few Black Headed Gulls, 12 Common Gulls including juveniles, a pair of Lesser Black-Back gulls 2 pair of OysterCatchers, and pair of Mallard. There was also Lapwing dotted around the fields but not many. Jackdaws and Crows made up the remainder of what was about.

               The weather was dry but there was a cold Northerly wind blowing, and the sun only shone fitfully. At least the wind was drying the paths, can't wait for some warmer weather!!