July Blog

Here we are bang in the middle of Summer and the weather has been fantastic. Yes there’s been the odd shower but it has been warm and sunny and I’ve had a good month in June and just returned home from Benbecula in The Outer Hebrides which was amazing.

I was meant to be heading to North Berwick and visit The Scottish Seabird Centre but the forecast that day was for heavy rain so decided to cancel and head to Cammo my local patch instead as it was a nice morning. I had a great walk about listening to Chiffchaffs, Blackbirds & a Robin who I found singing above me.

I had a few great visits from a Bullfinch in June the first encounter was the next day after my visit to Cammo.

Whilst filling the feeders one morning there were lots of Swallows flying about and for the first time this year I managed to get a great shot as they were quite close.

Later on that day I spotted Swallows sitting on the telephone wire and The Bullfinch returned to the feeder.

I had a great encounter with a Bullfinch while I was filling up the feeders, I was about to head to one of the feeders when I noticed the bird feeding so I walked very slowly and let it have a feed before it flew away and he did return after I filled up the feeder.

The last time I saw a Bullfinch at the feeder was two days later .

On the day I was leaving to go on holiday a Male Great Spotted Woodpecker turned up. It was my second encounter seeing a Male which was very exciting, but I haven’t seen my usual female Woodpecker for awhile hope she will return soon but I welcome both male & female.

As mentioned earlier I was heading to Benbecula in The Outer Hebrides but I stopped off at Mallaig & Portree on Isle Of Skye. Didn’t see many birds on Mallaig because it was a miserable wet day. Not all was lost because I did see Gulls & a Deer.

It was great being back in Benbecula seeing family & visiting well known places I’m familiar with and the birds and wildlife certainly didn’t disappoint. Because it’s the breeding season I didn’t see much active birds but I did see the usual Oystercatchers, Lapwings and lots of Owls, mainly Short Eared Owl which I saw a lot as one was flying in the fields across the road from the house. The highlight was on North Uist I spotted two Golden Eagles on a tree and spotting Deer on the side of the road.

During the holiday I visited Balranald Nature Reserve which I heard The Corncrake but sadly didn’t see it, and visited Loch Eynort & Eriskay.

It was a great holiday and sad to be leaving but I am returning in October. I hope you have a great month and I look forward to more trips I have lined up.