Here we are in August (already) can’t believe it’s nearly the Ber months. But things are beginning to slow down now birdwise after the breeding season the birds are mostly away hiding growing new feathers so don’t worry if your garden is looking quiet they will be back.
I made a return visit to Benbecula in The Outer Hebrides, this was because my brother was up with his family so we wanted to go up and surprise them and they were very surprised to see us but also very happy. We were only there for a few days so didn’t go Birding a lot but the weather wasn’t great so it wasn’t ideal for Birding anyway however I did see Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Collared Dove, Short Eared Owl, Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Starling & Corncrake (heard). During that week spent days on the beach and flying a kite it was a short but fantastic week.
After I came home from The Hebrides I had a lovely trip to Lochend Pond which I haven’t been for a long time so I thought I will go Birding there. The place was busy with Birds and it’s a great place to get close up views of Herons, Graylag Geese, Coots & Moorhens. Other birds I saw were Swift, Swallow, Mallard, Feral Pigeon, Mute Swan, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Tufted Duck, Canada Goose, Jackdaw, Magpie, Starling, Chaffinch, Woodpigeon & Crow. It was a great day and hope to return there soon. During the month I’ve also been taking part in The Big Butterfly Count run by The Butterfly Conservation it’s a great activity to do while you are out & about and you can take part too by checking out the Big Butterfly Count website or download the app but you do have until 8th August to take part.
I had a day trip to Inverness for a gig which was great but the highlight for me was outside a pub and the skies were covered in Swifts flying about screaming away.
I was very upset to hear that Bill Oddie sadly passed away at the end of the month it really affected me because it was Bill who got me interested in Birds & Wildlife 24 years ago. I was first aware of Bill Oddie in 1997 when his programme “Birding With Bill Oddie” came on and his enthusiasm and expertise made me interested but I didn’t become a fully fledged Birdwatcher till 2002 when his series “Bill Oddie Goes Wild” was on TV and from there I got my first binoculars and notebook and the rest they say is history. He was my Birding mentor I learnt a lot from him through his books & shows. I had to go Birding in his honour so I went to Cammo Estate Nature Reserve my local patch. It was very quiet but I knew that for this time of year but I did see Woodpigeon, Heron, Great Tit, Crow & Magpie.
This blog is dedicated to Bill Oddie.
The Edinburgh Birdwatcher 