BIRDING TRIP & PHOTO REPORT:
SCOTLAND
– EAST COAST & SPEYSIDE,
MAY
2006
By
Stephen Burch, England
Introduction
This hardly
qualifies as a trip report, since it is based on less
than a full day of birding. It is more of an excuse to
show some of the pics obtained with my new toy - a DSLR (Canon
350D with EF 400mm lens & 1.4 x converter).
As usual, a
business trip to Aberdeen provided the opportunity for a
little extra birding tacked on. This comprised a brief
evening visit to the cliff top RSPB reserve of Fowlsheugh
and a day on Speyside (from 05:30 to 14:00),
Fowlsheugh
This cliff top
reserve is situated south of Aberdeen near Stonehaven,
from which boat trips can be taken to view the bird
cliffs. However with only a couple of hours maximum
available this was not possible. This is low key RSPB
reserve, without even a sign to it from the main road,
and a simple space for a few cars to park by the road, a
path and a noticeboard.
Nevertherless, this was
a good place for some DSLR practice, as it was possible
to get pretty close to the birds in places, though care
is clearly needed near the edge! The best conditions
would be a morning visit in sunny weather, so the light
shines on the birds. I had an evening visit with only a
little sun which didn't help as all the birds were in
shade.
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| Razorbill (click on
right image to enlarge) |
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Kittiwake
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Guillemot (click to enlarge)
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Speyside
I
started my day in Speyside at 05:30 - at the RSPB's Loch
Garten  reserve for the "Caperwatch"
. Unfortunately the weather was poor - light rain and
consequently dull conditions. However, shortly after
arrival, a male Capercaillie was spotted and we all moved
the short distance to a more forward hide for very
distant, murky views. The bird eventually showed
reasonably well, but photography was extremely difficult.
I got this record shot by digiscoping - the bird was far
too distant for the DSLR. No prizes for this one!
On the return from the
Osprey hide (from which an Osprey head could just be
discerned), I was fortunate to connect with a Crested Tit
right by the path. At the feeders by the car park visitor
center, there were two Red Squirrels.
The nearby Tulloch Moor
had singing Tree Pipit and Whinchat in the still early
morning rain! Somewhat further on, Loch Morlich had
Goldeneye, as well as Wigeon and Teal. Last time I was
here (August 2003), the family & I were swimming! No
chance today!
The rest of the day was
also poor weatherwise, with light rain alternating with
heavier bursts. So photography was far from easy. Here is
a selection of shots obtained, mostly with the DSLR.
The wader pics, apart
from the Snipe, were from Lochindorb which was good, as
the car could be used as a hide to closely approach birds
on the near shore. The Snipe was sitting nicely on a post
by a road - again I used the car as a hide.
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Osprey (digiscope)
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Osprey fishing over Lochindorb
(DSLR)
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Common Snipe (DSLR) (click to
enlarge)
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Common Sandpiper at Lochindorb
(DSLR) (click to enlarge)
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Slavonian Grebe (DSLR - but
too distant!)
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Redshank (DSLR)
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