Bed and breakfast

There was an unexpected visitor camping out in our front doorway last night sheltering from the heavy rain. It is definitely a racing or homing pigeon going by the rings on it's legs and it appeared to be a little distressed when it first appeared. I fed it on some wild bird food but it ignored the bread which I also put out. I attempted to catch it this morning to get the full registration number in order that I could report it as a stray. However it flew off but it has reappeared again this evening. Let's see if it is still here tomorrow.

We had a good day out this week at the Seabird Centre, North Berwick. As there were no boats operating to the Bass Rock we finished up visiting Dunbar Harbour to see Kittiwakes nesting followed by Musselburgh lagoons where there were a large number of birds including Curlews, Cormorants, Eiders and Oyster Catchers. We also caught sight of a Godwit and a Whimbrel.

Meanwhile, back at the riverside.

After the excitement of last week's Osprey chick ringing it was going to be hard to follow that up but I think I managed to do it despite not having the photographic evidence to prove it.

While walking the dog by the river one morning I found myself looking at a Kingfisher perched on a branch just above the water level, about 10 yards in front of me. It quickly cottoned on to the fact that it was being observed and flew off within a matter of seconds, it's bright blue body flashing across the water. I also saw it the following morning but from a much greater distance and it will be quite a challenge to get some photos of it.

Another bird which has proved elusive for the last couple of years is the Barn Owl but we saw one of these in the distance whilst walking round farmland adjacent to our house one evening last week. I am also fairly certain that I saw an Osprey flying over the garden one afternoon.

Although I failed to capture the Kingfisher on film I saw this dipper on the opposite bank and grabbed a few shots. The bird wasn't as close as I would have liked it to be so the pictures are not as clear as they could have been.

Osprey chick ringing-4th July 2007

This day will stay in my memory for a long time to come. In the morning I was on duty at Ospreywatch and was able to watch the ringing at the televised nest on CCTV. A film crew from Border Television were in attendance and the event was covered on the local evening news the following night. In the afternoon another volunteer and I attended a ringing at a different nest.

When we arrived at the nest the parent birds could be seen circling the nest at a distance and in fact a third Osprey also appeared briefly and all three could be seen in the sky at one time.

When the chicks were lowered to the ground each was taken from the bag in turn and weighed and measured before being ringed. A vet was also in attendance and she checked each bird thoroughly before taking a blood sample. After the formalities were over there was time for us to be photographed with the chicks before they were returned to the nest.

Although a licence is required to photograph at an Osprey nest I was covered by the fact that the party of ringers was licenced.

This was indeed a once in a lifetime experience which I thoroughly enjoyed.

The photographs shown are a very small sample from the 140 shots which I took on the day!

Nothing much to report.

Weather has been very poor over the last few weeks and there is more torrential rain forecast here tomorrow. The garden feeders are constantly busy but always with the same birds, ie Siskins, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, some House Sparrows, the odd Goldfinch, Blue Tit and Great Tit. Jackdaws are now coming to the peanut feeder but they are very camera shy! The Great Spotted Woodpecker has become lesser spotted and the Blackbirds are even more greedy for sultanas. There are a few juvenile birds around now and I have seen a few young Great Tits and Starlings. The Thrush doesn't come to our garden, I caught him on some common ground close by.

Back in the garden

With the cold wet weather continuing the feeders have been much busier than usual and there has been a fair bit of aggressive behaviour as the birds frantically try to stake their place in the pecking order. Chaffinches, Greenfinches and Siskins have been to the fore and the Blackbirds are fighting amongst themselves over which one has first claims to the sultanas. The Goldfinches are returning to the feeders after a bit of an absence and I saw four different birds at the hearts one day. Sightings of the Great Spotted Woodpecker have reduced greatly and there has been no sign of him bringing his offspring to the peanuts yet.

More from the riverbank and beyond

Walking along the riverbank every morning I can never be quite sure what I will see. A couple of days ago the family of Goosanders came as an unexpected but pleasant surprise and today I was greeted at the cauld by a family of Mallard ducklings including one bright yellow chick which looked more like a soft toy or something you might try to fish out of the water at the funfair! One sombre note however, these ducklings were rather small and there was a Heron at the other side of the cauld barely 20 yards away.

The Dipper remains an elusive bird whenever I have a camera with me though I see it often enough on other occasions. I had to settle for two Black-headed Gulls today instead.

The other photos were taken at a nearby private garden which is open to the public. The Nuthatch is a relative newcomer to this area, no doubt another indication of global warming.

Goosander family

I first came across the female Goosander and her chicks yesterday morning whilst out for my morning constitutional with the dog but unfortunately I did not have my camera with me.

I took my small digital compact with me this morning not really expecting to get a 2nd chance and I was delighted to come across the family in the same location as yesterday.

There was a hungry Heron paying some attention to them but I honestly believe that the chicks are now too big to fall prey to a predator who prefers smaller ducklings.