James Dee Birding

 I left the site of my overnight stop in Dalwhinnie to drive the two hour or so drive to Musselburgh, arriving at 1130. I met Steven Fryer and several other birders at the sea wall and tried in vain for an hour or so to make out some detail on three Scoters.  Various people claimed one was the White-winged Scoter and left, satisfied, but I wasn't sated.  I went to get some lunch and returned nearer to the River mouth an hour or so later. This time, as I approached the gathered birders which again included Steven, they relayed that the White-winged Scoter was right out in front and closer in. We watched for 30+ minutes as it gradually drifted closer, eventually coming right into the mouth before finally flying off back towards the sewage pipes.  The other three scoter species were still present around the corner so, and included two Velvet Scoter at least.  Also present was a group of 90 Red-breasted Merganser , and several hundred Eider at least.  Before...

The 22nd June dawned and a considerable amount of rain had fallen overnight and was ongoing.  The long spell of dry weather was over just as I had reached a spot where a mountain hike was on the cards. But I was there at Beinn Eighe and thought I may as well put in an effort anyway.  So on went the waterproof trousers, hiking boots and mac, and off I strode, up above the tree line and into the clouds.  Of course, I didn't manage to stumble over any Ptarmigan, even though I'm sure I was the only fool up there.  In fact, the only species I saw/ heard was Meadow Pipit, and so after 100 minutes, I gave up and returned to the car park. Having failed to see any Sea Eagles on my 6 or so previous visits to Scotland since the 1990s (mostly before they had recovered to good numbers), and having missed one at Dungeness by 45 minutes, voided  at Pulborough and Dorset, I was going to make an effort this time.   So when I was told about the nesting pair at Shieldaig...

The distance from Hampshire to the Highlands seemed a long way to drive so I planned to make a few stops at whatever interesting rarities were present en route. Monday 16th June 2025 First was Great Bustard . After 90 minutes walking the permissive path and another 90 mins slowly driving the tracks a female bird suddenly came into view, flying past Enford Farm.  I only saw it for the 10-20 seconds or so it took to pass by.  At least I'd finally witnessed this amazing (reintroduced) species having drawn a blank at this same location five years previously.  Earlier that morning, a couple of Apaches flew directly overheard firing blanks from their 70mm cannons.  I half expected some casings to land on my van. The Desert Wheatear at Keynsham was scheduled to be the next stop, but I've missed it by a day, and it wasn't seen again after Sunday 15th June.  Instead, I decided to change course from West to East and take the M1 North via a Ferruginous Duck  at D...

The highlight of my two week stay in Lymington were most definitely the trees and the wildness of the New Forest.  I've missed being around forests as wild as these.  The smell is amazing and somehow calming. And the birding highlight was one singing Wood Warbler near Millyford Bridge Car park on the 8th and 9th of June.  I was however, disappointed not to see any Honey Buzzards or confirmed Goshawks despite two extended trips of to Acre Down and "Peter's Bench'. On the 8th, it took several hours to find the singing Wood Warbler , although once located it showed reasonably well.  The following day, I could only hear it and reportedly, it stopped singing by the 14th June.  This bird is only about my third in the UK, the result of far too many former years living in London. Some of the other highlights included recently fledged Woodlarks and Redstarts .  It is a privilege to be witness to those birds in their first days of life outside the nest. In total 14...