Scottish Trip

I've just got back from a terrific two week trip to Scotland. The highlights included climbing ten Munro's (Scottish mountains above 3000 feet), eight of them new ones. We had some great experiences like watching a pair of Golden Eagles soaring above a crag and giving superb views. Also the weather was fantastic - most of the time.

Our base was a lovely cottage in a tiny place called Coulags near Loch Carron. The overnight drive up was quite pleasant, as it was a clear evening with a full moon. We timed the journey perfectly to witness the sun rising and slowly transforming the rugged pyramid of Buachaille Etive Mor from a dark brooding mass into to a lovely warm and welcoming peak. The warm glow of the mountain was the only thing warm, because the temperature was 0°C. This mountain is very popular as a photographic subject, but I don't feel too bad about adding my interpretation as I have actually stood on the top of it.

 

Buachaille Etive Mor 

Great Crested Grebes and Butterflies

Yesterday was quite eventful, I started the day in the west of Leicestershire looking for Corn Buntings and then went to Warwickshire with Adey to look for Green Hairstreaks and skippers. I was successful with all but the Dingy and Grizzled Skippers. 

Whilst searching for the Corn Buntings, I came across a Wheatear  feeding in a field near Norton-Juxta-Twycross. It's fairly late for migrant Wheatears in the county, so it was a pleasant surprise.

The bright morning sunshine had worked its magic as far as Green Hairstreaks where concerned, but the heavy rain  a few days before had finished off the skippers. 

Green Hairstreak

Dramatic Skies

A couple of nights ago I went back to the site where I found the fox cubs. Unfortunately there was no sign of the foxes, but one of the pair of Little Owls that was there last weekend put in an appearance and also a pair of Yellow Wagtails entertained.  

 The sky gradually got darker and darker until as they say 'the heavens opened'.

Changes to the South-West Leicestershire List

A copy of the updated list can be found HERE

If the list doesn't open you will need to download Google Drive

I have decided, after much deliberation, to extend the boundary of my local listing area eastwards as far as the M1. This brings Shawell nicely into the SW Leicstershire Listing area, which helps to add a couple of species to the total. The map included with the list shows how well the M1 forms the eastern boundary.

The list now stands at 198 with the addition of  Ring-billed Gull, Iceland Gull, Egyptian Goose, Nightjar and Rock Pipit.

The Nightjar was seen by a lucky Earl Shilton resident during September 2012.

Nightjar - photo taken by Isabelle Vavasour

Also three of the old Great Grey Shrike records have been submitted to LROS records committee and  accepted.

Foxes

This morning I returned to the site where I saw the family of foxes and they were still there. The vixen arrived but she was very wary. Occasionally the cubs showed, but they spent more time underground today.

Female Red Fox