First Bramblings in the Garden this Year

First time we have seen bramblings this year and several came along at once:

Two Bramblings on Sunflower Seed Feeder

Loch Trool Circular Walk

The Loch Trool circular was long overdue walk for me and it was well worth the wait.

Maryport Bay - Before & After Image

A nice shot of a beach house on Maryport Bay, Drummore, made into something you might put on your wall...

Image Before Processing

Image After Processing

Moth Trap

A few moths from a moth trap in the garden.

Female Ghost Moth

Peach Blossom Moth

Poplar Hawk-moth

Sallow Kitten Moth

My Image of Stranraer Used for Olympic Torch Relay on BBC

Thanks to the BBC for choosing my image of Stranraer for their page on the first leg of the Olympic torch relay in Scotland. The picture is used as a still cover for the video window in the morning Stranraer to Kilmarnock section. See the page here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/torchrelay/day21
This image is available to download from iStockPhoto: http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-13915178-marina-harbour-and-ferry.php

The picture they used

My picture on the BBC's website

Dunskey Glen Circular Through Port Kale and Port Mora

Dunskey Glen (near Portpatrick) was alive with birds and deer. Managed to clock up over 40 bird species. Highlights were roe deer (see below), tawny owl and ringed plover chicks.

A Sunny Scene at Port Kale

Roe Deer in the Woods at Dunskey Glen

The Pineapple

Beautiful NTS property The Pineapple. Lots of wildlife here including hares and spotted flycatchers. Here's some shots of the building itself:

The Pineapple

The Pineapple Entrance

Falkirk Wheel and Callander House

Another day trip from my holiday in Falkirk. This time featuring the famous Falkirk Wheel (rotating boat lift)  and Callander House.

Passenger Boat That Has Just Left the Falkirk Wheel

Arches at the Top of the Falkirk Wheel

Callander House

Bo'ness, Thomas the Tank Engine and Blackness Castle

Whilst staying in the Falkirk area I took a day out in Bo'ness and came across a special event at the Bo'ness and Kinneil Steam Railway where Thomas and Friends had arrived at the station. Got some nice shots and sound recordings of the engines. Visited Blackness Castle after for a few quick shots.

Bo'ness Harbour

Close up of Dark Green Tank Engine's Face

Diesel

Thomas the Tank Engine by Bo'ness Station

Close up on Thomas' Face

Blackness Castle

Sound of the Week: Air Raid Siren Imitation

Sound of the week this time is an imitation of an air raid / civil defence siren created using a theremin and effects.
Air Raid Siren Imitation by Creative Nature Media

Sound of the Week: Eurasian Teal Squeaking and Quacking

Recording of a large group of common or Eurasian teal calling and squeaking.
Eurasian Teal Squeaking and Quacking by Creative Nature Media

Sound of the Week: Common Crossbills

Sound recording of some common crossbills performing their classic 'jipping' call.
Common Crossbills Calling by Creative Nature Media

Auchie Glen

Another nice walk down Auchie Glen with some interesting sightings, including yellowhammers, chiffchaffs and some unusual bees.

This pretty little bee is known as a Very Early Mining Bee (Andrena (Andrena) clarkella)

Ayrshire Coast Path From Glenapp

Excellent sunny day for a walk on the Ayrshire Coast Path, travelling North from Glenapp, which is just over the border from Dumfries and Galloway. Met some nice surprises along the way:

A type of hoverfly or drone fly (Eristalis pertinax?)

Green Tiger Beetle

Common Heath Moth

Tachinid Fly (Tachina ursina)

Mountain Hare

View of Knockdolian Hill

View of Ailsa Craig

Grey Wagtail

Sound of the Week: Sandwich Terns Calling

Sandwich Terns recorded at Garlieston last year

Sandwich Terns Calling by Creative Nature Media

Day at RSPB Mersehead

Spent the whole day wandering around RSPB Mersehead and saw plenty of Barnacle Geese as well as a few Pink Footed Geese and Canadas. Also saw several Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings and a small group of Long Tailed Tits. Duck-wise there were Shelduck, Teal, Pintail, Shoveler, Wigeon and Mallard. Highlight of the day was a short glimpse of the resident female Marsh Harrier. All the birds were singing well and I got a few sound recordings that I will post soon, including my first Skylark of the year.

Female Yellowhammer at RSPB Mersehead

NTS Dollar Glen and Castle Campbell (Historic Scotland)

Driving through Clackmannanshire, I decided to stop at the National Trust for Scotland's Dollar Glen and Historic Scotland's Castle Campbell. Both are well worth a visit and I'd love to come back on a better day and also explore the other sites on Clackmannanshire's Tower Trail.

Dollar Glen

Castle Campbell

Mindork Forest Walk

Went for a walk today round Mindork Forest (or Mindork Moss) today. Not a great day for photos but plenty of wildlife to be seen - lots of frogs, crossbills, buzzards, treecreepers plus all the usual suspects. First frog spawn of the year for me too!

Try and make something of this frog mess

Bit of a tangle

Just a small section of a pool containing hundreds of frogs. 

This frog posed nicely for me on the forest track

Male Crossbill in fine breeding colours. Singing beautifully too.

A nice pond to have lunch by.

View out of the forest towards the hills.

Digger Music

Digger time lapse video I created and composed music to:

Snipe Feathers

Found these feathers in a pile, just the other side of the fence in a neighbouring field. Later identified as snipe feathers. All very small but beautifully patterned:

Sound of the Week

Recording of a small jingly bell.
Jingly Pet Bell SFX (watermarked) by Creative Nature Media