Waxwings invade Arran

A large number of Waxwings have invaded the Isle of Arran in search of food.  These large flocks sometimes arrive after a good breeding season followed by a poor crop of berries in their native Scandinavia. 

Amazingly they appear to swallow the berries whole!
Normally their diet consists mainly of mosquitoes caught on the wing.  Apparently the marking on the face have some relevance to this but I have no idea what.

Although very distinctive the large flocks on the move can easily be confused with starlings as they are about the same size.  However, once seen sat in the trees or feeding the differences are obvious.

The birds won't stay all winter but will move on, once our trees are emptied, most likely further south where they will spend the winter in the north of England. Amazing how my mind jumps, and thinking of the North of England and a place called Liverpool I was reminded of Cilla Black (and the red quiff she used to don), so I did have a laugh when I found out the Waxwing species is Bombycilla Garrulus!

These birds are not shy and it is easy to get fairly close with a bit of care and make great photographic subjects.

On my trip out to photo these birds I met up with the local bird ringer and was able to get some close ups of the feathers - this one being a mature male.

For some reason they seemed to like to hold on to their own toes when being handled, and were not always eager to fly away.  One literally lay in my hand until I pushed it off - I'm not sure if it was just playing dead - while sucking its toe - most peculiar. 

Wet and windy on Arran

Well it was a bit wild out there this afternoon but there's nothing better than a craggy seashore on a stormy day for capturing the feel of the day.  The rocks were treacherously slippery and the sea spray viciously stung my eyes - maybe that was a clue I was a little too close to the breaking waves!

The challenge was to keep the camera dry (ish) and anyone who's done a course with me either on a wet day to capture water knows my secret for that one!

I very quickly gave up keeping myself dry when a wave crashed down my back and totally dunked the dog! Thank goodness for waterproofs.

The camera didn't stay out for long as the rain lashed down and the dog whimpered at my side - not to mention coffee and cake calling...

The pros and cons of window feeders.

I have no idea why its frowned on to photograph birds on feeders - oh I know it can look nicer if a bird is on a tree / bush / rock etc., but that often requires time to set up a hide or feeding station, telephoto lenses and usually quite a bit of patience. The enjoyment I get from watching the birds in my garden has little to do with photography and more to do with the entertaining antics that go on around the feeders - of which there are many scattered around.

 

Earlier in the year I bought a window feeder - a bit expensive for a couple of pieces of plastic and 2 suction cups, but I hadn't fathomed a way of making a DIY one! I duly placed it on the window right next to my kitchen table not really expecting it to get much use.  I put a small amount of wild bird seed in the tray and went out.  Three hours later the tray was nearly empty!  Since that first day I have had a steady stream - actually I think it's been more of a stampede - visiting my window. I even get a wood pigeon, balancing on the windowsill and craning its neck round to peck at the seeds - frequently falling off the sill in a flurry of feathers.

The blue tits spend a little longer on the tray often cracking the seeds and trying to stuff as many as possible in their mouths.


It's amazing to be so close, without binoculars, to be able to watch them skilfully hold the seeds and manipulate them around.

 The blue tits seem to push off the coal tits, but are willing to share with the chaffinches.  The coal tits are very fast, flitting in and out of the tray, usually taking the largest peanut they can find. Apparently they hide them away for when food supplies are less abundant! There are frequent skirmishes between the coal tits with aggressive posturing to each other.

I was initially concerned that the birds may fly into my window and hurt themselves, but this doesn't seem to happen, although I do have a vase of flowers on the inside windowsill. However a number of birds spend time under the feeder trying to peck at the seeds above them!

So what's the down side of a window feeder?

1. It can be very distracting to the point of making you late for work.  
2. More feeders = more food to buy. 
3. They are messy eaters so the path underneath the window now needs weeding.
4. They are quite expensive.

And the up side?

1. The birds are really close and easy to watch.
2. The feeder is easy to fit.
3. The tray is easy to clean.
4. It's great fun to watch.

 

Lamlash lights up the sky

Last year was the first time I experienced bonfire night in Lamlash and I have to say I was delighted to find an event way beyond my expectations.  This year the day started well, dry but cold and I set about tidying my outbuilding. 

This took a little longer than anticipated - how do these places get in such a mess, but I managed to extract a reasonably sized pile of wood to contribute to the bonfire.  This was delivered, and with lots of helpers on the beach, very quickly transported down to the already large bonfire pyre.  

The late afternoon saw a little drizzle but fortunately that cleared and clear bright skies brought temperatures falling, everything was set for a great evening. The crowds gathered and the bonfire was lit at 7pm followed by a fantastic display of fireworks. 

What I love about it all – apart from it’s free - is the fact our local fire fighters are the ones who manage the bonfire and light all the fireworks – everything is as safe as it can be.  I have no idea what would happen if they got a ‘shout’ during the event, but a least they’re already kitted up and ready to go. 

Soup and hotdogs were available on the green and for those wanting something stronger the Lamlash bay hotel bar seemed to be doing a roaring trade.  

Bird in a storm

Yesterday I sat watching my bird feeder (I should have been doing something else but apathy had set in), time disappeared as I watched what appeared to be an organised queuing system along my fence. Most of the birds are common across the UK but are still beautiful to look at.  Ironically in the background the news relayed the frightening (well I would be scared) weather storms hitting America and it made me think.... how lucky I am?,  No I wondered how soon it would be before we get the tail end of the storm as we often do!  And also where do the birds, especially seabirds, go during this weather?  Are they on the wing being buffeted around or do they find a bolt hole somewhere?  

The afternoon brought sunny skies and no wind, Lamlash bay was full of resting seabirds, oyster catchers, turnstones, curlews and a variety of gulls, all huddled in together. Peace reigns for the moment :0)

Light and colour

The light and colour is truly fabulous around the Island.  The mountains have turned orange and some of the conifers have turned golden.  The sunlight glints through the leaves creating motes of fairy dust (makes a change from fairy rain!). The grounds of Brodick Castle provide some stunning walks at this time of year.

Red squirrels on Arran

After listening to a talk at the Arran Natural History Society meeting about red squirrels I decided I should do a bit more to encourage this cute little rodent.  Arran is so lucky to only have the red variety, and by all accounts a growing population.  Unfortunately the greys carry a particularly nasty disease, one that does not make them ill but it kills the reds. Once reds and greys are in the same area it is only a matter of time before the reds become ill and start to decrease in number. Not only do the greys carry this pox, they are bigger and compete directly for available food.  Greys are spreading across the mainland rapidly, leaving only small pockets of land where reds can be found.  So Arran is an ideal environment, isolated from the greys and with  a plentiful food source within the forestry.  At this time of year they seem to be particularly active, scurrying around foraging which also leads to an increase in road kill.  In the talk it was interesting to note that in some areas, a healthy population is assumed where there is plenty of road kill!!

I decided that a feeder was the best way to help as this would ensure a food supply throughout the winter, so I started to look for one of these.  After being shocked by the price (not forgetting Arran postage!) one of ANHS members made me a couple.  I have seen squirrels in my garden on many occasions as they use the fence as a mini motorway, so that seemed an ideal place to locate my new feeder. The perspex front lets me see how much food is left in the box, the lid lifts, and there is a mini platform for the squirrel to sit on.  Initially I put a block inside the box to take up some room so that less nuts were needed to fill the space.  This ensured they didn't deteriorate before they were eaten.  I was advised to use a drawing pin in the lid to help the squirrels find the lid, but after watching them run pass the feeder for several days I propped the lid partially open.  I think the birds feeding from it then attracted the squirrel.  I now get two sources of amusement - the squirrel feeding and the birds tapping at the perspex.

I now just need to teach the squirrel to close the lid when its finished or the birds will eat me out of house and home!