HAVING A WHALE OF A TIME-CAITHNESS-SCOTLAND

While on holiday in Caithness in the Highlands of Scotland, I joined a WhatsApp group for cetacean sightings through Facebook. Just a few miles from John o' Groats, I had an incredible day watching four Humpback whales from Duncansby Head.

As you can see from the above photographs, the views were mind-blowing while watching these animals move through the water.

During my holiday, as always, I also had the pleasure of seeing a few birds on my travels. Below are some of the birds I encountered:

Adult Kumlien's Gull

Common Eider

Great Northern Diver

Black Guillimot

A cracking week away and one I'll never forget!

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS & UK(MEGAS)

27th March 2025

National Megas News

Booted Eagle-Sancreed-Cornwall

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Smew-Drake on Birchwood Pool-Woolston Eyes

Ruddy Shelduck-Still on River Mersey off Spike Island

4 Water Pipit-In field south of Lordship Lane-Frodsham Marshes

33 Black Necked Grebes-N04 bed and Willow Warbler-Woolston Eyes(Permit Only)

2 Spotted Redshank-Border Hide-Burton RSPB

12 Little Gull and 25 Purple Sandpiper - Hilbre.

810 Black-tailed Godwit, 16 Knot and a Bar-tailed Godwit - Caldy Wildfowl Collection.

26th March 2025

National Megas News

Booted Eagle-Bartinney Downs-Cornwall

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Velvet Scoter-Drake,8 Little Gull flying east and 4 Sandwich Tern - Hilbre.

White Wagtail (Kerr's field) and 2 Swallow over - Leasowe Lighthouse.

5 Long-tailed Duck, 2 Sandwich Tern, Little Gull, Red-throated Diver and 2 Guillemot off East Hoyle at low tide, 6 White Wagtail seen from the Lifeboat Station - Hoylake.

Short-eared Owl - Red Rocks Marsh/Sand Dunes.

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Forster's Tern-Arne RSPB-Dorset

(C) M Wright

Booted Eagle-St Buryan-Cornwall

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Common Scoter-Drake on River Mersey below Forrest Way bridge-Graet Sankey

31 Black Necked Grebes-N04 bed and Osprey-Over-Woolston Eyes(Permit Only)

Eurasian Bittern- One flew north-east early morning- Moulton

Russian White Fronted Goose-Two still in field west of Manor Road-Thornton Hough

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS & UK(MEGAS)

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Forster's Tern-Arne RSPB-Dorset

(C) M Wright

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Little Ringed Plover - Burton Mere Wetlands.

14 Chiffchaff singing along Wirral Way this morning - Heswall/Thurstaston.

5 Long-tailed Duck off East Hoyle Bank - Hoylake.

Water Pipit-one still in flooded field north of No 4 Tank-Frodsham Marshes

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Forster's Tern-Arne RSPB-Dorset

(C) M Wright

American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

(C) T. Hines

Booted Eagle-Northwick Wark-Avon

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Ring Ouzel-three (two males)-Dane Bower Quarry

Water Pipit-at least five in fields at Rake Lane-Little Stanney

Western Osprey-One flew over Marbury Big Mere

2 Little Gull-Acre Nook Sand Quarry

Osprey heading N at 0950hrs over Heswall fields and the Dungeon wood.

14 Sand Martin over reedbed - Gronant.

Garganey (male) - Burton Mere Wetlands.

Sandwich Tern, Little Gull and 5 Long-tailed Duck off East Hoyle Bank -Hoylake.

Willow Warbler singing - Ness.

Little Ringed Plover on Kerr's Field - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Water Pipit (moulting into s/pl). 4 Avocet and 3 Ruff - Denhall Quay.

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American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Booted Eagle-Pale morph circled high over Pilning Wetland for five minutes then flew south-east-Northwick Wark-Avon

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

5 Little Gull-Acre Nook Sand Quarry

Hawfinch and 1st Winter Little Gull-Budworth Mere-Marbury Country Park-Northwich

Little Gull

(C)Dave Bedford

28 Black Necked Grebes-NO3 and N04 bed and Osprey-Over-Woolston Eyes(Permit Only)

Willow Warbler *first of spring* - Thornton Hough.

Little Ringed Plover on Kerr's Field still, 7+ Wheatear in coastal paddocks and a Swallow over - Leasowe Lighthouse.

Little Ringed Plover

(C)Allan Conlin

18 Little Gull and 35 Gannet - Hilbre.

 

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American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

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Spotted Redshank-Burton RSPB

3 Black Necked Grebes-Number 3 bed-Woolston Eyes(Permit Only)

Black Redstart-Hilbre Island

Black Redstart

(C) S.Williams

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS & UK(MEGAS)

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2 Russian White Fronted Goose-Burton Marsh

Ruddy Shelduck-Two on Hale Marsh from Within Way-Hale

25 Black Necked Grebes-Woolston Eyes(Permit Only)

Puffin- One off Hilbre, looking towards East Hoyle Bank, then flew west, and Drake Long Tailed duck- Still off East Hoyle Bank - Hoylake.

BIRDING IN SCOTLAND DAY 2

This morning, I woke up at 5:00 AM and drove to the Cairngorm mountain car park. During my last visit in January, I missed seeing a Ptarmigan, and I was eager to spot one this time since I hadn't seen one in years.

Although there was still snow on the ground, I took my time walking up to Coire an t-Sneachda. Before long, I spotted my first Ptarmigan.

What a beautiful sight! It was definitely worth the walk.

Other birds of note were four Snow buntings and two Red grouse on the descent back to the carpark.

Snow Bunting

Driving back to Aviemore I stopped at Loch Morlich where I saw a Crested tit at a feeding station.

Loch Morlich, with the Cairngorms in the background.

Leaving the Cairngorms I drove further north and stopped at Alturlie Point on the Moray Firth near Inverness. 64 Scaup were present and showed really well along with 11 Slavonian grebes, 1 Kittiwake, 4 Red-throated divers, and 11 Long-tailed ducks, my first Swallow of the year also whizzed past me.

Greater Scaup

Kittiwake

Moray Firth

Another good day's birding, now a two-hour drive north to Thurso.

CHESHIRE AND WIRRAL BIRD NEWS & UK(MEGAS)

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American Coot-Loch Of Spiggie-Shetland

Cheshire and Wirral Bird News

Black Scoter and Drake Long Tailed duck-Still off East Hoyle Bank - Hoylake.

Russian White Fronted Goose-Two still in flooded field south of Westwood Hall Nursing Home off Brimstage Road-Brimstage

26 Black Necked Grebes-Woolston Eyes(Permit Only)

Eurasian Spoonbill-Adult-Hale