Time to take a drive North and visit mum. My sister was up for a few days recently, we have a weekend break coming up and my brother is planning on visiting her next weekend so, we thought we’d squeeze a visit in now. The main road north is a beautiful drive but, for those in a hurry, it was always a night-mare, single carriageway all the way until recent years when the government decided it needed to be dualled. Dual carriageway all the way! 70 mph limit, all the way. Bear in mind, I said it’s a beautiful drive. At 70+ much of that will be lost but, for those commuting, it will be easier.
At the moment it’s a bit of both, they’re working on it, like all government plans, they take way too long, invariably run way over budget and rarely end as planned.
Why mention this at all? Well, they’ve started work on another little bit of dual carriageway, in Summer, in Scotland …… it can be chaotic. We went anyway and it was fine, a little slower in places but worked out the same. Much of the single carriageway is “average speed” monitored, which I now love, makes for a much more pleasant drive, in my opinion, no racing to overtake on every straight. Not all would agree of course.
Anyway, we set off on Friday 6th, pretty decent day for a drive and arrived in good time for a quick wander along the shore. My mum walks a lot but, because she’s now on her own, doesn’t get the chance to vary the walk so much any more.
There’s an area alongside the fort where an old pond or mooring bay is now separated from the sea by piled up stones and the Common Gulls, Oystercatchers and others nest here at this time of year so we passed by quickly and at a reasonable distance but I grabbed a few shots.
I did spot the one chick down by the water edge with a Herring Gull nearby which was being harassed by the Common Gulls which were nesting all around. I’m not sure if it is a Herring Gull chick or a Common Gull chick being approached by the adult Herring Gull, anyone?
Either way, there were quite a few Common Gulls on nests and a couple of Oystercatchers. Good to see because they’re always there at this time of year.
We walked for an hour and a half, right round the shoreline and back to the car park, just over 2 miles, a nice easy stroll for us all. Walking by the sea is energising. 🙂
The next morning I was up, made the breakfast, dressed and out for my morning wander, car parked and strolling before 08:30, a chilly wind blowing in off the firth, the weather recently has been highly changeable, never know what to wear for comfort, this was chilling my fingers, not great when holding a camera but, I put my hands in my pockets 🙂
I took “the ranges” route this time, the tide was pretty high and I wasn’t sure which way it was going so, inland to the shore and see how it is then.
The ranges is an area of MoD land used by the military as a training ground and, when there are no red flags, is a great area for wildlife.
Cutting across the grass at the front of the fort, there wasn’t a lot round, I’ve only just set off so no biggie. I checked the sea wall, you never know what might be on the shore below …… not a thing 🙂 So, through the back gate into the ranges, surrounded by Gorse, the scent was almost overpowering and it was hot in there, no breeze at all.
There are certain times of the year, now, that this area can be awash with wee birdies, especially warblers and I’m always hopeful of seeing & photographing something a bit special. That said, I definitely wouldn’t know if I did!
Warblers??? Somewhat similar to one another!
Linnet are another wee bird that can be found here in good numbers.
There’s a lane through Gorse and I’ve been surrounded by Willow Warblers in there …..
This one was quite agitated so I was either too close to a nest or interfering with some mating!
There are also lots of Meadow Pipits in this area.
Hungry mouths waiting to be fed I guess so I didn’t hang around for long.
I spotted a young Dunnock on one of the bushes, they obviously nest earlier.
I was, once again, surrounded by warblers!
It flitted away so I moved on but …
Right beside the path and me!
A Whitethroat popped up as I walked the same lane.
There are times when I think my head is on a remote gimbal, up, down, left right, near and far!
A July Belle iNaturalist tells me.
A glance behind me gives a view back to the fort, between the Gorse.
I also spotted this unusual pair…
A Chaffinch female perching near a male Linnet.
Oooops! Look down!
There are a few Orchids scattered around, another confusing group!
But, I was really pleased to hear, spot and photograph a pair of Greenfinches, they’re getting more scarce in some areas.
I then had a close encounter with a Whitethroat, not a bird I’m used to getting close to so I grabbed as many shots as I could.
As I walked on, I surprised to see a Wren pop up onto a branch near the path ………….. and stay there!!!! Long enough for a few shots anyway 😉
A great walk so far and as I was walking back across the grass, I spotted a young Pied Wagtail on the seaward wall.
Almost back at the car park, I’d grabbed some more Meadow Pipit shots but against that blah white sky so not used but ……
Yet another Wren popped up onto the Gorse and stayed for a wee look at me!
I don’t get a chance like that with Wrens very often so, sorry, I got a few 🙂
So, nothing exotic, nothing unusual but, a wonderful walk with lots to see, photograph and hear before heading back to mums house, see what we’re doing next.
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