What have you seen

Visited Arne earlier this week unfortunately in awful weather – strong winds with occasional very heavy showers.  An Osprey had been seen earlier in the day but not by us.  Saw approx. 12/14 Spoonbill [most we’ve seen together], ducks, waders some of which were Godwits.  We saw a single male Wheatear whilst walking back over the Heath & the usual tits/finches around the car park area.   Hope for better weather when next we visit.

Whilst up in Scotland my spot list is...

A pod of dolphins on the Black Isle. A ptarmigan near Tomintoul.   A red squirrel at Newtonmore.

A headless red deer on the Drumochter Pass. 

Lots of sea birds, seals etc on the Moray Firth.

Not a big count but varied. 

We should have been with you there, but called time on our second week at Haycraft due to the weather.

If you are still there this week, the hide run by the NT gave us a good view of the spoonbills and the Osprey fishing.

We paid a visit to Steart Marshes this week and saw an Osprey passing through but not much else.

Seems reasonable Brue, so good luck.  Apart from a distant Golden  Eagle we didn't see any of our of our targets whilst in Scotland.  

If ever our way Blue try to get to Stiffkey there are often up to 30+ spoonbills there.

OP

We have been over your way for 5 weeks this year so far and sadly not come across stiffkey or the other places on their website.

Can't beat local knowledge

Maybe next time

We're back home today from our Holland trip.

Amazed at the number of white storks on the field opposite our campsite at Delft. A very wet field (very wet everywhere), but really near the motorway and Ikea.

Next trip North Norfolk 27th September, staying at Fakenham racecourse and Sandringham. Should be good!

Pliers, we are going to Barleywood on 27 September but just for the weekend, will return home Tuesday 3 Oct.  never know our paths may cross.

My favourite CL, my profile photo was taken there. Only managed to get a booking there the once, but the racecourse site can be good for birds, especially if you get one of the quiet pitches "on the rails"

Bluemalaga - Not at Arne but would be interested to know where the NT hide is you mention for any future visit to that area.  We walked from RSPB car park over Coombe Heath to 2 view-points & hide [looks south over Middlebere lake –an inlet on OS map] as this was, we were told, the area we may spot the Osprey.  No luck.

The hide is the other side of the lake from where you were looking from.

You need to drive out of Arne and take a turning on the left about half a mile out then park on the road where the sign for Middlebere Farm, then take a long stroll along the lane to the farm. Walk to the right of the farm and the hide is then behind the farm. There is also a perch that could show a Kingfisher during nesting season.

We just missed the Osprey catching a fish, but arrived in time to see seagulls mobbing it to take the fish. Later it flew around for a bit.

There were about 20 spoonbills quite close.