Bridge of Grudie, Loch Maree

Photo: Azure hawker.

Bridge of Grudie is an iconic dragonfly site on the edge of Loch Maree near Gairloch in the north west highlands. In particular it's a special place for the Holy Grail of dragonflies, the azure hawker, and there are spectacular views across the loch to Slioch which rises to a height of 981m, 3218ft. Occasionally golden eagles fly over and you can be serenaded by the calls of breeding black-throated divers. There are few places like Bridge of Grudie.

Today we did well and managed to find at least two spectacular male azure hawkers and an ovipositing female, plus common hawkers and four-spot chasers. In the past I've also seen northern emerald here, but these were my first azures.

Stejneger's scoter, Musselburgh

On our way north today we took the opportunity to call in at Musselburgh near Edinburgh to see the returning Stejneger's scoter that I saw last year at Lower Largo in Fife, on the opposite side of the Firth or Forth. It has occasionally been showing quite well this year and I had hoped for good views, but though the views were better than previously, they were still only moderate at best. In the photo above it's the second bird from the left and is identifiable by it's larger head in comparison to the velvet scoter, larger white tick behind the eye and bulbous bill.

Also today around 30 velvet scoters, two little gulls, two arctic skuas and around 500 eider.

Northern damselfly, Pitlochry

Northern damselfly has one of the most restricted ranges of all odonata so since we were passing Pitlochry we decided to call in for a look at a pool close to the A9 which we knew had the species.

Juvenile black-necked grebe, Pennington Flash

Typically at this time of year at least one juvenile black-necked grebe turns up off the car park at the flash, usually loosly associating with coots and I've been keeping my eyes open for them for days. Finally today I found this bird exactly where I expected it. 

This is the first black-necked grebe that I have seen at the flash this year, and I was a bit worried that I might not see any because I believe that they've had a bad year at Woolston.

Also today, drake common scoter diving for mussels, four common sandpipers and four common terns.

The Hornsea Mere little gulls

Hornsea Mere in East Yorkshire is renowned for it's large congregations of little gulls which can often number over 500 birds. I was working in the area today so decided to call in for a look

There were "just" 175+ birds today but still a very impressive sight, and most of them seemed to be in a bay at the eastern end of the mere. Also today a drake scaup.

Sandwich tern, Pennington Flash

An easterly wind with overnight rain turning heavy this morning produced the goods today with my first Sandwich tern of the year at the flash. It was fishing with eight common terns off the boat club and provided excellent views. A fabulous bird.

Other highlights today included a drake common scoter, two common sandpipers, little ringed plover and little egret.

Another day of passage at the flash

Another family party of common terns was at the flash this morning, this time settled on the foreshore of the sailing club. Once again they didn't seem to want to stick around and I didn't see them later in the morning.

This gorgeous black-tailed godwit in full breeding plumage was on the grass at the back of the sailing club. I do usually get several sightings of the species over the course of the year but they're not usually as nice as this.

Also this morning singles of drake common scoter, common sandpiper and redshank.

Lime, Mossley Hall farm

This magnificent lime tree is in full flower near Mossley Hall farm and is the only specimen I know of at the flash.

Ringlet, Pennington Flash

I think it's been a very poor year for butterflies so far, but finally today some good news when I found this ringlet on the ruck. This is my first ever at the flash, but it wasn't completely unexpected, the species has spread north in recent years and is now quite common in the right habitat as close as St Helens. 

Common tern movement at the flash

There was a largish movement of common terns at the flash this morning. First off I was walking along the canal when I heard the calls of terns and watched as an adult and two juveniles flew right over my head and away over the ruck, before dropping down towards the spit but then thought better of it and climbed again and continued south.

Then 30 minutes later, in scenes reminiscent of that incredible day of little gull passage at the flash last April, 18 common terns dropped out of the sky, flew around the spit for two minutes and then climbed high and headed south. A really exciting experience. As far as I could tell they were all common terns but it can be quite difficult to be sure with a group of such active birds. 

One thing I can say for sure, they were all adults, which is a bit odd. Common terns do build up at this time of year at the flash but they're usually family parties. What this means is uncertain, but I guess that chances are they are all non-breeders.

Common scoter migration, Pennington Flash

This morning there was an impressive flock of 21 drake common scoters on the Flash. This was my second largest flock of the species here following 36 females and 1st winter birds in November 2022.  Flocks of drakes are typical at inland sites at this time of year as the males leave the females on the breeding sites with the young and head to the sea to moult. They were finally flushed by a boat mid-morning and left west. Also today, eight common terns.