Wednesday, Thursday, 17th, 18th September

I'm back! Visits from grandchildren, bad weather and a walk along the Great Glen have kept me busy since the beginning of the month. Last Monday coming through the forest into Inverness we saw two majestic Red Kites. These are huge birds!
Yesterday had grey-yellow sky, today a beautiful blue. The tide was high and on the turn, so that I was not able to see any of the waders, I expect that they are back for the winter by now. No peregrines, just a squadron of ducks in a fly-past!

Sunday 31st August, Monday 1st September

Sunday was warm, very damp and muggy, with low gray clouds. A Raven was crouched up on the edge of their nest. A very rapid fly-past of a red-brown Kestrel was the only other raptor sighting. About a dozen Jackdaws were perched in 'their tree', all in close pairs, other pairs flew and called above the river. Monday was fine, cloudy and windy. From Black Rocks I could see a Peregrine perched on the side of their nest hole, but there were no others to be seen at the Peregrine Watch. A Buzzard flew over, this looked like an old bird, at any rate it had a lot of damage to its tail feathers, which gave this impression.

Thursday 28th August

Half-low ebb tide with a good area of mud, a very cloudy gray sky and a hint of rain. August Ugh!!! However I had my first sighting of Redshank, two were on the mud below Black Rocks surrounded by a large group of Common, Herring, and Black Headed Gulls, while immediately under the cliff a Heron crouched, hunched up and well away from the water. Later, at the Peregrine Watch, a Cormorant flew down stream, and a Peregrine moved from the top of the yew onto the banana tree then disappeared into the foliage of the whitebeam to the left of the Raven's Nest.

Friday 22nd August

A truly beautiful morning, fluffy white clouds and patches of blue, only a light breeze. There are still some very wet patches from the rain. There "may" have been Peregrine over at the back of the banana tree, but the light made it difficult to be certain. High tide, or nearly so, so not many birds.

Thursday August 21st

The early blue sky gave way to clouds, but at least it has not rained yet. Two Peregrines were visible from the Watch, one in the banana tree, the other over at the top of the yews to the left. Another bird on the quarry cliff was just a piece of rock, or so I think. Wood Pigeons were flying all around these raptors, they must sense when their foes have fed.

Monday 18th August

High tide (just starting to ebb), with low grey clouds and a hint of rain in the air. This was one of the most 'birdless' mornings that I have seen for a while. Just as I was about to leave a Peregrine flew from the cliff over to the top of the quarry.

Sunday August 17th

Sunshine and showers today. A group of Herring and Lesser Black Backed Gulls were on the grass beside Circular Road, there were young and mature gulls in the group, interesting to see the different plumage for these gulls. They ARE confusing, so I forgive myself some earlier comments in this blog concerning 'mystery gulls'. At the Peregrine Watch there were a couple of eponymous fly-byes under the cliff and over the river! I retreated before the next shower arrived.