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| The first dark morph Montagu's Harrier in Scotland - my best find since moving to Lothian in 1994 |
Well it looks like May 2014 provided some of my best birding ever - and that's after about 40 years of birding to choose from! Here are some of the highlights... Pictures mainly from inland and upland Lothian and Fair Isle...
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| Rough-legged Buzzard - found while trying to re-locate the Monties! |
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| Male Quail at Aberlady Bay - another find and my first ever view of the species rather than 'heard only record' |
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| One of the highlights of the Fair Isle - awesome male 'Caspian' Siberian Stonechat |
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| Re-finding the Hermit Thrush very early on its second day |
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| Western Subalpine Warbler - another British tick for me on Fair Isle - took several days and a cat to locate it! |
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| Fast declining even on Fair Isle - the Arctic Skua |
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| Twite - even closer views in the hand for the whole group |
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| Puffins a highlight of the Northern Isles trip for most of the group |
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| A twitch for Avocets at Musselburgh was interrupted by this hunting Peregrine |
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| Black Grouse were splendidly showy this month |
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| A southern Golden Plover is presumably a local breeder |
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| A brood of Red Grouse provided entertainment in the Lammermuirs |
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| Although this Lapwing was far more cute |
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| This Stoat killed a Rabbit right in front of me |
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| Plenty of views of Redpolls - Common Redpolls in the Northern Isles and Lesser Redpolls like this one in Lothian |
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| And, finally, gulls - my best hybrid candidate at Musselburgh - although it could be a pure LBBG (watch this space?) |
