Monday, January 05, 2015

The Rhinns of Galloway

Sounds like a nasty ailment I know, but this is the furthest southwest corner of Scotland where we stayed over the New Year week. The weather was mixed, but all in all we had a nice relaxing time, just walking when the sun shone, and watching DVDs when it didnt.

This is more of a photo post really. Of course there was an odd spell of birding...

The little one on the right is Seascape cottage where we stayed. A new place, very comfortable and as you can see, away from everything.

Loch Ryan at Wig Bay.
The Wig Bay was the best bit of birding during the week. The waters, when calm were full of wintering birds including - 6+ Slavonian Grebes, 3+ Great Crested Grebes, 2 Scaup, 30+ Red breasted Mergansers, 1 Tystie, 5+ Long tailed Duck, 3 Red throated Divers, 20+ Goldeneye, Eiders, Wigeon.  


Stranraer Harbour.

You dont expect to see this on 29th December! My latest ever Peacock butterfly.

A large Starling roost of several thousand birds all crashed into two barns nearby. The noise from inside sounded like an aviary!
Portpatrick Harbour



Smugglers Cove, a troll shop in Portpatrick.

A Hoodie at Wig Bay. It was with a hybrid Carrion x Hoodie nearby.


This Black headed Gull came to chips at Stranraer Harbour. I must send off the ring details, but is says Volgel something Arnhem on the metal ring so it must be dutch...[Update - Ringed as a pulli ( nestling) in Holland on 4th June 2011. It has been wintering at Stranraer every since and summering in its natal colony.]
The view from the cottage door, facing directly over towards Belfast, Northern Ireland on the horizon. 

2 comments:

oldcrow61 said...

I would go mad in that troll shop. I love the photo of the Starlings. Fabulous!

Stewart said...

Hahaha yes OC you would have loved it in the shop. It was full of oddities and ornaments...