Looking back.

Birding / working in the Scottish Highlands, July 2010.

This post is being written a few weeks after the photos were uploaded, giving me something to do on a very wet Wednesday afternoon. Those summer days of June seemed a distant memory over the last few days now that we're in July. The weather has turned on its head but after nearly ten weeks working here in Central Scotland I can hardly complain about a few wet days and the prospect of weekend work due to tomorrow being "rained off". The weekend's Ptarmigan quest is on hold then and with only one other weekend left before my southbound autumn migration (back to Lancs in August), the likelihood of another chance is slim. It's all gone a bit quiet in the glens and on the moors really too. Still a few Short-eared Owls around, the odd Merlin and yesterday (13 July) I watched in awe as a pair of Ring Ouzels defended their craggy home territory against a pesky pair of Kestrels. Top marks to the immature Golden Eagle over the uplands in the photo above as I watched Golden Plovers though.

Skylark at Hesketh Out Marsh, Lancashire 4 July 2010.

Talking of all this rain - let's hope they're getting loads back in Lancs. The Ribble "wetlands" (see photo of Marshside above) really need it after the driest first six months of the year since 1929. News of flocks of Golden Plovers and Dunlins on the South Ribble Marshes in the last week has me looking forward to beating the home patch next month.

But for now ....... can we have a bit more of this please?

Southern Upland Way, Scottish Borders, July 2010.