Hugh’s News – 6 July 2021

Bill Wonderley reports that he recently spent four days, with three other birders, in the Cairngorms National Park area of Scotland.

He told me “Although we failed to see Ptarmigan and Dotterel, we did see Crested Tit, Wood Warbler, Slavonian Grebe, Red-throated Diver, Tree Pipit and Hooded Crow.  In addition, I managed to photograph Osprey (Loch Insh), Black-throated Diver (Lochindorb) and Ring Ouzel (Cairngorm Mountain Visitor Centre).  The Cairngorms National Park is well worth a visit, with its mountains, lochs, forest paths and wildlife hotspots.”

I concur totally with Bill!

Last time, I suggested keeping a look out for a Rosy-coloured Starling.  Well, Paul Rowland didn’t spot one, but he did see this all white Common Starling at Moreton Shore!  I cannot make out a pink eye, so I think it is a leucistic bird lacking pigmentation in its feathers, rather than an albino.  What a striking bird!  He also took a photo of a brown, juvenile Common Starling as a comparison.

There have been many discussions recently on Twitter and elsewhere on the status of the beach at Hoylake.  If you are interested in reading more, there is an interesting article on Richard Smith’s website.  The link is:

http://www.deeestuary.co.uk/news.htm?s=09

We may well be able to judge more for ourselves at the next Field Meeting starting at Dove Point.

Hugh Stewart