Our birders tour to Scotland has just completed. Most of the usuals were sighted with a few additions. We even managed to call in at Musselburgh and see three species of Scoter; Common, Velvet and American White Winged. The bird of the trip for me had to be Crested Tit. They never fail to endear themselves to me. Never easy to find in April as they disappear from their previous winter haunts and females start to sit on eggs. If you fancy coming along on next years tour here are the details.
As I swung the vehicle into a gateway and orientated us so everyone had a view out over the ridge in front of us one of my guests pointed something out.
We were in Scotland last Saturday on the ‘Birders Scottish Long Weekend’. A Rough legged Buzzard had been seen earlier quartering the moor distantly over the valley. Although cold it was bright and if anything moved over the ridge we would certainly be aware.
However, it was not in the distance that my guest was looking. He was gazing no further than a couple of metres from where we had parked. Sat quietly dozing among the heather was a female Red Grouse magically camouflaged to her surroundings.
Letter From Norfolk 