Page 5 - Out Birding Issue 109 Winter 2022

gravel bank. As it started to rain, we headed up to Glenbranter to look out for Cuck- oos. In spite of having them calling absolutely everywhere, they can be very difficult to actually see, let alone photograph; sadly we failed with the
la􏰀er. As the approaching rain caught up with us, I decided to
head over Cowal to Glendaruel where we listened to the
beau􏰁ful warble of at least six Garden Warblers alongside
Blackcaps which are easily confused. In a field in front of us, a
Grasshopper Warbler reeled out of view before popping up
onto a bramble, giving fantas􏰁c views and photographic op-
portuni􏰁es. In the meadow below, a male Whinchat was
perched atop an alder tree.
As the heavens opened again, we headed to Kames for lunch
and then drove towards the emerging brighter weather to find two Sedge Warblers at a tradi􏰁onal site at Carry. As the rain stopped for the day, we headed down the road to Ormidale Lodge to look for typical migrant Atlan􏰁c (oak) Rainforest species. We stopped to look out for a singing Redstart, but as the leaves were now well devel- oped, it just wouldn’t play ball and allow a good view. Overhead, two recently-arrived Spo􏰀ed Flycatchers were chasing each other and up the hill a distant Wood Warbler was making its presence felt with its spinning coin song and descendent flight call. Further along the loch side, four Common Sandpipers were making a lot of noise, and with pa􏰁ence John was able to get a great flight shot. On the way back to the car, we watched a Tree Pipit and a Nuthatch weaving themselves through the oak foliage in search of food, while a Treecreeper was running along the underside of a branch.
Before a celebratory farewell dinner at Sheila’s Diner at Rashfield, we headed up to view a Golden Eagle nest site. Just a􏰂er giving instruc􏰁ons to watch carefully because the eagles fly out of the nest and straight out of view behind their nes􏰁ng crag, John called that he’d seen a large bird doing just that. Although we waited for a while for all of us to see an eagle, the prospect of Sheila’s closing before we had ordered dinner, meant we packed it in for the day, and headed for food and the end of the trip. At least one of us saw a Golden Eagle!!!
Neil Hamma􏰀
Upton Warren 20/05/2022
This reserve has a unique habitat, made up of a large fresh water lake fringed with reed beds and an area of saline lagoons created by underground brine extrac􏰁on. This has culminated in a very important inland breeding area for the Avocet and a few Li􏰀le Ringed Plover, together with some na􏰁onally important inland salt marsh plants. The weather started our field trip off well, sunny 19c but was accompanied by a cool NE breeze. There was a good turnout of fellow birders, 11 in all and regulars were joined by 2 new members Helen and Lesley from Leicestershire, which was splendid.
We started from the car park at the sailing lake to make our way to the flashes area of 5
Grasshopper Warbler John Frone