Wildlife Photography "Blackbird"

TheTamshee: was able to get up close to this juvenile Blackbird on the woodland floor canopy of dead leaves and twigs. They can often be seen or heard turning over the leaves under trees or bushes as it searches for worms, insects, millipedes or small snails. Many kinds of fruit, especially berries, are also eaten.

Wildlife Photography "Coal Tit"

TheTamshee: frames the adult Coal Tit ( Periparus Ater ) while strolling the coniferous woods at Whinfeld Forest. The coal tit is the smallest of the tit family

Wildlife Photography "Chaffinch"

TheTamshee: continues to get to grips with the Canon EOS while trying out the Marco function on the zoom lens. Capturing the wildlife at close quarters is quite a challenge but I feel the patience and perseverance has paid dividends.
The Chaffinch ( Fringilla Coelebs ) They have a typical seed-eaters bill which can deal with Beech Mast ( the fruit of the beech tree ) grain and small seeds from common weeds, but is sufficiently pointed to help them catch insects in the breeding season. Insects may be picked off leaves, taken from the ground or caught in the air.

Migrating Thrush "Fieldfare"

TheTamshee says: these "Fieldfares" have made a welcome appearance in the berry tree at Inchgarth over the festive period.

Stalked By A Mistle Thrush

TheTamshee: is keen to get up close and personnal with the birds of prey but on my recent visit to the Trossachs Holiday Park outside Aberfoyle, I was stalked by this Mistle Thrush -which followed me home to take up residence in the Swift Speedbird.

Barn Owl

TheTamshee says: The Sunday Telegraph has started a monthly photographic competition The first winning photograph was taken in a field behind Warnham Church in West Sussex. Bill Thornton, a local enthusiast, was told by dog walkers that a barn owl had been seen hunting behind the church, and on his fifth evening visit, Mr Thornton captured this wonderful moment. Click title link for other contenders.

Bird Watch @ Inchgarth

TheTamshee says: the Indy kids have been extremely creative regarding the stage two design of the bird watch station, first attempt resulted in attracting the crows and jackdaws which decimated the various nuts and seeds on offer. This was not the intention, we endeavour to attract the Robins, Coal and Blue tits. So DIY man set about constructing an outer mesh frame with access points for the smaller birds to pass freely while thwarting the efforts of the dreaded crows.

Barn Owls "Tyto alba"

Owls are fascinating birds and there are many different species with the tawny owl and the barn owl, the most common varieties in the UK. Because owls are birds of prey unless you live in the countryside or in a similar area which attracts a good population of rodents, such as in an area with a good amount of rough grassland nearby, it’s unlikely that an owl will take up roost in your garden. However, if your surrounding environment is suitable or you’re aware that owls do, indeed, frequent the area in which you live, it’s worth providing an additional nesting site in your garden if you want to attract them. If you’ve a large garden or have acres of land, it’s useful to leave some grassy areas unmown as this will attract rodents as it provides cover but is also a good hunting ground for owls. Also keep grassy edges alongside hedges and ditches unkempt and provide lookout posts for the owls to perch on. TheTamshee: is hooked, the graceful owl is a majestic creature of great beauty. The Indy kids have listened to the Twit-twa-Woo on many occasions in close proximity to Inchgarth. This lead to TheTamshee getting the 10,000,000 million candle torch, with kids in tow, out searching the surrounding big sycamores and chestnut tree to see if we could track down this solitary and nocturnal bird with the piercing eye's. The Indy kids interest in owls was first ignited when we pitch up at Cayton Bay Caravan Park close to Scarborough. After flying the kites in an adjacent field for some time, we headed back to the park while walking through an area set aside for wildlife - when we came across a large nesting box with the big eye's of two young owls jockeying for prime position at the nesting box entrance. We observed the birds for some days thereafter but left for home before the fledglings made their first flight. These great memories have inspired me to make a nesting box in an attempt to attract our very known resident owl. Time will tell.

Bird Watch @ Inchgarth

TheTamshee says: the Indy kids decided that the bird watch feeding station needed some refurbishment. So out came the ladder, a few hand tools and a light sprinkling of DIY. Hey presto the starlings, blue and coal tits with the forever present robins returned in droves to get there fill of fine seeds and nuts. No Nuthatch to date, we wait patiently.

Red Kites @ Argaty

TheTamshee says: if you enjoy watching birds of prey in the open country side then get yourself to Lerrocks Farm, Argaty, Doune. On this farm just north of Stirling, the RSPB run Central Scotland's only red kite feeding station where visitors can watch these exciting birds and their spectacular flying. The farm lies on the Braes of Doune in the area of Central Scotland where the RSPB and Scottish Natural Heritage have reintroduced the red kite. It is with their help that we are providing a facility for enjoying the birds in comfort but without the risk of disturbing what is still a fragile popluation

Peacock Display

TheTamshee says: the Safari Park at Blair Drummond is always a great day out for the Indy kids. On this occassion the Peacock courtship display caught the attention of the wee lass. This was only one of many wildlife attractions to be seen. The birds of prey are another favourite with the park rangers giving an insight into the daily life of sea eagles, harris hawks, barn owls and off course, the magestic griffon vulture

Free Range Pheasants

The Pheasant is a large, long-tailed game bird. Males have rich chestnut, golden-brown and black markings on body and tail, with a dark green head and red face wattling. Females are mottled with paler brown and black. They were introduced to the UK long ago and more recent introductions have brought in a variety of races and breeds for sport shooting. They can be see across most of the UK, apart from the far north and west of Scotland. Least common in upland and urban areas. Usually seen in the open countryside near woodland edges, copses and hedgerows as seen here on TheTamshee's amateur video footage.

Black Grouse "Arran"

Conservations have released nine Black Grouse into the wild in an attempt to re-establish the birds on the Isle of Arran. A total of 14 pairs were brought to the island in February. The female birds will be released after the males have had time to establish territories. The last sighting of a black grouse on the Scottish island was in 2000. The birds have been electronically tagged so that their movements can be tracked during the breeding season. Kate Sampson, a senior ranger for the National Trust for Scotland, said "We want the birds to get the best possible start in their new life on Arran, so we are taking all the steps we can to keep their stress levels to a minimum, it is important that they can be freed with as little fuss as possible" TheTamshee: approves of this worthy initiative - orchestrated by Arran Black Grouse Group, Arran Natural History Heritage and the National Trust for Scotland. Raise your glass "through the teeth an ur the gums, look out belly here she comes" nectar to those who like a dram!

The Grey Heron

The largest European heron. It can stand with neck stretched out, looking for food, or hunch down with its neck bent over its chest. In flight it holds its neck retracted and has large rounded wings. It is usually solitary although several birds may feed fairly close together. It stalks its food, often standing motionless for some considerable time. "As seen in TheTamshee's previous video-shot while walking the Borders Abbeys Way, Selkirk to Melrose" It usually feeds close to the bank or shore, but may wade out into shallow water. They can be see around: wetland marshes, gravel pits, reservoirs, lakes and rivers and estuaries. Usually seen standing silently at the water's edge, waiting for prey. In flight they are relatively slow but graceful.

Hiking In The Borders

Yesterday was good for hill walking-TheTamshee and the good lady tackled the Selkirk to Melrose stretch of the Border Abbeys Way. Dropped the Indy Kids at school, then headed for Shawmount, taking a left at the stables opposite the Lindean Mast-just a few hundred yards before Halfcrown Corner "so called after the half crown payment that was made by Sunderland Hall estates as a reward to the men who originally planted the woodland here in the mid 1800's The track is part of the ancient drove roads-keeping the dyke on your right over Whitelaw Kips and onto Foldonside Moor continue until you reach Cauldshiels Loch. The views over this stretch are wide open to the Eildons Hills beyond. The trail continues onwards to Abbotsford House "originally Cartleyhole" but renamed and lived in by Sir Walter Scott between 1812-1832. Follow the path by the River Tweed until you reach the Redbridge Viaduct. This stone bridge was built in the late 1840's to carry the Edinburgh to Hawick railway which opened in 1849 The line was later extended to Carlisle but services on this route ceased in 1969. Pass under the viaduct and continue along the river track passed the front of Lowood House. We stopped on the river bank here for lunch while observing a Grey Heron scanning the river for some tasty morsels.

The route passes the Lowood Bridge, Waverley Castle Hotel through the lade to Abbey Mill and onto the Chain Bridge and finally ending at Melrose Abbey. Duration 3.5hours with various stops en-route. Enjoy

Winter Bird Watch

Indy kids winter bird watch from the deck with spectacular views to the hills beyond