Tag Archives: Dunnock

Going Through Changes …

Christmas and the eve of New Years Eve has given me some time for reflection, the changes life has brought in 2018 and the changes which lie ahead for 2019.
And Christmas is a quiet affair this time, just doesn’t feel like Christmas to be honest. The absence of my dear Father is probably greater than ever.
Boxing Day Morning, took a phone call from one of our closest friends, who sadly broke the news to me of another old friend who passed away on Christmas Eve, he was just 46 years old, could have knocked me over with a feather and my thoughts are with his family.
2018, I will not be sorry to see you go, though yet I hang onto you, for you are the last time I spoke to Dad.

And there have been other big changes too!
When I hit half a century in August, it was also the start of another new era…
I now have a new camera (Hope you are sitting down), am now shooting with an Olympus! (For those interested – OM-D E-M1 Mark II)

No, I did not think that I would be saying that either, but there you go.
To cut a long story short, I haven’t totally said goodbye to Nikon, have still got one body & lenses, but the D5 & the D800 have gone to new homes.
I was in two minds about all this, but am absolutely loving using The Olympus (McOly), once I got my head around the menu system (Still doing that ha ha), it is a breath of fresh air and a joy to use and you may not realise, but you’ve been looking at Olympus images for the last couple of months now.
I scoffed when my Camera Dealer was prepared to bet me that I would leave Nikon within 6 months, he wasn’t far wrong and am looking forward to shooting more with it.
I will then see what happens when Olympus upgrade & Nikon release the Z8!

Nature has changed this year at Tulloch too, Curlews were drastically down in numbers this time and there are less Deer this season, as yet not the usual amount of visitors round Tulloch Garden, hopefully we will see some once proper winter arrives, just so mild the now.
We are usually so lucky to have thousands of Geese flying over, now they’ve been flying south of Kindrogan summit, with only the odd skein passing over us.
Fieldfares arrived early, then them too absent again.
One solitary Brambling feeding here for 10 days now and one Siskin, who, is a few weeks early.
Pleased to report that some healthy looking Greenfinch have reappeared, though some Chaffinch now seem to be carrying a similar illness to Trichomonosis and here is some  Info from BTO
Christmas Day afternoon, about dusk, feeding & bedding up the Tulloch Menagerie , when a Woodcock flew low over the house & paddock, fantastic!

I will leave it here for now, with a song choice to match and I wish for better changes for us all in 2019, walk your life & make it count.
I’ll be seeing you next year – Karen – x

Kelly & Ozzy Osbourne – Changes

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The Dunnock & The Holly

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Sunrise

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Floods

 

New Beginnings with The Nature Diaries…

So, we have moved to Tulloch, near Enochdhu and I can now finally make a proper start with The Nature Diaries.
We are now amongst an abundance of Nature and it is beautiful.

We moved here on the 20th May 2016. I will be sharing life at Tulloch and its goings ons with you after today, sadly not had much chance for Photography yet, as there has been so much to do, but can’t wait to start.
And there is still much to do, but I will enjoy doing it and one of those things, will be the Tulloch Meadow.

One of the main things we have been doing outside, is setting up various Bird Feeding Stations and since we moved, I have been keeping an eye out for feathered visitors to Tulloch Garden, here is what we have had so far (In order of sighting) …

Siskin – We have an abundance of these wee fellows.
Cuckoo – Can you believe, the second bird spotted in the garden was a Cuckoo!!
I was busy unpacking at the time when I saw it and I made a speedy dash for the
McNikon, but foolishly in my excitement, I went straight into the Sunroom, of
course it saw me and flew off! Was absolutely kicking myself! If I had headed for
the Kitchen, chances are I would have been sharing with you an image. DUH!!
Great Spotted Woodpecker – We have a wee family here.
Swallow – I do not know how many nests there are! And when you walk into an
outbuilding, you watch your head AND where you walk (Lots of mess)!
Oystercatcher – No, not actually landed in the garden, but many flying over.
Blackbird
Great tit – A fair few fledglings about.
Chaffinch – Like the Siskins, an abundance of them.
Coal tit
Jackdaw – As soon as I step indoors, they appear!
Wood Pigeon
Goldfinch
Blue tit
Pied Wagtail
Heron – Yep, A Heron came and landed in a tree at our gate!
Raven – Not landing, but flying over, wonderful to hear them from the forest.
Mallard – We had a pair regularly popping into feed, but no sign of them now for over
2wks. Barclay doesn’t help!
Greenfinch
Dunnock
Sparrowhawk – As bold as brass!
Robin – Have only seen two.
Mistle Thrush
Rock Dove 
Stock Dove 
Tree Sparrow
House Sparrow
Pheasant Cock and Hen both feeding, but like the Mallard, have gone awol.
House Martin – Overjoyed to see these nesting, but have suddenly disappeared.
Buzzard – Came and landed in one of the trees.
Greylag Geese – Flying Over
Bullfinch
Starling
Redpoll
Canada Geese – Flying over
Song Thrush
Owl – Am sure its a Tawny, but more on him next post.

And … Obviously not a garden visitor, or even in Tulloch airspace, but have seen flying near the Golden Eagle and he just HAD to be added to the list!

And … the other thing I have been busy with, is a new website!
With, a new addition, K-Pedia, here is where you will find my work in progress of  The Nature List check it out.

So, there you go, Tulloch Bird List to date (Not including meadow) am very much looking forward, to see who will come calling next
Karen x

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The most common visitor to Tulloch, is the Siskin