TAYSIDE
TOADSTOOLS & BIRDS
My voice / Becomes the wind / Mushroom-hunting . . . . . . . . . 19th century haiku by Japanese poet MASAOKA SHIKI [1867-1902]
MUTE SWAN [Cygnus olor]
Young cygnets with parents [male in foreground]. May 22, 2024. Taken Balgavies Loch.
WHOOPER SWAN [Cygnus cygnus]
Yellow-billed adult with young on November 21, 2021
BLACK SWAN [Cygnus atratus]
Native of Australia introduced into England around 1940. Rare in wild and info said only four seen in Scotland, if correct. Left : June 8, 2025. Right : Balgavies Loch, September 4, 2025.
LONG-TAILED DUCK
[Clangula hyemalis]
Female, October 29, 2025
LAPWING / PEEWIT [Vanellus vanellus]
Above is part of a 50+ flock on November 8, 2021
GREAT EGRET [Ardea alba]
September 28, 2021
LITTLE EGRET [Egretta garzetta]
February 3, 2022
LAPWING / PEEWIT [Vanellus vanellus]
June 24, 2024
RUDDY SHELDUCK
[Tadorna ferruginea]
August 11, 2024. A rare find.
CANADA GOOSE [Branta canadensis]
Left was part of a large flock on September 29, 2021. Right shows one with patchy white head caused either by leucism [loss of pigmentation] or breeding with a domestic goose. As it's in the wild I sway towards leucism. April 19, 2026. It was part of a trio, though species should have migrated in March