The trip this year was run on similar lines to that of last year but in contrast, we went mid April instead of early June which made an interesting change – some different species and no midges. Surprisingly, the weather was excellent throughout and although at times it was very cold early morning, we frequently had ‘wall to wall’ sunshine, and with only light winds, it often felt quite warm. We ‘ticked’ 112 species (compared to 114 the previous year) which is pretty impressive considering many of the migrants hadn’t returned.

The group numbering 10, travelled to the Cairngorms overnight Thursday landing at Loch Garten in good time for the Capercaillie watch. Sadly this proved fruitless although we did get cracking views of the 2 resident ospreys.

After breakfasting at our hotel (Nethybridge Hotel) it was out again firstly to Boat of Garten then the Findhorn Valley and finally Lochindorb. Stars of the afternoon included an Iceland Gull, a pair of peregrines, several ring Ouzels, a couple of Black Throated Divers and an Osprey bathing, chest deep in the middle of the Loch.

Saturday added Golden Eagles, a Red Throated Diver and a pair of Slavonian Grebes to our list.

Sunday’s weather looked best on the north west coast, so a 5:00 a.m. breakfast was booked and at 05:30 with the thermometer registering -1°C, the minibus left with a very quiet party aboard. As with last year, this was probably our most memorable day. Sea watching at Gruinard Bay and at Gairloch was an utter delight. The sea like a millpond and warm sunshine added to the experience. Gruinard Bay was simply teaming with both Black Throated and Great Northern Divers. In addition, we also saw 3 Slavonian Grebes in full breeding plumage and our only sighting of a White Tailed

Eagle. At Gairloch we had spectacular views of 3 Great Skuas repeatedly diving into a melee of gulls and auks that had been attracted to fish close to the surface. Lunchtime was celebrated in an alehouse – the pub at Badachro and the highlight of the afternoon was another sighting of a Golden Eagle near Kinlochewe.

On Monday, the group divided into two with the energetic going for a longish walk in the Abernethy Forest and the lazy/crocked having a strenuous ascent of Cairngorm on the funicular railway with the unjustified rewards of the Ptarmigan Café, good views of Ptarmigan in their contrasty summer plumage and a Ring Ouzel in the car park. The two groups recombined late afternoon to spend a while watching a pair of courting Ospreys.

The fifth day was spent on the north east coast at Tarbet Ness then Embo and finally at Brora. Here we were treated to rafts of Eider and Long Tailed Ducks. In addition, there were plenty of Red Breasted Mergansers, Shag, Puffins and Sandwich Terns and on the shore, 4 Purple Sandpipers. We were also treated to sightings of a large dog otter and a small group of

Bottle Nosed Dolphins. Sadly this was the occasion of our biggest ‘dip’, leading us to consider calling it ‘Dag’s Day of Disappointment’. The main purpose for the long journey was to see a Harlequin Duck at Brora. Based on poor information, we spent a couple of hours searching in the wrong place, only to find a few hours later that we had been a mere mile from the correct spot.

The highlight of day six has to be the gorgeous Caledonian Pine Forest surrounding Loch an Eilean and a proper although brief view of a crested tit.

Group minus one

On our final day, we journeyed to Portsoy on the north coast of Aberdeenshire to see White Billed Divers, which in recent winters, have over-wintered here. We then travelled west taking in Lossiemouth and Findhorn bay and getting sightings of more common coastal species. The return journey was broken at Lochindorb where the highlights were a rough legged buzzard that turned out to be a Common Buzzard, an Osprey demonstrating its expert angling skills and some fellow birders, who drove off leaving behind their scope and tripod beside the lake.

As for last year, thanks must go to Dag Marshall for organizing this extremely enjoyable trip and for taking us to such a wide variety of habitats which provided such a rich birding experience .

Having postponed the start of this trip until the afternoon, we did benefit from dry weather, but sadly, the wind was quite strong keeping many of the little birds, hunkered down meaning we had to work a bit harder for sightings.  Nonetheless, ten members visited the DWT reserve, many for the first time, and hopefully were sufficiently impressed to return.  The Avenue Washlands, reclaimed from old railway sidings and coal yards, was only opened in 2007 but has matured rapidly giving a broad spectrum of habitats to include wetland, grassland, woodland and gorse scrub.

In all we saw 35 species with spectacular views of a buzzard hanging in the strong wind, male and female sparrow hawks, kestrel, yellow hammer, linnets, skylarks, chiffchaff and willow warblers.  In addition, the reserve holds a married couple in the shape of a male Barnacle and female Canada Goose who had successfully raised 5 goslings.  Many of the group were also treated to their first sighting this year of swifts, which, in the strong wind, appeared to be breaking the sound barrier.  (Double click the photos to see detail).

Following a short flurry of snow in the Ogston car park, thirty people joined the coach for the John Tagg Memorial Trip to Bempton Cliffs. John, a long time member of OBC, had requested that after he died, his photographic equipment should be donated to the club. His family subsequently suggested that we might like to sell it and use the proceeds to fund a club trip. John’s favourite birding location was Bempton Cliffs, so after discussion by the committee and consultation with the family and RSPB Bempton, it was decided that a fitting memorial would be to have a picnic table installed at the new visitors’ centre.  Johns brother and family were delighted with the decision and have expressed their thanks to the Club

When we arrived, the RSPB warden at Bempton took us up to the picnic area where John’s memorial bench had been installed. Here he thanked everyone involved and following a few moving words and moments of reflection, the group posed for a photo to be sent to John’s brother.

After the brief ‘ceremony’, the group went off to explore the reserve. It was a very windy but bright day, and there was no shortage of ‘old hands’ to guide the first-timers to RSPB Bempton, around the platforms on the cliff tops where we saw many, many nesting birds.  There was no shortage of gannets, guillemots, razor bills and kittiwakes on the cliffs, and one or two puffins posed for the photographers. We also had some fine close-up views of the birds in flight.

Following a short, sharp hailstorm in the afternoon, we were treated to an aerial display from a peregrine, and several people also saw some great skuas in flight.  After retreating to the brand new visitors’ centre for a cuppa and a little retail therapy, those out on the terrace saw a weasel, while those watching the webcam screens inside were treated to a very brief glimpse of the first gannet chick to hatch.

Many thanks to all those who put in the hard work behind the scenes to make the day possible – it was a great way to remember John Tagg for those who knew him well, and for those who wished they had known him better.

Below are a sample of the photos taken by members.  Photos 1 and 2, table and plaque.  Photo 3 Bempton Cliffs looking south to Flamborough, 4 gannet, 5 guillemot, 6 fulmar,      7 razorbill, 8 peregrine, 9 & 10 loveins on the cliffs.