Bird photos from Scotland and News!

 Before I show you my photos, I want to share a bit of wonderful news we had yesterday. Our Daughter, Megan got the A level grades she needed to get in to the University of Sheffield to study Medicine. She won't be too far away (just over an hour to get there) and she gets the chance to follow her dream! We are over the moon and so proud! The past eighteen years has gone so fast. Now we will need to get busy shopping for all those extras she will need - Ikea here we come!

Now on to some more photos. Here are a few of some of the birds we saw on holiday.

 Our first walk down to the beach on holiday revealed this little fellow, a male reed bunting with a beak full of insects.

 This pheasant was right outside the kitchen window when we got up. I guess he was there all night as you can see how saturated he was in the rain!

 Later in the week I was pleased with this shot of a swallow I took at Caerlaverock castle... until I took this one below the following day at Threave - Don't you think he just epitomises joy?

 This nuthatch below was also taken at Threave.

 I ummed and ahhed as to whether I should include the next one as it is such a dreadful photo, but I decided to anyway - a Barn owl taking a rest from his hunting, from the living room at the first cottage

 There were lots of chaffinches at the second cottage and I took this rather handsome male from the dining room window.

 Outside the House Martins (and swallows) fed their fledglings on the flies and midges...

 We visited the Red Kite feeding station at Ballymack Hill Farm and saw some breathtaking red kite action!

 But photography-wise I seem to have had most success with the more common garden birds like this Blue tit at Ken Dee Marshes.

Thanks for looking!