Showing posts with label Open Arms. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Open Arms. Show all posts

2012-07-23

120625 Skottland-Scotland , day 2 Monday

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Click to enlarge All photos NF Photo 120625
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120625 Monday, day 2 
Woke up at 5.30  a bit too early. But I went up nevertheless.  As I had some trouble getting connected last night I tried a different thing. The plugs I brought with me did not fit for the computer. But I realised I could connect the computer in the shaving plug in the bathroom.  Great, then I can upload my shots. Never mind sitting on bathroom floor. :)
   
Birding the coast before breakfast at Aberlady bay. We left at 6.05. It was a nice morning with sun but a bit shilly. It was the same location as last night but now we headed over the bridge and walked for a bit. It is a place with many environments. Bushes, medows and waters. We spotted some small birds and then we saw a Little Grebe (smådopping) with 2 chicks in a pond. So nice to see as I never really seen them before. Not this close.

Aberlady Bay at low tide
This was a great birding site with a variety of birds. I liked it.

Back to the hotel for breakfast we got a bad surprise. Last night when we were supposed to pay for the dinner the staff  told us it was included. But now they said they made a mistake and we had to pay for it anyway. Never mind. The breakfast was ok. Lots of food, actually too much. tee, coffee, juice, egg in various forms, and other fried stuff. I only had one egg and bread. Can´t eat that much.

Birds so far, sorry swedish names: storspov,gravand,tofsvipa,rödbena, skrattmås, sävsparv, bofink, gråhäger, svartmes u bild, sävsångare, smådopping, kentsk tärna, svartkråka, knölsvan,  Räv

A part of the model at Glenkinchie Distillery
Leaving Open Arms at 9.30 and headed south to Glenkinchie Distillery. It was cloudy when we arrived. We were allowed to see the museum and their great model of teh process of making whisky. It was very interesting. I asked the man in the shop about the model. He said it was actually working. It would be possible to make whisky in it. Fascinating! Some of us did a little shopping and then we left. But outside the guide heard a sound. A Firecrest (brandkronad kungsfågel) was heard in the trees. Sadly enough we could not see it. :(

I did catch a Dipper in mid-flight. Do you see it?
Now we headed east to the coast of Northern part of England. We took a road up in the Lammermuir Hills. There we saw some Curlew (storspov) and a few other species. But not  the Red legged partridge as we hoped for. It was a beautiful country. From the wild barren hills we came to a lowland with lots of small lakes. Geeze liked them as it seemed. Then we made a stop at a creek. Itwas nice and we saw svallows and a dipper.
Lindisfarne
We had a late lunch in a pub in a small town and then we proceeded to Lindisfarne at the coast. It was still low tide so we could drive all the way out. We walked in the village and the ruins of the monastary. It was actually a great biding site too. Walking out of the village we came to a hill at the waters edge. It was a beautiful view from that location over the beach now free from water. But the tide was changing and the water was about to rise. So we had to find our way back to the parking lot again. Now I was behind the others. They had left without me noticing it. But I guessed where they went. The place was not that big. We left and passed the low tide area and stoped at the other end to see the tide rise again. For people from areas without the tide this is quite a nice thing to see.
I was there too. Still low tide and possible to drive over.

Hotel Bamburgh Castle Inn, Seahouses. My room is located at the third floor with a really steep stairway. It is not fun. But the room is OK and have a beautiful view over the small harbour. Dinner again soo much food. But I found a smaller dish, childrens menue,  and ordered that one. :)

I had more trouble with the computer. In this hotel I had to sit in the restaurant to be able to connect. I wanted to do that so I could write some and also make a post in my blog. But then I could not charge the battery as they had no plug for shavers. Well, well. I make notes. Hoping for a solution tomorrow.  :)
The little harbour outside my window

Took a shower and went to bed. Tomorrow will be a great day.
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Mer om Skottland på NF Photo  Fågelarter
More about Scotland on NF Photo  Bird species
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2012-07-15

120624 Skottland - Scotland, day1 Sunday

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Scotland 120624-120708
Click to enlarge All photos


Our World Tuesday

120624 Sunday, day 1

Woke up at 3.30. Too early I felt.
I fixed everything and was ready to leave at 4.50. I was driving Katrineholm-Södertälje-Arlanda. I had never been driving that road so early in the morning before so I was not prepared for the low sun that caused me a lot trouble when driving. Sometimes I had to slow down as I had a hard time seeing anything but the sun.
I reached Arlanda Car park at 7.40 and had some trouble finding it. But a Taxidriver helped out. Then I had trouble finding the way to Terminal 4. Bad or none direction signs anywhere. It was good to have plenty of time. :(

Well after finding where to check in I was done at 8.25. Nowadays you have to do it all yourself. Today I even had to put the baggage tag on the suitcase myself. Getting free of the luggage I sat down to eat what I brought.


I met the rest of the group at the Gate. We are 8 persons on the tour, tourguide included. Time for the flight was 1h55min a bit shorter then sceduled. We flew over the south part of Norway where it was some snow still lingering in the valleys. We landed in Edingburgh at 10.55 local time.  There were a traffic jam due to some celebrations so it took quite a while to get out of the airport area with the coach that picked us up for the drive to the rental shop. I felt sorry for a lot of people on their way to the airport. They left their cars and started running toward the airport. I hope they made it. Luckily the worst part of the traffic jam was over when we headed east along the coast.

Arriving at Open Arms in Darlington at 14.00 we checked in and had something to eat. Then left to visit the Tantallion Castle and Bass Rock. There was some hard showers and sunshine too. Bass Rock was really beautiful in that weather condition. Lots and lots of birds looking  like snowfall against the thunderdark skies with a sun shining through. Gorgeous! I was lucky to catch one Gannet rather close.
I met a Duch couple and helped them a little with the birds.

Bass Rock images on NF Photo

We also visited Scottish Seabird Centre in North Berwick from where you could see Bass Rock from an other angle.

Birding at Moray Firths coast and Aberlady Bay before heading back for dinner and birdlist. It was getting dark so it was not so much to see. Except for a nice set of sun rays.



I´m tired. It´s been a long day. Checking the shots for today. Took a shower and going to bed.

Night at Hotel Open Arms, Dirleton http://www.openarmshotel.com/  It was the hotel with fake book shelves. :)             
Birds today:
Knölsvan, gravand, hussvala, storskarv, havssula,storspov, bläsand, strandskata,svartkråka, kråka, ringduva.


Tomorrow at 6.00h.
Birding the coast before breakfast

Mer om Skottland på NF Photo                 
More about Scotland on NF Photo 
Bird species seen in Scotland
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2012-06-17

Scotland 120624-120708 Travel data

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Scotland 120624-120708
Some links and data for my trip to Scotland

Rese beskrivning på AviFauna   http://www.avifauna.se/avifauna/program/europa/skottland-2012/


Under  "I Blickfånget" brukar de lägga ut dagliga snuttar om någon vill följa resan.
http://www.avifauna.se/avifauna/rapporter-arkiv/i-blickfanget/
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120624 Flight  Arlanda - Edingburgh,  11.25 - 11.45 ( Flight SK 2541) latest check in 9.45
120708 Flight Edingburgh - Arlanda,  12.40 - 15.50 ( Flight SK 2542) latesat check in 11.55
Guide: Ola.bondesson@tele2.se

Whisky destillerier:
Classic Malt   http://www.malts.com/index.php/Gateway-en
http://www.arranwhisky.com/Home/
http://www.springbankdistillers.com/
http://www.isleofjura.com/home.aspx
http://www.isleofjura.com/communityspirit/   fototävling

http://whiskyguiden.se/index2.html
http://peat.se/
http://lfw.co.uk/
http://wmcadenhead.com/

Hotell
120624      Open Arms, Dirleton               http://www.openarmshotel.com/
120625-26 Bamburgh Castle Inn, Seahouses  http://www.bamburghcastlehotel.co.uk/
120627-28 Lochranza Hotel, Lochranza Arran  http://www.lochranzahotel.co.uk/
120629-30 Craigard House Hotel, Campbeltown  http://www.craigard-house.co.uk/
120701-04 Harbour Inn, Bowmore Islay      http://www.harbour-inn.com/
120705-06 The George Hotel, Inveraray    http://www.thegeorgehotel.co.uk/
120707      Bonsyde House Hotel, Linlithgow   http://www.bonsydehouse.co.uk/
120708      Hemresa

120623, 05,00 Checking routes to Arlanda:
K - Björkvik-s of Nyköping- E4 to Arlanda.         Estimated time 2h 10 min.   201km
K - Vrena-Nyköping- E4 to Arlanda.                   Estimated time 2h 16min.   196 km
K - Gnesta- Järna - E4 to Arlanda                       Estimated time 2h 20min.   174,8 km
K - Strängnäs - Enköping - Arlanda                     Estimated time 2h 51min.   169,3km
SO, BETWEEN THE FIRST THREE IT IS REALLY DOWN TO PETROL.

Checkpoints time:
Plane leaves:                    10:25
Latest incheck:                 9:45, preferred 8:45
Latest arrival Parkinglot:    7:45
Departure K                      4:45      

Scotland is Swedish time -1h
http://www.lundberg-lagerstedt.se/time/
Utsikter i Edingourgh, Holyrood park.
http://www.panoramicearth.com/4346/Edinburgh/Salisbury_Crags
http://www.scottishsport.co.uk/walking/arthurseat.htm
Mer om Skottland här:
Skottland
http://www.machrihanishbirds.org.uk/news/index.htm
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