A hard frost overnight gave way to a perfectly still morning. Went down to Insh Marshes for 6:30 am, surprising a pair of Red legged Partridges as I drove around a corner. The marshes had a variety of waders including Curlew, Lapwing and Oystercatcher. Also notable were at least one Rabbit, a pair of Teal and a female Mallard with 6 ducklings (my first of the year).
A brief stop at Tromie Bridge produced a nice Dipper, and the drive past the airfield in Glen Feshie a handful of Sand Martins, a Mistle Thrush and a Common Buzzard. Then a Great spotted Woodpecker called near the hostel.
Lunchtime in Aviemore was brightened up by a Pied Wagtail and a singing Willow Warbler. Later, on the way back down South, we stopped in Dunkeld to enjoy the sunshine. Highlights there were a dozen or so Sand Martins visiting nest sites on the bridge over the Tay, Cuckoo Flowers by the river and an Orange Tip Butterfly (my first of the year) near the churchyard.


Saturday, April 26th, 2008

Headed for Loch Garten just after 5 am. Lots of Hares, Roe Deer and Pheasants in roadside fields, then a Common Toad and lots of singing Willow Warblers and Chaffinches between the car park and the hide. The female Osprey was on its nest and a couple of Red Squirrels visited the peanut feeders. After an hour of searching, a male Capercaillie was sighted from the forward hide and eventually we all had good views as it stood, frozen but menacing, among the heather. The walk back to the car turned up another Common Toad and a male Siskin on the feeders.
A short walk down to the lochside produced a few more singing Willow Warblers and Chaffinches. The main event of the day was a walk from Loch Morlich to Eag a Chat (the Cat's Gorge) and back. Early highlights were a single Goosander on Loch Morlich and another Goosander with a pair of Goldeneye on Lochan Gamna. The walk up past Rothiemurchus Lodge and over the shoulder of Castle Hill gave stunning views of the whole of Glen More. Eag a Chat was particularly spectacular as the snow-covered tops came into view. Bird life up there was sparse with only a couple of Meadow Pipits and the ubiquitous Wren breaking the silence.
The walk back to Loch Morlich passed over a small piece of the plateau, complete with gravel and stunted Willow. Further down, after passing a reindeer carcasse (the bones bleached white by the sun), clubmosses gave way to Juniper scrub and eventually to forest. Still few birds were seen, but this was made up for by the stunning views of the mountains through the trees (photo below). A quick walk back along the North shore of the loch produced 10 more singing Willow Warblers and another female Goldeneye.
Highlights back at the Hostel in Glen Feshie were a herd of 20 Red Deer walking sedately down the strath, a Woodcock roding through the plantations, a couple of bats hunting along the road and a Tawny Owl calling in the night.

Friday, April 25th, 2008

Just back from a wonderful weekend in the Cairngorms. Bird list for the weekend was as follows: Mallard, Teal, Goldeneye, Goosander, Greylag Goose, Red-legged Partridge, Capercaillie, Osprey, Pheasant, Buzzard, Oystercatcher, Greenshank, Lapwing, Curlew, Woodcock, Black headed Gull, Tawny Owl, Sand Martin, Meadow Pipit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Pied/White Wagtail, Wren, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Wren, Dipper, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Siskin, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Starling, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow.