Chalamain Gap


Fork in Chalamain Gap / Lairig Ghru path


Footpath back to Rothiemurchus


Picadilly


Forest bog, Rothiemurchus


Forest pool, Rothiemurchus


Looking south to the Lairig Ghru


Ford through the River Luineag

Spent a lovely day wandering in Strathspey and the Cairngorms. The morning was spent exploring the Chalamain Gap and the north end of the Lairig Ghru. Wildlife was still quite scarce (after all, it is still only March), but Meadow Pipits were ubiquitous and Red Grouse were at several places. Six Reindeer moved sedately across the landscape and Common Frogs were in a small lochan.
The afternoon was spent in Rothiemurchus forest. Siskins and Chaffinches were everywhere, and fair numbers of Crested Tits, Crossbills, Coal Tits and Goldcrests were amongst them. A Buzzard flew over and two Roe Deer browsed quietly beside the path. A few Meadow Pipits and Wood Pigeons added to the mix and a few each of Collared Dove, Greenfinch, Robin, House Sparrow and Jackdaw were near the villages. Two Oystercatchers were in Aviemore.

Impressions of Strathspey in March:

Its noisier than earlier in the year, with Siskin and Chaffinch calls in the forest and Meadow Pipits in the hills

Its biodiverse, with everything from Reindeer and Buzzard to beetles, bees and flies

The landscape is still predominantly brown and yellow