<body><script type="text/javascript"> function setAttributeOnload(object, attribute, val) { if(window.addEventListener) { window.addEventListener('load', function(){ object[attribute] = val; }, false); } else { window.attachEvent('onload', function(){ object[attribute] = val; }); } } </script> <div id="navbar-iframe-container"></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://apis.google.com/js/platform.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> gapi.load("gapi.iframes:gapi.iframes.style.bubble", function() { if (gapi.iframes && gapi.iframes.getContext) { gapi.iframes.getContext().openChild({ url: 'https://www.blogger.com/navbar.g?targetBlogID\x3d7235362\x26blogName\x3dNatural+Connections\x26publishMode\x3dPUBLISH_MODE_BLOGSPOT\x26navbarType\x3dLIGHT\x26layoutType\x3dCLASSIC\x26searchRoot\x3dhttps://naturalconnections.blogspot.com/search\x26blogLocale\x3den_GB\x26v\x3d2\x26homepageUrl\x3dhttp://naturalconnections.blogspot.com/\x26vt\x3d-1938150495582669688', where: document.getElementById("navbar-iframe-container"), id: "navbar-iframe" }); } }); </script>

Natural Connections

Modern life in Scotland is increasingly busy. The connections our ancestors had with nature and the land are being lost. As leisure time shrinks, or is filled with hi-tech experiences, opportunities to experience nature become fewer. And yet it is possible to connect with nature on a day to day basis. All around us, the great web of life continues to hold its shape, and nature continues its eternal cycles. Keep looking, listening, smelling, touching - and keep experiencing natural connections.

Monday, June 02, 2014

The final bird list for Saturday's Strathspey trip was as follows: Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Wigeon, Mallard, Red Grouse, Black Grouse, Capercaillie, Pheasant, Buzzard, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Curlew, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Cuckoo, Swift, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, hybrid Carrion x Hooded Crow, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Crested Tit, Coal Tit, Swallow, House Martin, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Treecreeper, Wren, Starling, Dipper, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher, Robin, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Lesser Redpoll and Siskin (55 species).



Some of the most notable sightings of the day were:

Pied Flycatcher: A single male was singing strongly (but hidden) from the top of a Birch tree near the north east corner of Loch Pulladern in Craigellachie NNR. In my experience, it is not uncommon to come across the species in late May and early June (in the past two years I have had singing birds in Aviemore, near Farr and near the Bogach). I am not sure if these are mated or unmated males, and whether they are remaining at these sites to breed or simply singing as they pass through.

hybrid Carrion x Hooded Crow: Although a few are recorded in the Aviemore area from time to time, I have seldom seen a pure Hooded Crow in Strathspey (I think a single near Tomdhu was the closest I have been). This bird was lurking in the Lapwing field next to the SNH headquarters.

Crested Tit: Typically for this species, I had to walk for quite a long distance through the forest before I heard its characteristic chittering call.  Birds were present at a total of three sites with a single at one site, an adult feeding a juvenile at a second, and a brood of at least four fledgelings at a third. 

Redstart: This species was particularly noticeable with singing birds at several sites (especially east of Forest Lodge) and evidence of breeding activity at two. A male and female were picking up insects (possibly ants) from the dirt track just north of Forest Lodge, and a male was seen furtively entering a pile of rocks (presumably its nest site) just north of the bridge near the site of the demolished Bynack Stable.


Green Tiger Beetle: The paths through the forest, especially in the hilly area southeast of Forest Lodge, held dozens of these insects. Around 0.75cm long, most flew up on approach, alighting again a short distance away. Other insects on the paths included Ground Beetles, lots of ants and at least two dragonfly species. 
   

Swift: Only a single bird was heard all day - over Aviemore train station at 7:30pm (although small numbers were over most of the towns along the train route including Blair Atholl, Pitochry and Perth).

Willow Warbler: At least 78 singing males were heard along the route plus three Blackcaps and a single Chiffchaff (and at least 17 Tree Pipits). 
Braes of Abernethy: This is real “big country” – wide expanses of heather moorland, stretching east towards the braes and up Strathnethy to Bynack More. The landscape is dotted with lochans, damp hollows and isolated clumps of pines. Birds were hard to find (apart from the ubiquitous Meadow Pipit) but Cuckoo, Curlew and possibly Golden Plover called unseen. The path petered out at one point, requiring full attention to be given to trailblazing. However scrubby terrain near the Nethy held two Black Grouse, Dipper and Common Sandpiper were on the river and a Redstart was visiting a presumed nest in a pile of boulders. This area looked promising for Wheatear and Ring Ouzel but neither was found. 

Brown Hare: A single was in a trackside field between Newtonmore and Kingussie. I rarely see the species in Badenoch and Strathspey.

Mute Swan:  Two pairs were on Loch Insh as I passed by on the train. Neither appeared to have swimming young, and as they are unlikely to leave any nests unguarded, I assume neither were breeding. I am unaware of any regular breeding sites in the area. There were none on the Bogach earlier in the month, and I am not aware of any other regularly occupied sites.

Spotted Flycatcher: This species was notable by its almost complete absence, with only a single bird glimpsed at Craigellachie. I find that the species can be quite secretive early in the season (and its creaky call is drowned out by the various tweets and whistles of everything else), although it becomes much more obvious when the young fledge and start to fill the woods with their rasping, begging calls.

Craigellachie: The National Nature Reserve was alive with birds, with fledged Robins and Chaffinches adding to the sounds of the various woodland birds including Willow Warblers and a Blackcap. Waterbirds were scarce with four drake Mallards being the only representatives. The crags were empty, the Peregrines apparently having failed to settle again this year.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home