Thursday, August 07, 2014

Spent a bright and sunny day in Strathspey today. Route here, report as follows:

The journey north to Aviemore was notable for an increasing variety of colour in the landscape. The moors are now a patchwork of green and grey-brown with the first hint of mauve as the Heather flowers are getting ready to open. Along the roadsides, the pink of Rosebay Willow-Herb, the yellow of Common Ragwort and the green of bracken were the dominant colours. There was a complete lack of snow patches on the Drumochter hills, but one large patch was visible in Glen Feshie and several patches were still present in the northern corries, especially Coire Laogh Mor, Coire Cas, Coire an Lochain and the corries below Braeriach.

The bus diverted along the B9152 at Kingussie so managed to have a quick look at the wetlands between Kingussie Cemetery and Lynchat. Surprisingly, no birds were to be seen (apart from a mixed flock of around 40 corvids), presumably indicating that the Black-headed Gulls, waders and Greylag Geese which nest there have all finished their breeding seasons (hopefully successfully). Loch Insh was also quiet, with no Mute Swans visible, although views were very limited.

Passing through Boat of Garten, a Pied Wagtail on the lawn near the post office was to be the first of many for the day. Also a feature of the day were to be fields of ripe cereals (especially to the east of Boat of Garten and the west of Nethybridge), as well as some fields of cut silage.

Arriving in Grantown-on-Spey, muted screeches from above signalled the arrival of two Swifts hunting over the town square (accompanied by a Black-headed Gull). Another Swift was over the junction with the Cromdale Road.

Around 20 House Sparrows on the edge of the town is hopefully indicative of a good breeding season. Five Pied Wagtails were on playing fields at Grantown Grammar School with another four on the greens of the nearby golf course. A single Swallow was typically hunting over their heads.

Entering the woods, birds heard or seen included Willow Warbler (one bird singing weakly), Chaffinch, Wren, Goldcrest and Coal Tit. Scotch Argus butterflies were in the open sections and Wild Raspberries were fruiting on south-facing banks.

Arriving at the Spey, the first birds encountered were fourteen moulting Mallards, a single Grey Wagtail and a passing band of seven Sand Martins. The next two miles of river bank were almost completely devoid of birdlife (except for a solitary Grey Heron). I wonder if the reason is the heavy angling pressure along that stretch. Of more interest along the river bank was an abundance of flowering plants plus associated insect life (including “clouds” of Scotch Argus butterflies).

A substantial passerine flock was present just after the anglers’ hut, consisting of Coal Tits, Chaffinches, Goldcrests, a Blue Tit and a lemon-yellow, autumn Willow Warbler. Also in that area were a Pheasant and a Buzzard. Nearer the Old Spey Bridge were more Swallows.

The stretch of abandoned railway behind the smokehouse (which is good for thrushes and finches in autumn/winter) was full of birds. The hedgerow there contains Rowan trees (with fruit just beginning to ripen) and a variety of other tree species. Around ten Goldfinches (including juveniles) were buzzing around the treetops, accompanied by Blackbirds, Tree Pipits (giving their characteristic “Speez” call), Great Tit and Willow Warbler. Also around a dozen Spotted Flycatchers (including a downy juvenile) were hunting from the fence posts with eight along a single, short stretch. Other wildlife here included grasshopper sp and fruiting Puffball.

An islet in the river held ten Common Gulls, ten Mallards and a Moorhen (with ten more Common Gulls on a nearly sandbar). Redpolls were in the treetops with Siskins a little further towards Nethybridge.

Birds of the open country around Balliefirth Farm included Buzzard, Pheasant, Meadow Pipit and Carrion Crow, but surprisingly no waders, gulls or geese (yet). All three hirundines plus Swift began to appear over the cereal fields on the outskirts of Nethybridge, with a few Woodpigeons on stubble.

The path through the forest at Duakbridge was quiet in terms of birdlife (although I had very little time to stop and listen) but produced all the common species. Also present were Dor Beetles, ants, caterpillars, an ichneumon fly and a big dragonfly. The “Dragonfly Pond” was quiet except for a couple of Swallows overhead.

Entering Boat of Garten, the first Goosander of the day was on the Spey and Swallows were entering a possible nest site in an old out-house. Back in Aviemore, four Herring Gulls were over Granish Tip, 16 Goosanders were on a shingle bank off the old waterworks, the Sand Martin colony there had been vacated and a Sparrowhawk was being mobbed by three Carrion Crows. Collared Doves were singing along Dalfaber Road and three Swallows were over Spey Bridge, but a distinct chill in the air was a reminder that autumn isn’t far away.