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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.

Friday, March 27, 2015

Decided to use an un-used day of annual leave to take a trip up to Badenoch and Strathspey. Divided up the day into a walk around the riverside and lochs north of Aviemore in the morning and a walk from Kincraig to Kingussie via Loch Insh in the afternoon. Among the notable sightings of the day included: Whooper Swans still present in small parties at various sites throughout the Insh Marshes; Greylag Geese at several sites including two pairs east of Dalwhinnie Distillery (one on a pool and the other on the moor), a pair at Pitmain Farm, Kingussie, four at Lynwilg House, two on Loch Alvie, two over Kincraig, eight over Kincraig Shinty Field, two over Lynchlaggan, two pairs over farmland east of Insh, seven toether on Loch na Deal-eich, a pair in a field at Tromie Bridge, 14 (seven pairs) in a field near the Insh Marshes Visitor Centre, a pair in a field in front of Gordonhall Farm, a pair on adjacent marshland, 33 in the field opposite Ruthven Barracks and two in the darkness over Kingussie Station; eight domestic Mallards at Loch Insh Watersports Centre; five Tufted Ducks at Loch Insh and a single on an un-named loch north east of Aviemore; Goldeneye at a large number of sites including five pairs and two singles along a stretch of the Spey north of Aviemore, five sub-adults on the un-named loch north of Dalfaber Golf Course, a pair on a little lochan in the woods, two males on Loch Alvie, a female at Kincraig Bridgea and a pair near the south shore of Loch Insh (with at least three more further out); a pair of Goosanders on the Spey at Dalfaber; single Little Grebes on the Spey at Aviemore and on the un-named loch north east of Aviemore; an interesting selection of waterfowl on the un-named loch northeast of the golf course consisting of Teal (6), Mallard (6), Goldeneye (5), Tufted Duck (1) and Little Grebe (1); a Sparrowhawk giving excellent views as it swept over the fields on the edge of Aviemore; Lapwings at various sites including through the Drumochter Pass and on moorland around Dalwhinnie; Oystercatchers at numerous sites including eight on Kingussie High School playing field, several along the Spey and a pair at Granish Farm; a Ringed Plover with eight Oystercatchers and a Curlew on the shingle spit at Dunachton Burn; a Redshank on the south shore of Loch Insh; Curlews and Oystercatchers on Farm fields near Insh and Lapwings on farm fields near Ruthven; a big gathering of birds on flooded fields near Pityoulish consisting of 40 Herring Gulls, 20 Black-headed Gulls, 10 Oystercatchers, 20 Lapwings four Teal and four Mallard; a big concentration of birds at Granish Tip with around 150 Herring Gulls, 100 Black-headed Gulls (one pair displaying to eachother), 30 Rooks and 50 Jackdaws (with another 200 of the latter at nearby Granish Farm); Pied Wagtails particularly widespread with two on Aviemore golf course, one in a cow field on the northern outskirts of Aviemore, one in a stony field outside Kincraig, two on Kincraig Shinty Field, one on the shingle spit at Dunachton Burn, one on the south shore of Loch Insh, one on a rooftop in Insh village; several Meadow Pipits on territory with at least two singing birds at the golf course and a display-flighting bird just north of there; a singing Skylark at the extreme north east edge of the golf course; singing Greenfinches in Aviemore, Kincraig, Insh and Kingussie; Long-tailed Tits at four sites; Mistle and Song thrushes at several sites including one of the latter running along a woodland path near Farr and another singing in the darkness at Kingussie Station; two Dippers at Ruthven Bridge and another in the centre of Kingussie; and the usual scattering of Rabbit and Roe Deer sightings (although ten of the latter in a small area of the Insh Marshes were notable) and a big Dor Beetle which blundered into the lights of Kingussie Station.
Impressions of Strathspey in March to follow...

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