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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.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Some behaviour notes from Strathspey sites today include:
Greylag Goose - in noisy groups along the far shore of Lochindorb
Mallard - loafing in groups in eclipse plumage
Oystercatcher - flock of 25 on grass at Broomhill Bridge. Small numbers loafing along the edge of Lochindorb
Raven - one coming to road carrion between Grantown-on-Spey and Bridge of Brown
Sand Martin - still visiting nest holes near Broomhill Bridge
Swallow - "playing" around Cromdale Church
Swift - restlessly feeding over the Spey at Cromdale and the Old Spey Bridge or screaming excitedly over town and village centres
Meadow Pipit - numerous birds on the road and overhead wires near Dorback
Dipper - shuffling quietly, shoulder-deep in the Spey at Broomhill
Spotted Flycatcher - feeding quietly on the edge of the tree canopy at the Old Spey Bridge
Passerines - trees full of tweets and cheeps from broods of young birds. Some half-hearted song, possibly from this year's birds
One of the notable things about the bird life of coastal Moray is the number of Hooded Crows and Hooded x Carrion Crow hybrids around. The picture is confused by the large number of juvenile birds around right now, many of these with aberrant plumage. Today, two near full Hooded Crows were in Elgin first thing. Three more, this time showing more Carrion crow were in Forres. At lunchtime, a begging juvenile Carrion Crow at portgordon had pure white primaries and this evening, a full Hooded Crow was on mown grass in Nairn.
Another notable thing about today in particular was the number of mammal species encountered. A vole sp. ran across the Dava Moor road first thing. Later, a Roe Deer buck was feeding in a marshy field near Dorback. Heading back from there, a Red Squirrel was running along the road at Sliemore. Then, in Granton-on-Spey, three Roe Deer and a Rabbit were in the woods near the lochan. 
Arriving back in Buckie, 56 seals were on rocks at Portgordon. Almost all were Grey Seals, but two looked good for Harbour Seals. Finally, a Brown Hare was in fields on the outskirts of Nairn.
With the breeding season coming to an end, many bird species are either attending nestlings or have fledged young in two. Some examples today included: fledged broods of Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch and Blue Tit at the old Spey Bridge, Great Tit fledglings coming to a feeder at Bridge of Brown, Sand Martins visiting nest holes at Broomhill Bridge, a Great Tit brood in the woods at Grantown-on-Spey lochan, three immature Sandwich Terns with seven adults on rocks at Portgordon, a Mute Swan with seven young on the River Nairn, four young Goldfinches begging an adult for food near there, seven juvenile Black-headed Gulls with 105 adults on Nairn playing fields with good numbers of juveniles among a flock of 27 Pied Wagtails. Nevertheless lots of species continue to sing ( some only half-heartedly) including Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Yellowhammer, Corn bunting and Wren.
Other good sightings today included Raven, Goosander, Little Grebe, Spotted flycatcher, Tree pipit, Sparrowhawk, Redpoll, Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Buzzard and swifter still at several sites. 

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