Wednesday, June 14, 2017

A brief watch from the balcony of the lodge on the Abernethy Trust estate first thing produced singing Woodpigeon, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Song Thrush, Wren and Chaffinch plus feeding/hunting House Sparrow, Swallow, House Martin and Blackbird. Also recorded were Collared Dove, Starling, Carrion Crow, Goldfinch and Siskin.
A long walk from Forest Lodge to Ryvoan Bothy began in the forest where bird species included Chaffinch (Singing), Wren (S), Tree Pipit (S), Redstart (S), Goldcrest (S), Willow Warbler (S), Coal Tit (S), Crested Tit (family group), Great Spotted Woodpecker and Crossbill (7). Birds on and beyond the forest edge consisted of Meadow Pipit, Robin, Siskin and Cuckoo. A female Mallard was near the bothy and a Little Grebe was on a pathside lochan, feeding a single chick. Additional birds on the open ground at Rynettin consisted of Pied Wagtail, Mistle Thrush and Redpoll. A brief stop in Boat of Garten added Rook, Jackdaw and singing Greenfinch. Arriving back at Nethybridge, a Roe Deer was in a field near Broomhill and two Red squirrels were chasing through the trees.
An early evening walk around the Abernethy Trust grounds found all the species recorded first thing plus Pied Wagtail (an adult feeding a fledged juvenile), a Blue Tit entering a nest box, a Yellowhammer singing in the direction of the golf course, a single Black-headed Gull flying over and three Swifts over the main building.
Later in the evening, a walk around Nethybridge after dark produced several Common Toads on the road and a Tawny Owl calling with growling, begging calls also heard.