Loch Leven (Findatie)

 We have a few places that we go to on Loch Leven, this time it was the turn of Findatie. It's a lovely walk down from the lodges, along the river for a wee while and then into the woods and to a hide overlooking a pool adjacent to the loch. Apologies if I've said this before!

After the usual 'Garden Birds' on the walk down the slope and admiring some Snowdrops,

we headed along the river and straight away found two Dippers:

Then by the footbridge this male Goosander kept turning its back to us:

We crossed the bridge and walked through the woods to the hide, we heard plenty of birds, but they were staying hidden, apart from a group of Redwing passing through the trees.

We sat in the hide a while having coffee, but it was quiet, nice view though.

So we made our way back this time seeing a flock of Fieldfare passing through where we saw the redwing earlier. Through the trees we could see what we thought was a large flock of Whooper Swans in an adjacent field, more of that in a bit.

The Goosander was still by the bridge on the way back,

and the Dippers were still around as well,

We walked the slightly longer way back to the car (less of a slope!) alongside the loch, adding Goldeneye, Oystercatcher, Mallard and Tufted Duck to the days list.

We grabbed a coffee from the Cafe and sat outside for a while, but it was a bit breezy and cold up the top, so we didn't hang around too long. We drove home the long way round, hoping if we could get a view of the Whoopers somewhere, we did! Tina counted 56, but on studying the photos one turned out to be a Mute Swan, so 55, but loads of youngsters, which is good news.

The Mute Swan is in the centre of this group:

Finally in the same field were three Brown Hare, all a bit distant for a decent photo:

A Walk Around Lochore

 We went for a stroll around the Loch on Tuesday and added Gadwall to our year list and our Loch list up to 39 (only two visits this year so far!)

Edenside & Fifeness

We recently joined Fife Bird Club, which gives us access to 3 hides in Fife for club members only. So on Friday we decided to go to the hide at Edenside. It's a lovely hide with great vies over the Eden Estuary, however we should have checked the tides! Most of the birds were out at the waters edge, a million miles away, even difficult with a scope, lesson learned. 

Just Oystercatchers and Redshank were anywhere near, although we had some Pipits and Buzzard in the adjacent stables field. But we'll be back!

So we carried on down to the FBC hide at Fifeness, what a cracking hide overlooking the rocks and sea! However it was pretty quiet, just Cormorant and Shag flying through while we were there. We did get a nice show from some Rock Pipit in front of the hide,

There was a brief view of a Guillemot offshore, a couple of Eider,  plus Oystercatcher and Redshank on the rocks, but that was it. Still a great spot though.

Finally on the way home just outside Crail we picked up a couple of Grey Partridge, always nice to see.

Musselburgh

 We made another visit to Musselburgh last week as we were visiting our daughter in Leith. We started at Fisherrow Harbour: Redshank

and Dunlin were seen,

plus the odd Oystercatcher. We then moved on to our first ever visit to the Esk Mouth in search of various Scoter, but speaking to others there, they had drifted away into the Forth, so that was a shame. There were quite a few Goldeneye on the Esk and plenty of Curlew on the shore:

Also load of Corvids and Gulls, but we didn't stay long as the wind was spiteful and it was very cold, even though I had three layers on.

We carried on to Levenhall Links and the Lagoons, where there were Wigeon, Oystercatcher, Bar-tailed Godwit, Redshank, lawing and Curlew aplenty!

Curlew,

Oystercatcher,

Bar-tailed Godwit,

Oystercatchers,

Wigeon

and Lapwing.

We also had a good sighting of a Kestrel on the hunt, a single Shoveler put in an appearance, as well as plenty of Teal. But the big highlight for us was a very brief appearance of a Short-eared Owl. This is our mission for 2022, to see the three main species of Owl (Bar, Short-eared and Tawny) as we hadn't until then seen an owl for over two years! Not for want of trying I might add.

We left just before dusk, frozen solid. Never been more grateful for heated seats in the car.

Trials and Tribulations in the Cairngorms (Braemar)

 Last Saturday we took one of regular trips up to the Cairngorms and stayed in Braemar for the week. We settled in on the Saturday afternoon after meandering through Glenshee, seeing Red Grouse, Red Deer and distant Mountain Hare. Then about 6pm the power went off! We still had a flask of hot water and had bought some cooked chicken with us, so chicken salad for tea!

During the night the power came back on, Hurrah! It was ****** cold though as all the heating was electric!  But to play safe we didn't go far and stayed local, around the Linn of Dee and Glenshee. With sightings of Dipper on Clunie Water that was good start and some Siskin on the golf course,

but nothing on the River Dee and just Blue, Great, Coal and Long-tailed Tits on the Mar Lodge Estate. We came back early to make sure we could cook and make some flasks up just in case the power went again. Then storm Corrie hit and the power went off again about 10pm. So early to bed! 

The power was still off in the morning so no shower (Electric!!) Upon checking, the power wasn't due back on until Tuesday, so we took the decision to head home for the night (we were only 1 hour 40mins away) and get warm and make sure we could get hot food and drinks.

We got a message Tuesday morning that the power was back on, so we drove back via RSPB Loch Kinnordy, only to find the reserve was closed due to fallen and dangerous trees. So plan B, Loch Lintrathen which is Scottish Wildlife Trust and has hides only to find fallen trees thwarting us again. We therefore carried on to Backwater Reservoir, seeing very little, just some Crows, Rooks, a Buzzard, but finally two male Goosander by the dam. So back to Braemar, taking the old military road that runs parallel to the A93 as we dropped down into the Glen, again Dipper were seen on Clunie Water. We did get good views of Red Grouse at Glenshee:

and Red Deer:

Finally back on plan on the Wednesday we went to Lock Muick on the Balmoral Estate. Finally some photos!

Not much wildlife, so some scenic shots!

Having said not much wildlife we did see a juvenile Golden Eagle (flew over the car as we got there with prey and disappeared over the ridge before we could stop and get the camera!) and also a couple of Black Grouse that flew over on our walk.

The next morning back in Braemar we had a bit of a Red Squirrel fest outside our flat:

We drove over the Lecht and on to Garten today, hoping for Snow Bunting at the Lecht and Crested Tit at Garten. We saw neither! In past years they have been really reliable at both spots but not this year. Plenty of obliging Coal Tit though:

Our final day and we visited the Muir of Dinnet NNR where we added Bullfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldeneye, and Whooper Swans. But again very quiet. So a few pics from Dinnet: