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!
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:
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