On to the Highlands

After spending Christmas and the New Year in Edinburgh we left for four nights in the Highlands/Cairngorms. We usually have a week up here later in the month or early February, but as we have book a week in Norfolk in February, we decided to tag a few days on while we were up in Scotland. Finding somewhere to stay was difficult believe it or not, with a few of our usual place closed for a post new year break and not opening again until the 6th.

So we found ourselves in Tomintoul in the Richmond Arms which we stayed in two years ago, we hoped that the promised refurbishments that were allegedly under way then would have been done, but it was just the same, with the same notices up in the rooms saying bear with us. So this is definitely the last time we will stay there, three strikes and your out! (We stayed back in 2014 as well)

Anyway Tomintoul is not a bad base for getting to various places, however we now had to cram in to 3 days what we would normally do in a week! So day one we went over to Loch Garten for Crested Tits and then down to RSPB Insh Marshes.
So at Garten were weren't disappointed:
A couple of Red Squirrel,

 Coal Tits in abundance,

 Crested Tits came in and out,

 plus a confiding Great Spotted Woodpecker.

 We also saw Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch and Treecreeper.

It's a fantastic place in the winter, although as it was still school holidays a few more people were about than usual. At least being a gloomy day we didn't get the inconsiderate photographers that cursed trhe place last year when we came, but on the flip side it made photography for me difficult.

We then drove down to and through Aviemore, via the small loch in the Boat of Garten village where only Mallard and a solitary male Goldeneye were seen.

One time driving through Aviemore we stumbled across Waxwing near the Ambulance Station, but not this time, so we carried on to Insh Marshes. The highlight being 13 Whooper Swans.

Apart from some distant Roe Deer and a Buzzard, we didn't add much to the list for the day. Having said that we had a lovely time in the lookout over the reserve, the big windows are great giving a fantastic overall view and it was great to be out the weather. The feeders just outside were always busy, nothing out of the ordinary, with the hoped for Siskins not showing, never mind.

Day two we drove the opposite direction for a bit of a walk at Loch Muick, the drive there took us over The Lecht were we normally see Snow Buntings, but the was driech as the say in Scotland and there was no sign, all we got initially was a solitary Red Grouse, you can see how the weather was from this:

Further in with the weather improving a little we came across a large gaggle of Red-legged Partridge, that were very skittish, but just got a quick photo before this one disappeared through a fence:

There were a ton of Pheasant around here too and a marauding Buzzard keeping them all on their toes.

At Loch Muick the weather wasn't too bad, so we went for a shorter walk than usual. We usually spend the day and do a long walk, but we wanted to fit a drive to Glenshee and a visit to Braemar in as well, so we cut it short. The feeders by the vsitor centre only produced Coal Tit, Chaffinch and a solitary Greenfinch, however the river did get us our first Dippers for 2020. No decent photos though.

The only other thing of note were the Red Deer:

From here as I said we drove up to Glenshee in the hope of Snow Buntings, but again with murky drizzly weather up the top nothing was seen, at least we made use of the facilities at the ski centre.

We stopped on the way back down and scanned the hillsides for Mountain Hare we were much luckier with this, although distant, they were clearly visible against the snowless slopes. We were also rewarded with another Dipper on the river. The day was finished witha drive along the Old Military Road into Braemar where we admired the Christmas lights  and again made use of the facilities.

Day 3 took us upto the Moray Firth starting at Lossiemouth, which we explored as we had never done this before, it was all worthwhile when offshore we saw our favourite ducks, a small group of Long-tailed, even managed a photo!

Tina and I were delighted, never got to see one last year. The estuary was then explored and a short walk was in order, seeing a Goosander flying through,

 lots of Gulls,

 Black-tailed Godwit,

and more Gulls,

also about were Redshank, Dunlin, Curlew, Teal, Oystercatcher, Little Grebe and loads of Wigeon. This is definitely a place that we will be returning to. Next stop Burghead..
This time a much closer view of Long-tailed ducks, a pair were in the harbour entrance:

Very pleased!

We late lunched on the other side of Burghead town, overlooking the sea, where a pair of Goldeneye, some Eider were seen and strangely a Grey Heron that seemed to fly in from out at sea. Some more coastal exploring was done around Burghead Bay and Findhorn, but the tide was way out and without a scope it was impossible to tell what was out there.

So that concludes our sojourn up to Scotland. Giving us a start of 56 species for 2020.

Lets see what Norfolk brings in a few weeks time, we are staying in Wells so hopefully the Rough-legged Buzzard will stay put and the elusive Snow Buntings will remain at Holkham.

Winterwatch Our Way! Part Two

Part Two of the blog starts with a quieter day and a walk around the Muir of Dinnet. We weren't sure what to expect as this was another new place for us and I had read reports of a lot of flooding blocking some of the paths. We struck lucky though and managed a circular walk without getting out feet wet!

The walk started well with a Buzzard in a Rainbow:

Followed by a couple of Cormorants in a tree!:

We did spy some Goldeneye through the trees out on Loch Kinord, but not close enough for a photo. As we continued our walk Jimmy spotted a couple of Fieldfare in the fields those were our first of the year.The only other birds of note were a pair of Lapwing who obviously wanted to be alone! A bit early for that I would of thought:

So a lovely walk with a few coffee stops was had but not many birds seen. We ended the day with a dash up to Glenshee again, for dusk for the Hares and Red Deer.

Another long trip out for day four, this time over the Lecht again for Loch Garten and Abernethy Forest. No sign of 'our' Golden Eagle this time sorry to say and no Snow Bunting at the Ski Centre either, however shall we say the weather was now decidedly wintery!

The main reason for going to Garten is Crested Tit and they never disappoint us!

In addition the Coal Tits here are very friendly:

To our delight we also saw a couple Red Squirrel, some Treecreeper:

and a brief sighting of a Goldcrest:

The light was terrible while we were there and it rained continually but at least the birds didn't desert us. After Garten we had a drive up to Aviemore Ski Centre in the hope of Snow Bunting or Ptarmigan but both must have been on their tea break when we were there! The views were great though!

The later weather forecast wasn't great so we headed back reasonably early again, which was a wise move as with the high winds there was some snow drifts building around the Lecht, in fact a lorry was unable to get up one of the hills the snow was too deep for it on the road. Thank heavens for a Land Rover! We finished the day by adding Red-legged Partridge to the list on our way down out of the mountains. So endeth part two!  Decided that was enough for this one. So sorry there will have to be a part three.

Scotland Day 1 - Loch Garten and the North Moray Coast

Courtesy of Groupon we made a whistle stop tour of Scotland for a long weekend. Calling in to see our Daughter in Edinburgh on the way. (Stopped the night before heading on)

We met up with Jo & Jimmy our usual partners in birding at Loch Garten, with two targets in mind, Crested Tit & Red Squirrel. The Crested Tit delivered as planned but sadly no sign of any Squirrels, but we did get our first Treecreeper of the year so that was bonus:

We were going to go up to the Ski area at Aviemore for Ptarmigan before heading to our digs in Tomintoul, but the snow gates were shut and the weather was looking grim so we headed off, just as well as the Snow was starting to come down quite hard.

After a few drams that evening and a good breakfast the next morning we set off north heading for Burghead and Long-tailed duck! We first went to east side of the headland and did a bit of sea watching, picking up some distant Long tails, Common Scoter and Cormorant as well as Great Black-backed Gulls. The sea was pretty rough but the surfers seemed oblivious to the wind and cold! So over to the harbour, this is a great place with brilliant views, we found some Redshank and Cormorant as we approached the harbour:

But the highlight being 5 Long-tailed ducks in the harbour (3 male, 2 Female):

Plus a Great Northern Diver:

So a really good start to the day. We then went for a walk around and discovered this group of Turnstone sheltering:

There was however one bird at the back of the group that caught our eye:

Our first Purple Sandpiper, result! UK List number 199! Does it get any better, well yes it does but that's for tomorrow! Walking on we had another surprise a Shag keeping out the wind:

Carrying on to the end of the Harbour Wall there were about 50 Eider just outside the Harbour entrance

bouncing up and down on the choppy water. We then wandered back to the car, on the way this Rock Pipit posed for us on one of the walls:

We drove on now to Findhorn Bay for a look around, we stopped at the Local Nature Reserve Hide. This was locked so we found another viewpoint. Most birds were pretty distant, there was a nice group of Pintail on the water but much too distant for a photo into the Sun. (The Sun did put in an appeara!nce from time to time!) We went along to the shore behind the town, the only birds of note there were more Turnstone:

We had a look at the Marina adding a pair of Red-breasted Merganser to the tally, the took off as soon as we appeared though. There were plenty of Oystercatcher about over on the far shore but again too distant for any photography! So on to the next peg.... We decided to drop into Cubin Sands NR, but the paths were flooded and time was pressing as we wanted to visit Nairn, so just took a photo of some Highland Laddies to prove we had been there!

So on to Nairn, we initially parked up by the Leisure Centre overlooking the Sea and had a bite to eat, just a couple of things to report here really, some Brent Geese foraging in the rocks:

and a Herring Gull who couldn't quite decide what to do with his catch!

after about 10 minutes he gave up after being harassed by other Gulls and he just dropped it in the sea.

After Being suitably refreshed we drove over to the harbour, there was plenty about, Wigeon, Turnstone, Redshank, Hooded Crow, Herring & Great Black-backed Gull, Oystercatcher and a Goosander.

So endeth day one!