A Short Visit to the Cairngorms - Part 2 of 2 Everywhere Else!

 So for the other day we visited RSPB Loch Garten, Findhorn Valley & RSPB Loch Ruthven.

We started at Loch Garten as it was so close to our digs, we usually visit in the winter and weren't used to so many people being there. Our real objective was to see the Crested Tits, so with so many people there we decided our chances were slim, so we took a scenic drive up to Findhorn Valley instead and planned to pop into Garten on our way back in the late afternoon.

On the way we stopped a few minutes for a coffee in a lay by next to the River Dulnain. We were pleasantly surprised to see some Goosander and a Grey Wagtail:

As we approached the way in to the valley off the A9, a raptor flew off to our left, so we stopped to check it out, in Eagle country you have to check everything!

Through the bins and in murky light it was difficult to identify, but with the wonders of modern technology, I brightened the photo up and pulled it in, it was quite a way away and it turned out to be a strange tailed Red Kite.

Down in the valley it was very quiet, although we did manage to see a pair of Dippers, our first for the year, we pulled over on the single track road, to try and get a good view, but a local in a hurry forced us to move, don't want to upset the locals, and we lost sight of them. Apart from that we saw Pheasant, 

more Grey Wagtail, Swallows and as we turned of to cross the moors over to Ruthven some Red-legged Partridge.

We had hoped to see some Grouse or Wheatear up on the high moors, but we didn't see a thing!

We eventually dropped down off the moors and made or way to Loch Ruthven, where we saw a first for us, this time in the shape of a butterfly, there were a few Scotch Argus about, but only this rather raggedy one stopped still long enough for a photo:

The star of the show at Loch Ruthven if you are lucky are Slavonian Grebe, and that is the first thing we saw as we walked from the car park towards the hide. There was at least one pair with two grebelets, (I don't know if that's a real word!) Of course they never came close, preferring the far side of the loch, so it was a good job we had the scope. I did take some photos, but again it was very dull day, so I apologise for the very poor quality.

The only other birds on the Loch were a pair of Little Grebe and some Mallard, however as a bonus an Osprey paid a visit a couple of times, but only flew around a couple of minutes each time.

From Ruthven we headed back and as I said earlier dropped into Loch Garten, it was now very quiet, only a couple of camper vans in the car park and nobody up by the visitor centre (now closed for the day) We made a cup of tea and decided to wait for something to turn up, however after a few minutes we were besieged by Midges. We stuck it out for about 15 minutes, but with our midge nets safely in the loft back home, we fled! So no Cresties, just a Chaffinch, Woodpigeon and a Great Tit for our efforts.

Next day saw us drive home via the Lecht and a visit to some old friends, with whom we have become reacquainted, who now live in Kirkmichael. We stopped in the Lecht Ski Centre car park for a short while in case there was anything about, but again being August there was nothing, apart from some Swallows, however as we drove away from the Lecht Tina spotted a couple of raptors to the left, so we pulled over to check them out, but it was just a couple of Tourist Eagles (Buzzards! 😂 ) But just as I was about to drive off I spotted another to the right over a ridge. This time we struck gold! Or more precisely a Golden Eagle. Result! Too far for a photo though.

From there we had a lovely afternoon at our friends and even saw a Red Squirrel from their garden. So all in all a lovely couple of days.

A few Days Around Glencoe

Following our exhausting trip around India, we decide to head up to Scotland for a bit of R&R. We found ourselves a great hotel in Ballachulish at the bottom of the Glencoe Valley with lovely views over Loch Leven and the mountains.

Of course we did go out every day, starting with a couple of short walks from our hotel, on what were a couple of gloomyish mornings, that did provide a chance for a bit of birding:
Grey Heron,

 Hooded Crow,

 a magnificent Dipper on the river,

 a few Wigeon

 and another (same?) Dipper,

 and some Long-tailed Tits.

We had driven through this area many a time on the way elsewhere, Mull, Glenuig and Wester Ross  to name a few, but thought it would be  a nice place to explore a little bit. We did a circular drive around Loch Leven, spotting Oystercatcher and Curlew along with Gulls, but no divers, we thought there might be a chance, but alas no!

We also drove up to the Corran Ferry which we have used in the past seeing Black Guillemots but not this time! Driving back Tina remembered a name that she had read in some recommended places to visit from the hotel. Inchree, where at the back of the village was a forestry car park and walks, we decided not to do the walks, but adjacent to the car park was a screen, so we stayed a while and this letter fella turned up:

It's always a joy to see Red Squirrels, we had two visit the feeders, but they couldn't share so ended up having a bit of a scrap and chase around the trees.

We finished the day with some Red Deer up in the mountains on the Loch/River Etive track:

Another day saw us explore the Appin area, again some great scenery, with a view over to Castle Stalker:

 and our first Redwings of the Winter.

Also seen were Goosander, Merganser, Goldeneye, Buzzard, Cormorant, various Gulls (no rarities) and Fieldfare.

Now when looking at Google Maps the night before I came across a nature reserve that I hadn't noticed before, the Highland Titles NR, so on the way back to the hotel we called in as it was right off the main road. It's actually a reserve called Glencoe Wood, but owned and managed by Highland Titles. It transpires that the reserve is funded by selling 1ft square plots to people for £30 (larger plots are available for more cash of course) You get a certificate and the title of Lord/Lady or Laird of your plot. Very popular with Americans and as it happens Australians! Who come and visit their plot. We found this out after a lengthy chat with one of the volunteers. Otherwise access to the reserve is free.

After learning that there were two hides over looking a couple of Lochins, where Otters are seen, we decided to come back the following day and try it out. By the way during our brief time in the car park and chatting we added Great Spotted Woodpecker to our tally, as well as the usual woodland birds.

So we went back the next day, first visiting according to the map the waterfall, just a few minutes from the car park. Whilst pretty it was a tad underwhelming, it was only 6ft high!

From there we proceeded up what was billed as a gentle slope up to the hides. But as Jim Royle would say "Gentle slope my ar*e" Actually it wasn't that steep, but seemed to gone forever. Anyway we persevered and found the hides. A big disappointment!

They were basically two small garden sheds with very small UPVC windows at about 6ft, if I stood on my toes I could see out. There were two stools in each, which if you sat on them you couldn't see out of the windows! There were benches outside so we sat on those and had a coffee. There were few birds about, a Buzzard on the ridge, some Coal Tit, Great Tit, Robin, Woodpigeon, a Raven and Wren.

The views were great though.

We stayed a while but nothing much to report, so we wandered back down, had another coffee by some feeders. Then back to the car park, where we used the facilities and added Goldcrest and Treecreeper to the list. So back to the hotel for another swim and sauna, which we did every day, lovely!

On the way up from Edinburgh to Glencoe after we noticed that the route took us within 2 miloes of the Agarty Red Kite centre, so on the way back to Edinburgh we decided to drop in. (we did phone beforehand and booked into the hide for the 1:30pm feeding.)

The weather was glorious and we got there early, seeing plenty of Red Kite gathering, plus Redwing, Fieldfare, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Wren. We wandered up to the hide after 'checking in' and had a treat with plenty of Tree Sparrows about:

plus Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Chaffinch and Dunnock. Then it was Red Kite Time:

Then a surprise was a Lesser Redpoll turning up in bush to the left of the hide, hiding it's head from the camera before flying off!

A lovely couple of hours before heading to Leith and a fabulous weekend with our daughter!

Titchmarsh LNR (Northants)

With one thing and another it's taken me a while to sort out photos etc from our recent trip to Norfolk. So I'm going to start off with a stop we made on the way to our digs in Little Snoring, this was a reserve I found that was directly on our route just off the A605, Titchmarsh LNR which is a Northants Wildlife Trust reserve and what a cracking place it is too. With I think 6 hides (although one has been wrecked by some mindless idiots), we visited 3 hides in the time we had and enjoyed our walk around the various lakes and streams.

We got off to a brilliant start as we entered the reserve. two red kites and a buzzard (together!) flew over us:

 We were now dodging some heavy showers, but continued our walk finding Green Woodpeckers, Bullfinch, various Tits, Wren and Blackbirds galore.
The water proved productive as well:

As well as the Littkle Egret, Gadwall and loads of Wigeon, we came across; Cormorant, Goosander, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Teal. Goldeneye, Greylag, Canada Geese, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen and this Reed Bunting trying to hide:

So a good start to our week in Norfolk, a total of 30 species. We did make one more stop in the Golden Pheasant Triangle at dusk but no luck was had.. Maybe next time.

Our adventures in Norfolk are to be continued..............................................