The Three Lochs......Day 10

 We usually spend a lot of the week driving East and back again along the A86 but this was our first journey along this road on this particular adventure. The road takes us East to Newtownmore, Kingussie and then on to the Cairngorms.

 We stopped in Newtownmore to check out the one charity shop there and while we were getting out of the car a young Red Squirrel scampered across the road. Hoping to get another sight of it we followed the path it had vanished down but to no avail. Giving up on our search we decided to head straight up to the Cairngorms car park. There was still snow about and the driving wind and rain kept us from walking to search for Grouse and Snow Buntings.

Rainbow with Loch Morlich in the background.   

 With the weather not easing up, we headed back to lower altitudes where we hoped the more sheltered areas would provide some birding. Walking through the pine forests we could see plenty of Great, Blue and Coal Tits, Siskins, Chaffinches and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. We then parked at Loch Morlich to look for Goldeneye, 3 were seen on the loch. 

Loch Morlich

 There were plenty of Mallards on the shore ambushing us for food.

 After a chippy lunch break in Aviemore we continued on to Abernethy Forest aka Middle-Earth. We had noticed this tree on the way in and couldn't resist re-enacting a scene from one of my favourite movies, The Lord Of The Rings, Fellowship Of The Ring.

 Walking back to the car park Majella spotted movement on the road, it was a Toad.With cars coming up to park I thought we'd best help it get off the road quicker and so carried it to the roadside.

 Loch Garten

Down the trail to the visitor centre the usual array of birds were flittering between the trees. We were only too happy to provide them with some extra food though this Great Tit was trying to get 'ahead' of the queue. 😉

 There was constant activity on the feeders at Loch Garten Osprey Centre.

 As we left Boat Of Garten I managed to get a quick photo of this Roe Deer chilling in the field.

 The drive back took quite a bit longer than expected as the Sun setting over the mountains and the varying cloud cover kept changing the awesome light, so there were stunning views at every turn along Loch Laggan and Glen Spean.

Loch Laggan

 We arrived back at Tulloch and Robert was out in the farmyard along with Chester, so I had to get a quick selfie (with Chester not Robert 😉)

 It was finally going to be a dry night again so before we settled in for the evening I set up the trail cam once again hoping for more Scottish mammal action.

Photos by Stuart Pike & Majella Fox

Thank you again for all the views on my blogs. It is always appreciated and hopefully you get some enjoyment reading through them.

Just a couple of days of this current Scotland trip to go but still plenty more Wildlife to share with you all.

Stay safe.

 

Scotland 2020 - Day 3 - A Tit In The Hand

  Today's original plan was to meet up with our friend Jan and catch the ferry from Lochaline to Fishnish on the Isle Of Mull. Due to heavy snow across Ardnamurchan and 40mph+ winds we decided the best option was to travel in the opposite direction and head to Aviemore.
  The lovely horizontal Scottish weather coming in at the farm before we left.

  With Jan we usually go straight out birding but as it had been a long time since meeting up we had a good chat before spending an hour walking along the shops in Aviemore high street and then into the chip shop.

  We then headed up to Abernethy Forest and Loch Garten.

  RSPB Loch Garten was yet to open for the Osprey season but it was still possible to walk down to the centre and see the bird feeding frenzy.

  As it was too early for the return from Africa of the Ospreys I had to fill in for the photographs ;) 

  Chaffinches, Great Tits, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, Siskins surrounded us as they cam down for food.

  Male Chaffinch

  Coal Tit

  As you can imagine there were numerous squabbles as the birds competed to feed.

  

  One Male Chaffinch seemed to be at the top of the bird community hierarchy and after facing off all-comers did his triumphant Jurassic Park T-Rex roar ;) 

  Suddenly a different bird was spotted skulking around the floor and base of the trees, a Treecreeper :) I haven't seen them feed on the floor very often and was amazing to see it up so close.

  Majella and Jan picked up some of the seed left on a table by previous visitors and waited patiently with their hands held out.

  It didn't take long for the Coal Tits to take up the offer.

  Majella with a Coal Tit

  Jan looking nonchalant while feeding another Coal Tit.

  Video clip of Majella feeding a Coal Tit and the joy it brings even if you have done it 100 times before.

                              

  The bird (besides the Ospreys) that a lot of people come to Loch Garten to find is the Crested Tit, only found in these ancient Caledonian pine forests in Scotland. Luckily we were treated to great views of one as it flitted from tree to tree and between the three of us picking up seeds.

  Crested Tit

  After a couple of hours we were all starting to feel the cold and so headed back to the car to warm up before driving back to the farm.We agreed it was a very good day and said our goodbyes so Jan could head back West towards Skye.

  As darkness approached it was time for me to get the trail camera back in place in the garden.

  

  The first mammal to appear was this Rabbit around 2am

                                

  Then just before 5am the Pine Marten was back.

                            

                            

                            

                            

  The trail cam even caught another mammal on film just before I went out to collect it, a Bank Vole.

                            

  An amazing diversity of Wildlife all around us while we sleep.

  Thanks again for taking the time to read the blogpost and view the film clips.Join me tomorrow when we head to the stunning West coast of Scotland.

Bye til then.

  

  

30 Days Wild:Day 14 - Photographic Memories

  Well unfortunately another day of not doing anything really wild so I had a browse back through some of the thousands of photographs I have taken and picked a few of my favourites.
  So in no particular order here are 12 of my, probably not best but ones that evoke a strong memory of connecting with the Natural World.
 
1. This is Bolt of the UK's only wild Reindeer herd in the Cairngorms.I managed to get this pic before he "tongued" my camera.

2.A Puffin bringing back Sand Eels for its Puffling on Farne Isles.

3.The greatest bird traveller, the Arctic Tern on Farne Isles.If you go wear a hat ;)

4.It was amazing getting so close to these Great Skuas (Bonxies) at Hermaness in Shetland.

5.My local Barn Owl at Sunset, this one was actually used by the RSPB :)

6.Blue Tits feeding their young in a garden in South Wales.

7.The stunning Marsh Fritillary Butterfly found in a meadow at Chambers Farm Wood, Lincs.

8.Not a great photo but as a fan of Raptors this is the only Red-footed Falcon I have ever seen.

9.I was just leaving RSPB Blacktoft Sands when I heard the calls of Pink-footed Geese and managed to get this pic as they passed the Moon.

10.Amur Tiger looking like she was trying to catch Snowflakes ;)

11.My favourite macro shot, a dew covered Ladybird.

12.Another Shetland photo taken on a trip to Fetlar in hope of seeing Red-necked Phalaropes but was happy enough with great views of some Dunlin.

  Hope you like the photos even though my Day 14 is a bit of a cheat lol Please stay with us though as we leave for Wales on Saturday for Choughs, Badgers, Puffins, Gannets, Red Kites and hopefully more and even before that we get to see the legend himself, Sir David Attenborough on Friday :)