A Landmark Encounter......Day 11

 We wanted to end the trip with just a fun day with no real wildlife watching planned so decided on a trip to The Landmark Adventure Park in Carrbridge.

 Before setting off though I had time to get the trail cam in from the garden and check for any footage filmed. There were quite a few clips recorded throughout the night so excitement took over. 

Wondering why the camera had started recording, then a bit into the video clip you will see. 

 Yes, there were numerous springy Field Mice bouncing around on the lawn.

 Hoping that all 20 clips were not all Field Mice I continued through them. I shouted Majella, Pine Marten. Finally on the penultimate night a Pine Marten graced our camera. It spent a few minutes snacking on the peanuts before hobbling off with what looked like a limp.

 An awesome sight for us though not exactly a welcome sight on the farm with all the poultry around. With just tonight left I would have to try and get views of my own before we leave the next morning.

 After the excitement of the Pine Marten we made our way to Carrbridge and the park. First we had a quick look at the Old Packhorse Stone Bridge in the village.Built in 1717 it's the oldest stone bridge in the Highlands.

 We left the bridge and arrived just up the road at the Landmark Adventure Park. Due to it still being in Winter season, the park entrance fee was still reduced as not all the attractions are open, but still plenty to see and do, though we were disappointed the Red Squirrel woodland was all closed.

 Our first stop was at the Wonderwood Crazy Cabins. Always good for a laugh.

 Next to the cabins was the new animatronic Dinosaur Kingdom.

 It was a pretty good exhibition and a definite for anyone interested in Dinosaurs.

 A few clips showing the animatronics in action.

 A new type of Dinosaur hatching. Yes it was my 50th recently.😉😂

 Just across the courtyard from the Dinosaur Kingdom was another new attraction since we last visited and that was the Tropical Hot House. Chinese Painted Quail ran through the vegetation, numerous Butterflies(Swallowtails, Clippers, Mormons, Morphos & Postman) fluttered by and there were also Frogs and lots of Owl Butterfly caterpillars which fascinated us.

 Owl Butterfly Caterpillars.

 These were actually real even though their movement looked animatronic.

 The information board explaining the benefits for the farmers around the world and the conservation benefits too.

 We left the warmth of the Butterfly House and walked and stood at the bottom of the wooden fire tower, contemplating whether we could make it up the 105 steps or not. We decided to give it a go as no one else was around so we could take our time if my knees rebelled against me.

 We made it.On reaching the top we used the binoculars to scan the trees for birds or Red Squirrels but didn't need them as we both gasped and held our breaths as a female Crossbill flew up and landed on the wooden railing just a few feet away.I actually had to carefully step backwards so I could raise my camera without spooking her and get a photo or two.Fortunately she trusted us enough to not immediately depart and gave us a couple of minutes of her time.

 Well, that was definitely worth the aching knees. Another mind-blowing Natural World encounter, a Landmark encounter you might say. 😉

Before we left we went into Bamboozeleum, more fun illusions to interact with.

Yes, your worst nightmare, two of me 😉😂

 A hugely enjoyable fun day with the added extra of another amazing Scottish wildlife encounter.It was time to head back to Tulloch, sort out my photos and get hopefully ready for some more wildlife at the farm.

 

 When there's a knock on the door but it's an unexpected guest.

 We had tea, Majella watched tv as i sorted out things on the laptop while glancing out of the kitchen window every few seconds from my chair. For the next few hours nothing arrived and approaching midnight, Majella went to bed leaving me in the dark staring out of the window. It was just 10 minutes later when I rushed as softly as I could into the bedroom and let her know that we had a visitor.

 The Pine Marten was back and this time we didn't require the trail cam to see it.

We watched from the kitchen window as it hoovered up the peanuts and a bit of bread and jam I had left out.

 It was the same Pine Marten from the previous night as this one was also limping as well as having the end of it's bushy tail missing.I also recognised the 3 dots in it's pale bib that the one on the trail cam had.

 It fed for a few minutes, nervously glancing around and then took off into the darkness. What a fantastic last day at Tulloch. We would be leaving in the morning heading back South but hopefully it won't be another 2 years before we return.

 One last Scotland blog to come as we travel through Glencoe, Callander and Stirling.

Photos by Stuart Pike & Majella Fox 

Thank you so, so much for all the time you've spent reading my blog, browsing the photos and watching the video clips. I hope you've enjoyed it.

Stay safe.Happy travels, wherever you go.

Scotland 2020 - Day 5 - Train to Snow-where ;)

We awoke on our 5th day in Scotland to the wintry scene below.
 View from our cabin window.

  The roads were unpassable this morning so instead of staying indoors we decided to have a walk along the Spean River which passes through the field below.

  Hamish and Lucy also decided they had nothing better to do and so joined us on our walk. lol

  After returning to the cabin and still undecided on what to do I spent a bit of time with the garden birds. Siskins, Chaffinches, Great Tits, Coal Tits, Long-tailed Tits, Blackbirds and Robins all took advantage of the food we had put out.

                             

  After a check with Margo on the farm, news was the road was better and we could actually drive out of the farm.We didn't want to go far so checked the train timetable and found we could catch the train from Roybridge a couple of miles away to the remote Rannoch station.

  It was a breath taking 40 minute journey through the Moor and alongside Loch Treig.Black Grouse flew alongside for a few seconds and there was nothing but snow and ice as we reached Corrour's remote station house.Below are a couple of snippets of the journey taken on the phone.

                              

                              

  The train continues on down to Glasgow but not surprisingly we were the only two to disembark during the blizzard at Rannoch.We crunched through the snow along the platfrom and immediately noticed the herd of Red Deer just the other side of the track.

  While I was photographing the Deer, Majella noticed a couple of birds in the trees nearby.She pointed them out to me and we realised it was a pair of Crossbills.We watched them intently for over 10 minutes during which at one point they flew down on to the snowy platform just feet away from us.

  Our best ever encounter with Crossbills.

  The station tearoom was open so we headed inside out of the snow for a warming drink.

  Rannoch Station.

  With 2.5hrs before the train returns from Glasgow and takes us back to Roybridge and nothing but snow before us we headed over the track and on to Rannoch Moor. There was nothing but Snow, ice and Deer.

  Being someone who spends ages on a walk searching through scrub for bug life my slightly trained eye caught movement in the snow.At first I was amazed that an invertebrate was up here in heavy snow and -2c temperatures.I had heard of Snow fleas that can survive such harsh environments but this wasn't one of them.Fortunately Dr George McGavin was able to confirm for me that it was a species of Stonefly larvae.

                              

  It was time to leave this Winter wonderland and head back to the station.The Deer had moved around and were now situated along the lane and outside the station entrance so we slowly walked passed them hoping not to spook them.

They just gazed at us while continuing to chew loudly.

  This Hind was scraping the Lichen from the fence.

  We could hear the horn of the approaching train just as a Pheasant thought it was a good time to stroll alongside the track.Fortunately he did move just before the train arrived.

  Our way out of Rannoch and back to Roybridge.

  There was a stunning late afternoon light from the Winter Sun making it another mesmerising journey back.I tried to take a few photos of this desolate snowy landscape through the carriage windows on the return journey.It was akin to been North of the wall in Game Of Thrones.

                              

  As we returned through Tulloch and into Roybridge we could hardly believe that all but a few patches of Snow had thawed since we left.A Male Siskin honoured us with his presence as we walked back to the car.

  I urge anyone who stays in the Fort William, Spean Bridge area to think about jumping on the train to Rannoch.It was a stunning wilderness and something we will definitely do again if we make it back to Tulloch.

Thanks so much again for taking time out of your lives to view my blog. :) 

Only 1 day left as we wind down the Scotland trip with more night-time trail cam footage and a short drive up the Great Glen.