Home From Home........Day 5

 It was time to leave Elgin and the Moray coast and head back South(but not too far as to get too close to the Welcome to England sign 😉). We drove down, cutting across Inverness-shire spending just a few minutes on the A9 before turning off and then South on the B851 towards Fort Augustus.

 As we were coming this way we decided we would check out RSPB Loch Ruthven just in case any Grebes had arrived earlier than expected. It is known as one of the best places in the UK to spot breeding Slavonian Grebes. Unsurprisngly there was no one else there and part of the Loch was covered in a thin layer of ice. The rest was perfectly still making it ideal for spotting movement on the water.

 As we headed up the small winding path ripples betrayed a skulking bird on the edge of the loch. We stood still as it drifted into sight. It was indeed a Slavonian Grebe, still in it's Winter plumage.

 Fantastic to see as we thought we were a bit too early. A few Tufted Ducks were also on the loch and a Robin bounced around the wooded path. On the way back to the car we spotted a pair of flighty Stonechats, our first of the year.

 Continuing our journey we scanned the skies for Raptors and saw a couple of Buzzards and the fields held several Highland Coos. This one having his afternoon nap.

The B851 runs just West of Loch Mhor so it was always worth checking out for more Waterfowl. As we approached the end of the loch we were greeted with the sight of hundreds of Pink-footed Geese.

 A few minutes later as we passed the Knockie Estate two more Raptors were flying towards our position.We pulled to the side of the road to try and get a better view. As they got closer we could clearly see the size of them and I shouted Eagles. Two White-tailed Eagles glided over us and continued East towards Loch Killin.

 Woohoo, Otters, Slavonian Grebes and White-tailed Eagles over two days and we hadn't even gotten to our main accommodation for the week yet. This is why Scotland is the best place 😉😀

 One of the reasons we come on this road is it takes you over moorland before going down to the edge of Loch Ness and Fort Augustus and so it is a good place to look for Red Grouse. We stopped at the main layby which was crowded with tourists, some of them wandering through the heather so thought it would be tricky to find any nearby. Among the dull Winter heather though the bright red eyebrows of a Red Grouse are easily spotted. A group of 6 moving alongside one of the fences.

View from the B851 layby where we watched the Red Grouse.

 It was just another 45 minutes down through Fort Augustus to Fort William to pick up some shopping and then half hour back up to Glen Spean and to the farm.

 On arrival it felt amazing to be back after 2 years, it feels more like home than being at our house in Lincolnshire.We were greeted by our wonderful hosts, Robert and Margo and the accompanying menagerie.

 It is the first time I've been back since the heart-breaking loss of Tug but this trio managed to put a smile on my face. Georgie, Shadow and Neville were happy to see us.

 I also found an instant new friend in their lodger, Chester. 

Thanks as always for spending your precious time browsing my wildlife blog 😀

I do hope you enjoyed it.

Much more to come over the next week with trips to Mull, the West coast and the Cairngorms as well as plenty of wildlife at the farm.

Til tomorrow 🙏😊

 

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.