Along the Moray Coast......Day 3

 Today's plan was to head West along the A96 to Nairn and then make our way back along the coast, past Elgin to Spey Bay to see what we could find on the water.

 We arrived at Nairn early in the morning as the incoming tide was already concealing the majority of the stoney beach. Hooded Crows were foraging among the rocks and washed up seaweed.

 A Rock Pipit appeared from out of it's camouflaged place among the stones and flew up to greet us on the pier wall.

 Back down on the beach a flock of around 20 Redshanks and 10 Oystercatchers rested but were continually disturbed by the waves of the encroaching tide.  

 The Redshanks were only able to rest their heads under their wings for seconds at a time before another deepening wave annoyed them and caused them to move a few more inches up their rapdily disappearing sanctuary.

 Video clip of the Redshanks trying to keep ahead of the tide.Filmed by Majella.

 A small group of Turnstones briefly joined the increasingly crowded, shrinking beach before joining us up on the pier out of reach of the surf.

 We left the flock to battle with the inevitable tide and walked along the pier to scan the Moray Firth for Sea Ducks.

 Photo by Peter Moore.

 Pale-Bellied Brent Geese flew East, their wing tips scarcely above the undulating water surface.

 Through the scope, scanning of the water revealed distant rafts of Ducks with the wonderful Black Isle as a backdrop. Common Eiders, Common Scoters, Red-Breasted Mergansers and some stunning Long-Tailed Ducks calling out across the deep water. Unfortunately all too distant for photographs but we were immensely happy to have seen them none the less.

 

 We left Nairn after an enjoyable 3 hours of birding and relaxing to the sound of the waves and headed back East and in to Findhorn Bay.

 Findhorn Bay was also alive with the sounds of calling waterfowl.More Redshanks, Curlew and dozens of Pintail Ducks all along the shoreline.

 It was only a brief visit to Findhorn as the wind seemed to becoming more Arctic by the minute so we warmed back up in the car and made our way to Spey Bay.

 Spey Bay is most notable for the WDC Scottish Dolphin Centre but today the conditions were not favourable for Dolphin sightings.We stood on the shingle beach for a while gazing out across the Firth. A flock of small birds flew past and landed further up the shingle, it was a group of Linnets. We just managed to get the binoculars on them and identify them before another person with a loose dog many yards away from her disturbed them, making them move on and unnecessarily use up more energy.

 Moving out of the wind we had a short walk along the Spey River. As well as a large congregation of Gulls there were also numerous Goldeneye and Goosanders.

 Song Thrushes, Robins and Dunnocks were hopping among the gorse and another group of Curlew had been joined by a few Greylag Geese in an adjacent field.There was still some daylight left so instead or returning straight to our hotel in Elgin(another expensive Travelodge) we followed the coastal road through Portgordon to Buckie.

 On the way we spotted more Gulls, Herring, Black-headed & Great Black-backed, as well as Wigeon, Oystercatchers, Redshanks, Grey Herons, Mallards and a couple of Buzzards.A wonderful long birding day completed, it was time to head indoors for some shuteye and decide on our destination for tomorrow.

Thanks as always for taking the time to view my blog. It is very much appreciated.

If you do enjoy it then please leave a comment so I know that at least one person has read it ;) lol 

More Scottish wildlife to come tomorrow.

 

 

 

Scotland 2020 - Day 2 - Curiosity Caught The Cat(on Cam)

  After the 10 hour drive up yesterday we didn't go far today and just stayed in the Fort William area and on the farm. After checking for the tide times we were able to do a bit of shopping before heading to a spot on the Loch Linnhe shoreline at low tide where we have viewed Otters on numerous occasions.

  Unfortunately no mammals this time but plenty of bird life with a Rock Pipit on the stony shore and rafts of Goosanders, Goldeneye and Gulls on the water.

  Goldeneye.

  

  The wind chill meant we stayed for less time than we planned so returned to the car and headed down Glen Nevis.Due to the return of the pouring rain we decided against a walk along the river and drove down the Glen.

  Hooded Crow in the gloomy Glen Nevis.

  Glen Nevis in which Harry Potter fans may know Hagrid's Hut was located.

  We headed back to the farm and caught up with the resident animals.

  My favourite boy, Tug.

  New boy and trouble maker ;), Shadow.

  The Sheep are always welcoming too lol

  

  I had a leisurely walk along the Spean River which runs through the farmland.It had been swollen by the recent rain and snow hiding the rocks I can usually sit down on but surprisingly I still saw a Dipper fly by me heading upstream.

                             

  Back indoors I now had time to check out the trail cam I had placed in the garden the night before.The only food I had put out were apples and peanuts in hope of the local Red Deer coming into the garden again as in previous visits.

  My trail camera is getting very old so no longer immune to the Scottish weather and so the first footage was a bit mysterious.

  Name the mammal....

                             

  

  No, it wasn't this one ;)  The first clear footage of the early hours caught this curious feline checking out the food on offer.

                             

                             

  A Scottish Wildcat?? I think it may be the same individual that I also caught on film around the same time the previous year.At the time it was suggested it was most likely a Hybrid.Hybridisation with domestic Cats is one of the biggest threats to the true Scottish Wildcat population.

  You can learn more about the Scotland Tigers on the Scottish Wildcat Action website below.

http://www.scottishwildcataction.org 

  The Wildcat wasn't the only mammal to visit last night.The answer to the first mysterious footage became clear around 5.30am.The peanut fancier, a Pine Marten.

                             

                             

                             

  This was the first time I had actually seen a Pine Marten on camera at the farm in 15 years of visiting.It meant there may be some long nights ahead in hope of catching a live sighting of this elusive Mustelid.

Day 3 coming tomorrow as we head West to the Cairngorms.

Many thanks for reading and watching the clips. :)