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.

Birthday on Eagle Island.......Day 7

 Today was my birthday so I wanted to spend it somewhere really special. With the weather forecast predicting a storm coming in from the West the next day this was also our only chance to get over to Eagle Island, also known as the Isle of Mull.

 It meant an early start but first I had to retrieve the trail cam from the garden or be inundated with hundreds of birds clips taken throughout the day while we were out. No time to check the cam before leaving so that would have to wait until we returned from Mull. A half hour drive down through Fort William to the Corran Ferry was our first destination. The Sun was just making it's appearance over the mountains as we got the 5 minute ferry across Loch Linnhe.

 We disembarked and started our 90 minute drive across Morven to catch ferry number two at Lochaline. It is such a remote area full of dramatic landscapes and stunning Lochs. It is also a great place to see Red Deer as they congregate on the hills nearby.

 The ruggedness of Morven.

 We arrived in Lochaline and had a bit of a wait for the next ferry so watched the Cormorants, Oystercatchers and Common Seals along the Sound of Mull. The ferry only takes 20 minutes from Lochaline to Fishnish on Mull. You can usually stand on the deck and search for Otters, birds and Cetaceans but with the Covid restrictions in place we were confined to our car. 

 Waiting for the ferry to Mull with my new personalised Raptorwatcher travel mug, very apt for today.

 Arriving on Mull we headed South to follow our usual circular route. A quick stop at Craignure for the charity shop and then continuing on our way up into Raptor's paradise. Buzzards were everywhere, and distant ones at altitude always caused immense excitement making us think Eagles, til we got the binoculars on them.

 Some Buzzards were closer than others 😀

 Numerous Kestrels were also seen hovering around the jagged cliff faces.

 Mull is an amazing island with stunning scenery and breath-taking wildlife, the kind of place you never want to leave. Scenery of Mull.

 Red Deer could also been found over most of Mull. 

I think this Stag is saying "I can see my house from here!" 😉

 Turning off the main road back to Salen and heading towards Fionnphort which leads you to the ferry across to Iona(a place we still haven't managed to visit) is a good place to search the shores for Divers. Both Great Northern & Red-Throated Divers were seen.

 If you get out often enough to look for wildlife(we unfortunately don't get out enough) then every now and again you are rewarded with a mind-blowing encounter. Scotland though provides these most days, and today just became one of those days. Continuing on towards Salen, a Raptor in a hunting stoop shot down the hillside and over the road in front of us and down among some felled trees in the glen. Not quite Peregrine speed but still very impressive. It came back up with prey which looked to be a rabbit. The majestic Golden Eagle circled once with it's prey and then a second Eagle landed further on by the roadside calling, The hunter returned to it carrying the prey, and then they both disappeared out of sight down into the glen. The Natural World had blown us away yet again, though I do sort of wish that I had a better camera.

 What a way to spend my birthday. Our time on the Isle was coming to a close so we needed to get back to Fishnish to catch the ferry back to the mainland. On our way back across Morven, as it was later in the day the Red Deer were now closer to the road than before.

 The view back over Loch Linnhe to the Nevis mountain range.

 It was getting dark when we arrived back at the farm so while Majella started tea I turned on the laptop and uploaded the SD card from the trail cam. It is always exciting when you open the file and find numerous video files filmed during the early hours of the morning.This time was no different.Nothing much happened til around 4.30am then this appeared on the trail cam in the garden. PS Also need new HD trail cam for better footage lol 

 A Scottish Wildcat? There are no neighbours and no cats on the farm. The clips have been sent to Saving Wildcats and they cannot confirm from the footage if it is a Scottish Wildcat or hybrid but still an extremely exciting mammal to see on the camera.She's actually eating Hedgehog food that I put out. An awesome way to end my 50th birthday and then even better Majella had bought me a birthday cake 😉🎂

Photos by Stuart Pike & Majella Fox 

Many thanks for continuing to follow our Scotland adventure and for waiting the extra day for this update due to my illness. I do hope you are finding it enjoyable, informative and maybe even entertaining. 

Still 5 days left to come, so much more to see.

Stay safe.