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.

  

  

Tales From The Highlands

Day 12 - Dolphins & Dippers

  The day started with the very short 2 minute drive(I couldn't manage the walk up the beach) to Chanonry Point at around 8.15am.Low tide had been at 6.30am so now was a great time to catch the Bottlenose Dolphins as they followed the tide back in to feed on the Salmon.We had only just made it to the point when the unmistakeable dorsal fin of a Dolphin broke the choppy water's surface, quickly followed by a second smaller one.I think it was Zephyr and her calf.

  A third Dolphin came closer to shore.

  If Charlie Phillips, Moray Firth Dolphin behavourial expert and author reads this then maybe he will identify the third Dolphin.We started to leave after about 75 minutes when the rain started to get too much and met Charlie up in the car park and was able to get his new book "On A Rising Tide" with the most stunning Dolphin photographs you will ever see.You can check out about his book on the link below.

http://www.nesspublishing.co.uk/books/on-a-rising-tide/

  This is why Chanonry Point is one of the best places in the UK to watch Dolphins from the shore.

  We left Charlie in the cold wind and headed back to warm up with a coffee.With a couple of hours still to go til lunch Majella suggested a walk up the nearby RSPB Fairy Glen in Rosemarkie.Only 5 minutes into the walk and a Grey Wagtail flew up and settled in a tree on the other side of the stream.

  The Fairy Glen

  Not much further along and I saw what I had hoped to find since last week.The bouncing white bib of a Dipper.Usually I may get a couple of photographs before it flies off but this one seemed happy to have an audience and came within a few feet of us.

  Dipper film clip by Majella Fox

                             

  It was just amazing to be able to watch this fantastic bird so closely.After 20 minutes of a breathtaking wildlife encounter we left it to continue further up the trail.
  Dipper De Do Da
  Dipper De, Yay
  I found a Dipper
  That made my day ;)

  Okay don't leave just yet ;) lol Unfortunately there are no photos of the Fairy Glen waterfalls as we only got a bit further before my left knee(the one drained and injected before we came up here) decided that if we were to press on, it was going to punish me with more pain so we called it a morning and headed back for lunch.

  In the afternoon we set off to meet a friend and fellow Nature lover who was lucky enough to move up here.I am envious of her garden lol A constant procession of Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Siskins, Starlings, Robins, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Treecreepers, Blackbirds, Dunnocks came to the feeders while we were there.
  Treecreeper

  Siskin

  Red Squirrels usually frequent Helen's garden but had decided today to stay out of the rain.We all then went for a walk with a couple of crazy dogs.

  The 3+ hours were over way too quickly but we are moving into her shed shortly so are not too upset ;)

  All in all in was a good day, lots of wildlife and meeting up again with two great people.
  Thanks again for reading.It is getting near now to the end of our time up here so you will all get your 2 minutes a day back very soon ;) lol

Stuart