Scotland 2020 - Day 4 - Eagles, Martens & Potter

  For day 4 we headed to the stunning West coast along the A830, "The Road To The Isles". Our first stop was Loch Shiel and the Glenfinnan Monument and Viaduct.

  Glenfinnan viaduct made more famous from been used as the route to Hogwarts in Harry Potter.

  The Glenfinnan Monument, a memorial to the people who fought in the Jacobite risings in 1745.

  Loch Shiel with a handy bench to view the scenery(if you have wellies)

 

  To the left of the monument entrance there is a boardwalk that takes you around a marsh and woodland area so we had a quick stroll along it til the boardwalk became part of the Loch.

  Spring was most certainly in the Highlands as Common Frogs were everywhere along with clusters of frog spawn.

  Back in the Monument car park we had the pleasure of this Robin's company.

  We continued West til we reached the scenic Loch Eilt with it's small islands including Eilean Na Moine which was used as Dumbledore's grave (yes this post does seem to becoming a Harry Potter location tour) 

  I tried to get a photo quickly as a hail storm began and hurt like hell lol 

  Loch nan Uamh was always worthy of a stop in the layby as we had spotted numerous Great Northern Divers here before.Today we had Cormorants and a few Seals on the distant rocks. While scanning the water for life this Song Thrush appeared out of the scrub nearby.

  The next place worth exploring is one of our favourite places.As you turn off the A830 to Arisaig there is a single track road to Rhu.A fabulous little road that takes in all the inlets letting you scan for waders and ending with a stunning view across to Rum and Eigg.

  It's an amazing place to stop and sit in the car having lunch while watching the wildlife around the West coast.A Curlew foraged among the seaweed, a Grey Heron fished from the rocks and a Hooded Crow using it's high intelligence to hover in the wind with a shellfish, dropping it on to the rocky beach below to be rewarded with a small meal.

  Grey Heron fishing the bay.

  A pair of glorious Stonechats flew from the field behind to land in the scrub before us.

  Male Stonechat

  I usually look for Raptors along this road too as there are usually Buzzards and Kestrels nearby but I didn't expect the flying barn door to appear from over the hill and glide calmly by us.

  White-tailed Eagle near Arisaig.

  What a spectacular sight :) 

  We made it into Mallaig just as the wind had blown a snowstorm in from the sea, obscuring the view over to Rum.

                             

  Staying in the car we watched the waves crashing into the shore and waited for the Snow to die down before walking into the harbour.

  Herring and Black-backed Gulls filled the air and Eiders and a solitary Black Guillemot drifted on the undulating sea.

  Black Guillemot

  Fishermen were working on their boats anchored to the harbour walls which had interested the local Grey Seal popuation.
  Photo by Majella Fox

  As more snow was forecast to hit the West coast we decided it was time to head back and beat the coming storm.
  Tug and Shadow were waiting on our arrival back to the farm.
Tug who we sadly lost this week.

  Shadow

  The trail camera was not surprisingly put out again but placed further up the lawn and nearer the cabin in hope of getting views from the kitchen.
  The Pine Marten didn't disappoint.

  Later during the night you can see the Snow arrived, though the Rabbits didn't seem too bothered as they made off with all the apples lol 

                             

  Thanks again for joining us on our trip in Scotland.I hope you are enjoying me sharing about Scotland's amazing wildlife and scenery.

Day 5 is all about the Snow and a train. See you then :) 

  

 
 

  

   

  

30 Days Wild - Day 13

  Yes, I know unbelievable a #30DaysWild blog on the correct day (just) ;)

Day 13    Coasting Around County Down

  I am staying at my partners Mum's house in Newry so we decided to head to the County Down coastline, starting in Dundrum about 40 minutes away.It's a great place to see Brent Geese in Winter but today they were replaced by 26 Mute Swans.
  Dundrum Bay

  Also dotted around the bay were a few Curlew, Herring Gulls, Little Egrets, Hooded Crows and 7 Grey Herons.

  Walking along I noticed a lethargic Tree Bumblebee in the road so carefully let it climb onto my finger and relocated it on a Dog Rose.

  On the way out there was a Male Bullfinch on the grass verge.I managed a quick pic from the car before it vanished into the hedgerow.

  We continued South down the coast a few minutes in the car and arrived at Murlough National Nature Reserve.A massive sand dune system known as a stronghold for Marsh Fritillary Butterflies and 250 species of Moth.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/murlough-national-nature-reserve

  The Dunes

  Unfortunately I didn't find any Fritillaries but there were plenty of Small Heath Butterflies instead.

  Four moth species were found, 3 Micros and this Yellowshell.
 along with a Drinker Moth Caterpillar on the path.

  Drinker Moth caterpillar.

  Hooded Crows patrolled the dunes

 
and the song of the Meadow Pipits drifted on the sea breeze.

  After returning to the car we had another short drive further South to the coastal town of Newcastle.It's a high street with a beach and mountains and one of my favourite places in Northern Ireland.

  We grabbed lunch, went in and out of a few charity shops and then headed to the small boating lake which is always good for some Gull action.

    Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls were all in attendance.
  Black-headed Gull

  Herring Gull

  Lesser Black-backed Gull

  The Gull creche.

  The sun was starting to warm up so it was bath time for a Mallard and Hooded Crow.

  Another Grey Heron was doing its best to ignore the Gulls and concentrate on fishing until it gave up and moved away to the other end of the lake.

  We avoided the temptation of buying ice creams and walked back to the car along the promenade while deciding we still had time to move a bit inland and visit Silent Valley situated in the Mourne Mountains.

https://www.niwater.com/silent-valley/ 

  There are numerous trails to trek round varying from the lower Nature trail to the more adventurous steeper trails into the mountains.Of course I decided to do the "easy" nature trail along the Kilkeel River.It was a relaxing walk with the songs of Blackbirds, Blackcaps and Long-tailed Tits serenading us along the way.

Kilkeel River

  A Treecreeper, one of my favourite(non-bird of prey) bird flew from tree to tree trying to unearth bugs from beneath the bark.

  We finished the day by having a break at Sally Lough, a very peaceful place with just Mallards for company.

  It was time to head back to Newry on the coastal road through Rostrevor and Warrenpoint and it was in the latter that the real highlight of the day arrived.AS we drove through the town along the sea wall I saw a few birds bobbing on the water and screamed "stop the car, turn around!" Majella said "what!" and continued on before finding a place to turn and park up.

  I had seen three Black Guillemots in the sea.I got out the car and walked over the road to lean on the sea wall and try to get a photograph of these stunning sea birds.

  It was then I realised there were actually seven of them and incredibly a couple of them flew in and landed along the wall, ambled within a few feet of me and just sat down, unfazed by my presence.

  What a fantastic way to end our day out.What stunning birds :) 

  I am not sure what tomorrow will bring but I hope it will contain more "wild" encounters.

  

  Get out and get WILD!! :)