Scotland 2020 - Day 6 - Farewell

  Sadly our last day in the Highlands and so with a 10hr drive back South the next day we stayed fairly close to the farm.We had a short drive along Glen Spean and then up the Great Glen.

  A86 Glen Spean views

  We headed back and up to Fort Augustus to look for Red Grouse on the moors.We saw a couple fly by as well as a hunting Kestrel.

  No matter what the weather or time of year it is there is always a beautiful light in Scotland unlike anywhere else we've been.

  Loch Lochy

  We stopped at the Commando Memorial monument at Spean Bridge to take in our last views of the Nevis range.

  The Commando memorial dedicated to the British Commandos of WW2 

  We returned to the far to pack things for our departure the next morning but still put out the trail cam for one last session.The Pine Marten must've been watching and waiting in the shadows as less than 5 minutes after setting up the camera and going indoors the Marten appeared.It's earliest arrival time so far, 7.30pm so we were able to watch from the kitchen window.

  Some more trail cam footage of this wonderful elusive mammal.

  I also finally recorded proof of our apple thief lol 

                              

  The trail cam was still set up in the morning while we finished packing and picked up some of the garden birds.

  The Blackbirds
                              

  The Robins

  With a heavy heart we left to head back down to Lincolnshire.Hopefully we will get the chance to return again.

   

  Since returning home we have received the devastating news from Margo & Robert that my favourite boy Tug had to be put to sleep.We are so thankful we got to share part of our lives with him and spend one last time with him again.He was such a beautiful and gentle soul who will be sadly missed. RIP Tug  😪     

                                                                                      

  Thank you to all who have read any of my blogposts and watched the clips.I hope you have enjoyed the journey with us.

  Bye til next time, Beannachd Leat 🙏

  

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.

  

  

30 Days Wild - Days 17-19

Day 17       Wagtails In The Woods

  Apologies in advance for the long blog and numerous photos in this firts section but I wanted to show as much as Tollymore Forest as I could but don't worry, the last 2 days are very short ;)

  We awoke early and headed back towards the County Down coast around 7am.On the way I saw my first ever Irish Hare :) Unfortunately on a very bendy road with nowhere to stop so a fleeting glimpse will have to keep me going til next time.
  Our destination was the Tollymore Forest Park just outside Newcastle.It covers just over 600 hectares and has the stunning Shimna River flowing through the trees and gorges.
  The beginning of the river trail(1 of 4 and the shortest)

  Almost immediately through the clear water I saw this Brown Trout, it's shadow giving it away.

  The Shimna river had numerous bridges and stepping stones to cross.All set in the stunning forest.

  The most spectacular location along the river though had to be the amazing Hermitage.Built in 1770 as a memorial to a friend who died that year.

  Red Squirrels are also found in the forest(just not by us lol) along with various birds we saw such as Robins, Hooded Crows, Mistle Thrushes, Chaffinches and more than one family of Grey Wagtails.We spent nearly an hour with the various Wagtail families along the river with the Adults constantly flying back and forth with food.

  Photographing the Wagtails.

  For the Game Of Thrones fans, Tollymore Forest was used as the Haunted Forest where the white walkers were first seen in the tv series.

  I didn't find anything that frightening but I did find something that may unsettle a few people, a wonderful nest of Spiderlings on a stone wall.

  Even though we spent a good 4 hours here, it was nowhere near long enough.If you find yourself in County Down then go check this amazing place out :)

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/tollymore-forest-park



Day 18     Last Day In Ireland

  As it was our final day in Northern Ireland, Majella spent the majority of it with her family and so the only "wild" thing I got to do was meet her sister's new Husky Hybrid Puppy, Luna(short for Lunatic) ;).
  I was welcomed with the usual hyper run, slide across the wood floor and peed all over lol
                                       

                                        

  Told you it was a very short day 18 ;)


Day 19      Back To Scotland(and the rabbits)

  We left Newry, drove back up to Larne and caught the ferry back to Cairnryan.We were upgraded to Club Lounge so I could relax seawatching through the window while enjoying the comforts of free drinks and biscuits :)
Leaving Northern Ireland.

  I saw hundreds of Guillemots, around 30 Gannets, 2 Fulmars and lots of Gulls but once again the highlights were watching the 80+ Manx Shearwaters seen during the crossing, gliding and banking over the waves.
  Manx Shearwater

  The main flock of Gulls seen were following this fishing boat.

  We alighted the ferry in Scotland and had the 2hr drive East to Gretna for our overnight stay.After getting into our room I had a look out the window and found that there was a Swallows nest in the corner of the building with at least 4 chicks almost ready to fledge.

  From the room window I also watched a Song Thrush, Pied Wagtail, a pair of Oystercatchers and 7 Rabbits.This Mother was out with triplets :)

  Nature is everywhere and we are all much better off with it in our lives.

  Finally up to date with the #30DaysWild blog again :) Tomorrow we drive across Northumberland ready for our visit to much smaller islands on Wednesday, The Farnes.

  Check back to see if I can get any photos of Puffins with fish in their bills to help out the RSPB survey.