The Three Lochs......Day 10

 We usually spend a lot of the week driving East and back again along the A86 but this was our first journey along this road on this particular adventure. The road takes us East to Newtownmore, Kingussie and then on to the Cairngorms.

 We stopped in Newtownmore to check out the one charity shop there and while we were getting out of the car a young Red Squirrel scampered across the road. Hoping to get another sight of it we followed the path it had vanished down but to no avail. Giving up on our search we decided to head straight up to the Cairngorms car park. There was still snow about and the driving wind and rain kept us from walking to search for Grouse and Snow Buntings.

Rainbow with Loch Morlich in the background.   

 With the weather not easing up, we headed back to lower altitudes where we hoped the more sheltered areas would provide some birding. Walking through the pine forests we could see plenty of Great, Blue and Coal Tits, Siskins, Chaffinches and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. We then parked at Loch Morlich to look for Goldeneye, 3 were seen on the loch. 

Loch Morlich

 There were plenty of Mallards on the shore ambushing us for food.

 After a chippy lunch break in Aviemore we continued on to Abernethy Forest aka Middle-Earth. We had noticed this tree on the way in and couldn't resist re-enacting a scene from one of my favourite movies, The Lord Of The Rings, Fellowship Of The Ring.

 Walking back to the car park Majella spotted movement on the road, it was a Toad.With cars coming up to park I thought we'd best help it get off the road quicker and so carried it to the roadside.

 Loch Garten

Down the trail to the visitor centre the usual array of birds were flittering between the trees. We were only too happy to provide them with some extra food though this Great Tit was trying to get 'ahead' of the queue. 😉

 There was constant activity on the feeders at Loch Garten Osprey Centre.

 As we left Boat Of Garten I managed to get a quick photo of this Roe Deer chilling in the field.

 The drive back took quite a bit longer than expected as the Sun setting over the mountains and the varying cloud cover kept changing the awesome light, so there were stunning views at every turn along Loch Laggan and Glen Spean.

Loch Laggan

 We arrived back at Tulloch and Robert was out in the farmyard along with Chester, so I had to get a quick selfie (with Chester not Robert 😉)

 It was finally going to be a dry night again so before we settled in for the evening I set up the trail cam once again hoping for more Scottish mammal action.

Photos by Stuart Pike & Majella Fox

Thank you again for all the views on my blogs. It is always appreciated and hopefully you get some enjoyment reading through them.

Just a couple of days of this current Scotland trip to go but still plenty more Wildlife to share with you all.

Stay safe.

 

Pottering to Mallaig......Day 9

 The stormy weather that was predicted a few days ago did arrive today, a little later than forecast, but no point sitting in just because it was breezy and wet.After all this is Scotland. Leaving the farm we once again headed down to Fort William but this time turned West on to the Road to the Isles. A stunningly beautiful drive(even in this weather) which takes in Glenfinnan, Arisaig and terminates at Mallaig.

 

 Our first stop was at the North shore of Loch Shiel and Glenfinnan. Home to the Glenfinnan monument built in 1815 honouring those who fought in the Jacobite rising and of course also to the Glenfinnan Viaduct famous as the railway to Hogwart's in Harry Potter. Harry Potter fans might also notice that Loch Shiel and the island were used as film locations for the Tri-Wizard Tournament in Goblet Of Fire.

Looking towards Glenfinnan Monument & Loch Shiel

 Turn 180 degrees and marvel at the viaduct. About 15 years ago we did actually manage to go over the viaduct in the Hogwarts Express.

 The rain continued unabated as we drove West but it just made the scenery even more atmospheric.

 There are a couple of lay-bys we usually check out just before Druimindarroch which are good for Divers but the weather meant it was not going to be possible to search for long so we only spotted a few Seals on the rocky islands before having to rapidly get the car window back up.

 

 Arisaig is one of my favourite places and the Rhu road along the peninsula is breath-taking and concludes at a small parking space giving panoramic views across to the isles of Rum, Eigg and Muck on most days. Today was not one of those days. 😂

 Our view over to Rum.

 From Arisaig you have two options for the last part of the journey to Mallaig, either head back to the main road or follow the slightly longer coastal route. We of course took the coastal road. The weather was finally starting to improve so we were able to park near the golf course and scan the beach and water for wildlife.

Nothing on the water but on the right of this beach were a flock of around 30 Oystercatchers.

 This route also takes you next to the White Sands of Morar. A spectacular estuary of the River Morar with turquoise waters and white sand.

Photo Shutterstock (hence the blue sky 😉)

 Arriving in Mallaig we parked up and walked into the harbour. It was much quieter than usual as due to the storm, ferries running from Mallaig had been cancelled. There is always wildlife to be found here though. 

 Both Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls were hanging around the fishing vessels. The Gull in the 3rd photo not wanting to share it's Space Raiders.

 Before we even caught sight of my favourite Sea ducks we could hear them Woooing from behind a trawler.Common Eiders, 11 of them, Males, Females and a juvenile. They came nearer and then started diving, foraging for Scallops.We watched as they returned from underwater with food but within minutes of starting their hunting, Gulls arrived. Every time an Eider came back to the surface with food, they were immediately mobbed by Gulls trying to hijack their catch. This forced them to instantly dive again to protect their prize. This went on each time until finally the Eiders changed priorities and their attentions to the females.The Males started their calls, throwing their heads back and making one of the most wonderful sounds heard in the Natural World.

Eiders foraging for Molluscs and then having to evade the Gulls.

 Eiders turning their attention to 'Wooing' the Females.

 The Eiders drifted away and as we watched we noticed a Black Guillemot on the other side of the harbour, too distant to photograph though.

 Ripples much closer got our attention.At first nothing reappeared and then one of  Mallaig's resident Grey Seals popped to the surface.

 Majella's video of the Selkie.

 More great close up wildlife encounters courtesy of this stunning country. We drove back to Tulloch Farm after another fantastic,if slightly wet day. On returning I instantly noticed the Great Spotted Woodpecker on the fat balls in the garden.

 Another rainy night meant no more trail cam footage(for now) but tomorrow we head East into the Cairngorms.

Thank you so much for spending time reading another episode of my blog. Just 3 days of our Scottish adventure to come but more wildlife on the horizon.

Stay safe. 😃

 

Cascades & Serenades..........Day 8

 After yesterday's exciting adventure we decided to have a more relaxed day today, so it is going to be a shorter, more wildlife free blogpost than previous ones. If you're concerned about the title, don't worry as it's not me doing the serenading 😂

 We had a little lie in and planned to spend the afternoon travelling just South of Fort William to Kinlochleven. While Majella was getting ready I had time to go out and have another chat with Georgie, Shadow & Neville.

 It's less than an hour from Roybridge down through Fort William to Kinlochleven and the last 15 minutes involves driving along the shore of Loch Leven to get to the East end of the loch where the village is.

 We parked up at the Ice Climbing centre and popped over the road where we had an enjoyable meal at the Highland Getaway Tavern and the headed for the Grey Mare's Tail Waterfall to walk it off.

Photo in Kinlochleven

 From the car park, it's only a short walk but does include a few steps. Grey Mare's Tail Waterfall can be seen through the trees as you follow the path down.

 About half way along the trail you reach the bridge over the brook, modelled here by Majella. From here the track turns left and just round the corner to the falls.

 The falls drop around 40 feet into an Alpine like gorge. You can see the cascading water well enough from the path but if you want a closer look at the abyss it requires some plank walking along the edge of the river. If you see the 4th photo of this sequence, you will see me stuck between a plank and a hard place(a rock). With my lessened mobility I couldn't reach the rock and then I couldn't turn around to come back up the plank. I felt a bit like a cat that had got himself stuck up in a tree, but Fire Brigade Marshall Majella came to my rescue and pulled me back 😂

Slow-mo video clip of the falls.

 On the way back, a separate trail heads right from the bridge and up the steep side of the hill to the top of the falls. We managed to get quite a way up the path but regretted every step lol For more adventurous people you can join the via ferrata climbing challenge up the waterfall.

View looking down on Kinlochleven.

 My knees had definitely had enough by now so we headed back down to the car. On the way back we were serenaded by a Robin. 

 A much shorter blog as promised 😉 and unfortunately no trail cam out tonight as it poured with rain all night.Tomorrow though will be back to searching for Scotland's amazing wildlife as we head to the windy wet West coast.

Photos by Stuart Pike & Majella Fox

Thank you to everyone who takes time out of their busy lives to have a quick browse of my blogs. I hope you find some of it interesting and maybe useful for your own trips.