Speyside in April

[albanpc]

Hi, I'm spending a week in Aviemore in late April. Any advice on sites for Ptarmigan, Capercaillie, Scottish Crossbill, Snow Bunting [if still around], Golden Eagle and other other specialities?
I'm going as far afield as Loch Shin [work and birding].

[Bluetail]

Ptarmigan - up the top of Carn Ban Mor (long walk, but ver easy as mountains go)

Capercaillie - Loch Garten are doing Capercailiie watches every morning (£1 to RSPB members, £3 non-members)

Scottish Crossbill - do they exist?

Snow Bunt - no idea, but heard they have them up at the top of the Cairngorm ski lift

Golden Eagle - take the road up the Findhorn Valley at Tomatin and drive as far as you can (it goes on for ever). Park and scan. If no eagles, walk up the straight track that disappears into the distance and you'll meet them eventually.

Jason

[Michael Frankis]

Gather there's hardly any crossbills (of any sort) in Speyside this spring, due to the very bad cone crop.

Michael

[IanF]

Hi Albanpc, on behalf of Admin and the Moderators, welcome to Bird Forum :t:

Crested Tits are another 'special' for the area. They can be hard to find sometimes but last year we came across quite a few at Loch Garten on the path to Loch Mallachie and around the southern end of Loch Morlich which was also good for Redstart, Wood Peckers, RT Divers, Hooded Crow, Spotted Flycatcher.

RSPB Loch Garten is a must for Capers and Osprey not to mention close views of Red Squirrels on the feeders by the centre along with Siskin. we got Crossbill there to and around Loch an Eilean.

If you are driving up then it's well worth stopping of at Loch of the Lowes a Scottish Wildlife Trust reserve near Dunkeld in Perthshire. It opens at 10.00 am and you can get some super views of nesting Osprey from the hide along with whatever waterfowl is about and quite a few woodland birds on the short walk to the hide.

Check out the Vacation Trip Reports forum as there are several from the Highlands, especially around Aviemore.

[mike coleman]

RSPB Loch Garten Osprey hide is the best bet for Caper (early mornings £1 for members) as wandering about the forests should be made illegal during lekking times.
Ptarmies and Snow Buntings both on the tops of the Cairngorms (but don't use the funicular railway as you can't get out at the top) unless it's snowy and then Snow Buntings may be around the Car Park, and Ptarmies will be hard to see - they are still fairly white at the moment. Best bet is to walk up the path to the right of the car park - down the iron steps, over the bridge and keep right at all forks. Eventually you will see Ptarmigan. It may be quite a way, but it's a lot smoother and shorter than Carn Ban Mor.
Crossbills? Good luck! Anywhere in the forest. Theoretically.
Goldies should be on the tops around Loch Shin, or anywhere over the ridges en route, if not, you could always try the old Coignafearn (Findhorn Valley) chestnut.

[tom mckinney]

Gather there's hardly any crossbills (of any sort) in Speyside this spring, due to the very bad cone crop.

Michael

True. None at all at Loch an Eilean which is usually as close to guaranteed as you can get.

Crested Tit are very easy there and also any where near to Loch Garten. I usually just drive slowly with the window down until I hear one.

Snow Bunting are on the Cairngorm plateau and from late March can sometimes be found at the summit radar, but be prepared for a long walk to Ben Macdui where they are very easy to see. Be careful at this time of year as the weather is VERY unpredictable.

Ptarmigan can be a nightmare at times, but they should be seen on the same walk to Ben Macdui or even from the car park if you are lucky. Glenshee ski complex near Braemar is also excellent and the cafe usually has plenty of attractive young "ski-chicks" in. Especially over easter, which may be some distraction!!!

I personally get bored brain dead watching the Loch Garten Ospreys so they are best observed away from the nest at Inverdrurie fish farm which is just on the left after you turn off from Aviemore towards Cairngorm & Loch Morlich. Also any Loch near to Loch Garten will give you a good chance of seeing them fishing.

Is it still naughty to post Caper sites...? I do know a really good one that isn't a lekking site...

Tom.

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Tom,

I'd have said "Be careful at this time of year as the weather is very predictable" - predictably BAD!

Of posting Caper sites - yes, naughty, if it risks any disturbance at all to the birds (bearing in mind that a few idiots will always try to get too close!). Where there's sites they can be viewed from a hide with wardening to prevent access close to the birds, as with the Loch Garten birds, then it's OK to post.

Michael

[Gaz Shilton]

The trout farm in Aviemore is good for close-ups of fishing Ospreys as well...£2 fee.

[jpoyner]

WT Eagle reported today over Aviemore so seems one still hanging about the area.
Did manage to find a few Crossbills today near Nethy, however as far as I could see they were all Common.
I think Scottish must still be hibernating with the Swallows at the bottom of Loch Garten.

;)

JP

[Michael Frankis]

I think Scottish Crossbills must still be hibernating with the Swallows at the bottom of Loch Garten.
If they're not extinct (to re-evolve in a year or two), I'd suspect they've all moved up to the Lodgepole Pine plantations in the Sutherland flow country

Michael

[JWN Andrewes]

Best bet is to walk up the path to the right of the car park - down the iron steps, over the bridge and keep right at all forks. Eventually you will see Ptarmigan. It may be quite a way, but it's a lot smoother and shorter than Carn Ban Mor.


Forgive me, but isn't it turn left at every fork? To get up into Sneachda Corrie?

James

[Steve Lister]

Forgive me, but isn't it turn left at every fork? To get up into Sneachda Corrie?

James

I hope the original enquirer, three years ago, did not need this vital correction!!

Steve

[JWN Andrewes]

Oops! Didn't notice the year, just the month!

James