digi-birder
Monday 23rd June 2003, 11:09
DAY 5:
Today, yet another trip recommended by BF members. We drove north to Loch Fleet, in the hope of a better view of an Osprey. We parked in the lay-by on the bridge, but not a lot to be seen apart from some Common Eider and a few Common Gulls. The tide was out so we decided to move on up to Golspie and down the road by the golf course to the Littleferry area. We initially drove all the way to the small jetty at the end of the road. There was a Redstart flitting around the rooftops of the small cluster of houses and there were some Cormorants on the various sandbanks exposed by the low tide.
On the way back up the road we stopped at Balblair Wood (http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6509&password=&sort=2&cat=500&page=1) and had a lovely walk through the pines. Apart from the sound of Goldcrests and Coal Tits we also had good views of a Treecreeper. We also stumbled across a Buzzard who must have been resting in one of the trees. We didn't see it until it took off in a hurry and disappeared into the thick woods, never to be seen again.
On the way back south, we discovered another car park overlooking the alder carr area of Loch Fleet, to the west of the bridge. We pulled in for a few minutes to scan the water and spotted a Red-breasted Merganser, Canada Geese and Greylag Geese. In the distance there was a large bird having a bath. Through the binoculars we could just make out that it was an Osprey. By the time we had fetched a scope from the car it had disappeared!
We then drove round the southern edge of the loch towards Embo, stopping to look at the seals that were sunning themselves on the sandbanks.
Found a nice tea room in Dornoch, as you do, before returing to camp to soak up the sun that we didn't see a lot of (and partake of a glass or two of wine).
DAY 6:
Today was Loch Garten - surely we'd get good views of the Osprey there. Unfortunately they haven't bred there this year and Henry, the inexperienced male, was not to be seen. One of the assistants there is a young woman who was on Keith's university course, so we chatted to her for some time and watched the Red Squirrel and Great Spotted Woodpecker on the feeders outside. There were also Siskin and Collared Doves around, as well as other more common stuff that we had already seen.
We left Katharine and walked through some amazing tightly packed forest (http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6510&password=&sort=2&cat=500&page=1) on the way to Loch Mallachi, where we had been told that we'd see Crested Tits and maybe Crossbills. We took the left fork, as recommended, but did not see anything unusual. A Common Sandpiper was calling on the shores of the loch and there were a few Hooded Crows about.
As we made the return along the path almost to the point where we had turned left, we heard the sound of Crested Tits. All of a sudden there was a party of about 12 flitting around, maybe not more than 5 yards away from us. I contemplated trying to get a photo, but they were so close that any movement would have spooked them - and it had started to rain anyway - and they were moving very quickly! We just stood in silence as they worked their way through the trees and then gradually moved away.
Then we drove up through Grantown-on-Spey and stopped for the obligatory cream tea after which we headed for Lochindorb. Incredibly, who should we bump into but IanF and his wife, also on a short break in Scotland. After comparing notes for a while, and with no sign of any divers, we then went our separate ways and we went in search of some petrol. We drove up to Nairn and then back round to Inverness, where we stopped at a pleasant restaurant on the outskirts (The Snow Goose) for a meal.
We arrived back at the site to find a party of Dutch caravanners on a mass rally taking up all the vacant pitches on the site. They didn't make a lot of noise though, but they were nearly all wearing clogs!
DAY7:
Today we did the trip up Strathconon - 17 miles of single track road with passing places. The scenery up there is wonderful and it's amazing that there are little hamlets of houses and farms and even a hotel. It's so remote.
The weather, again, wasn't too good so we didn't stray far from the car when we reached the end. Some people in a camper van (RV) had been there overnight and were just getting ready to leave as we arrived. What a perfect place to spend the night - right by the loch. Unfortunately, no divers and no eagles, but we did see Northern Wheatear, Yellowhammer and lots of Mistle Thrushes. As we reached Marybank at the foot of the valley, a Red Kite came soaring really close next to the road. We pulled into the school car park and had really good views as it came right over our heads. The weather had improved by now, so the plumage really showed up well.
We called in Beauly for lunch and then went on the trail of a camera shop for a decent camera bag. An advert in Bird Watching had stated that there was a LowePro stockist in Beauly but we couldn't see it. We asked at the post office and the lady there gave us some very complicated directions to the 'shop'. We went up one narrow lane then up an even narrower one and eventually we came upon what was probably once a farmhouse overlooking the whole valley and the shop was converted from a garage or storehouse. They are obviously not best placed for any passing trade - you really have to know they are there. Having said that, this place is a real Aladdin's Cave. Shelves were stocked to the ceiling with cameras and parts for cameras and there were half a dozen men repairing and servicing cameras. They had SLRs, digital, developing gear, bags. The whole of the end wall was windows and the views from the place were incredible. Anyway I got my bag and we worked our way back to the main road and the campsite.
As we were having our usual tipple and preparing our meal, the Dutch contingent were having a little get-together and obviously having a good time playing a game. They broke up early though and then it all went quiet at a decent hour.
More to come...
Today, yet another trip recommended by BF members. We drove north to Loch Fleet, in the hope of a better view of an Osprey. We parked in the lay-by on the bridge, but not a lot to be seen apart from some Common Eider and a few Common Gulls. The tide was out so we decided to move on up to Golspie and down the road by the golf course to the Littleferry area. We initially drove all the way to the small jetty at the end of the road. There was a Redstart flitting around the rooftops of the small cluster of houses and there were some Cormorants on the various sandbanks exposed by the low tide.
On the way back up the road we stopped at Balblair Wood (http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6509&password=&sort=2&cat=500&page=1) and had a lovely walk through the pines. Apart from the sound of Goldcrests and Coal Tits we also had good views of a Treecreeper. We also stumbled across a Buzzard who must have been resting in one of the trees. We didn't see it until it took off in a hurry and disappeared into the thick woods, never to be seen again.
On the way back south, we discovered another car park overlooking the alder carr area of Loch Fleet, to the west of the bridge. We pulled in for a few minutes to scan the water and spotted a Red-breasted Merganser, Canada Geese and Greylag Geese. In the distance there was a large bird having a bath. Through the binoculars we could just make out that it was an Osprey. By the time we had fetched a scope from the car it had disappeared!
We then drove round the southern edge of the loch towards Embo, stopping to look at the seals that were sunning themselves on the sandbanks.
Found a nice tea room in Dornoch, as you do, before returing to camp to soak up the sun that we didn't see a lot of (and partake of a glass or two of wine).
DAY 6:
Today was Loch Garten - surely we'd get good views of the Osprey there. Unfortunately they haven't bred there this year and Henry, the inexperienced male, was not to be seen. One of the assistants there is a young woman who was on Keith's university course, so we chatted to her for some time and watched the Red Squirrel and Great Spotted Woodpecker on the feeders outside. There were also Siskin and Collared Doves around, as well as other more common stuff that we had already seen.
We left Katharine and walked through some amazing tightly packed forest (http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php?photo=6510&password=&sort=2&cat=500&page=1) on the way to Loch Mallachi, where we had been told that we'd see Crested Tits and maybe Crossbills. We took the left fork, as recommended, but did not see anything unusual. A Common Sandpiper was calling on the shores of the loch and there were a few Hooded Crows about.
As we made the return along the path almost to the point where we had turned left, we heard the sound of Crested Tits. All of a sudden there was a party of about 12 flitting around, maybe not more than 5 yards away from us. I contemplated trying to get a photo, but they were so close that any movement would have spooked them - and it had started to rain anyway - and they were moving very quickly! We just stood in silence as they worked their way through the trees and then gradually moved away.
Then we drove up through Grantown-on-Spey and stopped for the obligatory cream tea after which we headed for Lochindorb. Incredibly, who should we bump into but IanF and his wife, also on a short break in Scotland. After comparing notes for a while, and with no sign of any divers, we then went our separate ways and we went in search of some petrol. We drove up to Nairn and then back round to Inverness, where we stopped at a pleasant restaurant on the outskirts (The Snow Goose) for a meal.
We arrived back at the site to find a party of Dutch caravanners on a mass rally taking up all the vacant pitches on the site. They didn't make a lot of noise though, but they were nearly all wearing clogs!
DAY7:
Today we did the trip up Strathconon - 17 miles of single track road with passing places. The scenery up there is wonderful and it's amazing that there are little hamlets of houses and farms and even a hotel. It's so remote.
The weather, again, wasn't too good so we didn't stray far from the car when we reached the end. Some people in a camper van (RV) had been there overnight and were just getting ready to leave as we arrived. What a perfect place to spend the night - right by the loch. Unfortunately, no divers and no eagles, but we did see Northern Wheatear, Yellowhammer and lots of Mistle Thrushes. As we reached Marybank at the foot of the valley, a Red Kite came soaring really close next to the road. We pulled into the school car park and had really good views as it came right over our heads. The weather had improved by now, so the plumage really showed up well.
We called in Beauly for lunch and then went on the trail of a camera shop for a decent camera bag. An advert in Bird Watching had stated that there was a LowePro stockist in Beauly but we couldn't see it. We asked at the post office and the lady there gave us some very complicated directions to the 'shop'. We went up one narrow lane then up an even narrower one and eventually we came upon what was probably once a farmhouse overlooking the whole valley and the shop was converted from a garage or storehouse. They are obviously not best placed for any passing trade - you really have to know they are there. Having said that, this place is a real Aladdin's Cave. Shelves were stocked to the ceiling with cameras and parts for cameras and there were half a dozen men repairing and servicing cameras. They had SLRs, digital, developing gear, bags. The whole of the end wall was windows and the views from the place were incredible. Anyway I got my bag and we worked our way back to the main road and the campsite.
As we were having our usual tipple and preparing our meal, the Dutch contingent were having a little get-together and obviously having a good time playing a game. They broke up early though and then it all went quiet at a decent hour.
More to come...