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The Highlands and Islands Thread (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter TheSeagull
- Start date
Martin Fagg
Guest
Blimey! I'm in the Cairngorms in eother a week or two weeks time. How does this bode for a visiting birder. I'd really like to see ptarmigan.
Best wishes
Martin
Marcus Conway - ebirder
Well-known member
I'm sure it'll warm up soon Phil. Drop me a PM with the date and we can meet up for an afternoon.
Marcus, will do, cheers Phil
Marcus Conway - ebirder
Well-known member
Details on the Cairngroms snow;
Average snow fall to date: 710cm
Snow depth Mid Mountain: 110cm
Snow depth Upper Mountain: 310cm
Snowfall last 24 hrs:10cm
It's still falling as snow up there and more showers forecast for the next few days. This time last year I photographed the Ptarmigan and the only snow was in the sheltered pockets
Average snow fall to date: 710cm
Snow depth Mid Mountain: 110cm
Snow depth Upper Mountain: 310cm
Snowfall last 24 hrs:10cm
It's still falling as snow up there and more showers forecast for the next few days. This time last year I photographed the Ptarmigan and the only snow was in the sheltered pockets
jpoyner
Well-known member
Can't see walking access to the hills improving for a while yet, but you may get lucky and get them from the car park (unless you ski!?).
rokermartin
Well-known member
Whats the weather like at Speyside at the moment.Is there still alot of snow around.
jpoyner
Well-known member
Only on the hills above about 2000ft. Much of it in the Straths has now thawed.
Marcus Conway - ebirder
Well-known member
Shorts and T-shirt weather this weekend!
Went up to my Wild Cat site with OH more in hope than anything for a picnic. Not expecting much we sat down to eat. After a short time some birds start alarm calling and a rabbit shoots out of the undergrowth. Bins up I see a slight movement. This is it camera ready, I'm not missing another! There it is bushy tail black tip, I can just make it out coming closer. Breaks out of the cover. It's a Fox. A dam Fox! Oh well it'll wait for another day.
About two minutes later an Osprey cruised low over and cheered us up.
Went up to my Wild Cat site with OH more in hope than anything for a picnic. Not expecting much we sat down to eat. After a short time some birds start alarm calling and a rabbit shoots out of the undergrowth. Bins up I see a slight movement. This is it camera ready, I'm not missing another! There it is bushy tail black tip, I can just make it out coming closer. Breaks out of the cover. It's a Fox. A dam Fox! Oh well it'll wait for another day.
About two minutes later an Osprey cruised low over and cheered us up.
jason-t-71
An admirer of Kelly Brooks' talents.
Hi everyone! I'm headed upto Speyside next weekend (16th to the 18th). Are the Capers showing at the hide yet? Also, are we able to get that little train upto the ski balcony for the Ptarmigan? Cheers!
Hello everyone . Finally made it up here...thankfully the roads are clear and the weather's gorgeous ! Sightings Day 1 (Inverness & Black Isle) - yellowhammer , robin , red kite , buzzard ,chaffinch , greenfinch ,redshank , dunnock , coal tit , skylark , house sparrow , wheatear , siskin , oystercatcher , pied wagtail ,starling , blackbird , blue tit , great tit and grey heron . Not a bad start , a few uncommon (to me anyway) birds in the mix there . Day 2 is Speyside...I'll keep you posted .
Marcus Conway - ebirder
Well-known member
Yep, its cracking the flags up here at the minute. Seems to have woken up millions of toads too...
jpoyner
Well-known member
Drake RN Duck today back at small pond East Croachy.
http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepa...648834&lon=-4.231800783302239&gz=16&oz=7>=1
John
http://wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthepa...648834&lon=-4.231800783302239&gz=16&oz=7>=1
John
Marcus Conway - ebirder
Well-known member
I drove past that pond twice at the weekend.
jpoyner
Well-known member
I think last year it went between there and L. Ruthven. Must have another regular haunt as was not with the Tufties apparently this morning. When it was last seen yesterday evening, the Tufties all flew but it remained on its own!
DAYS 2 and 3 in the Highlands - raven , song thrush , pheasant , jackdaw , herring gull , black headed gull , red legged partridge , lapwing , great spotted woodpecker and ospreys plus lots that we saw on day 1 .
Joseph N
Lothian Young Birder
Presumably this is the place to talk about birds at Burghead?
There have been two White-billed Divers at Burghead today. One of them seems to have gone according to reports from Birdguides, but one still remains there. Has anyone got anymore information on this bird/these birds?
There have been two White-billed Divers at Burghead today. One of them seems to have gone according to reports from Birdguides, but one still remains there. Has anyone got anymore information on this bird/these birds?
DAY 4 in the Highlands - Really struggling now , the wife is revolting ( maybe I should rephrase that ) so I'm having difficulty getting her to drive me here , there and everywhere ! Nevertheless we saw a mute swan , wren , meadow pipit and dipper .
