Grantown on Spey - disappointed! (1 Viewer)

[Swifty49]

As someone who fishes for salmon in the Spey at Grantown every spring, I was delighted to go on a 4 day break to do a bit of birdwatching and exploring. I really wanted to get Crested Tit, Hooded Crow and possibly Crossbill and Ptarmigan. After visiting at least half a dozen sites, some with hides, others with feeders, I ended up with no new species at all!

However the whole Grantown, Aviemore, Cairn Gorm, Spey Bay, Loch Ness experience was wonderful. Actually saw dolphins from the Dolphin Centre observation at Spey Bay and Red Squirrels at Loch Garten RSPB. So there were some real highlights.

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Just means you have a good excuse to plan another trip Swifty. :t:

Rich

As someone who fishes for salmon in the Spey at Grantown every spring, I was delighted to go on a 4 day break to do a bit of birdwatching and exploring. I really wanted to get Crested Tit, Hooded Crow and possibly Crossbill and Ptarmigan. After visiting at least half a dozen sites, some with hides, others with feeders, I ended up with no new species at all!

However the whole Grantown, Aviemore, Cairn Gorm, Spey Bay, Loch Ness experience was wonderful. Actually saw dolphins from the Dolphin Centre observation at Spey Bay and Red Squirrels at Loch Garten RSPB. So there were some real highlights.

 

[Geoff Brown]

That's birdwatching for you, nothing is certain!

 

[Swifty49]

Whilst stood up to my chilly bits salmon fishing in the Spey, I have seen grey wagtails, dippers, siskins, a buzzard and an osprey being mobbed by three crows.

Birdwatching, I saw zip!

Go figure, as the Yanks say.

 

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

You should have tried a guide such as birding ecosse.

 

[Swifty49]

You should have tried a guide such as birding ecosse.

Wasn't really that hard-core Marcus as my brother in law and I had the spouses with us so the birding had to be tempered with some sightseeing. However we did get to see some stunning places. Our hotel, The Grant Arms, is the HQ of the Birdwatching and Wildlife Club and they do guided walks, tours, etc. and it's a good set-up.

 

[punta]

More importantly did you catch any Salmon :t:

 

[Ian Bell]

More importantly did you catch any Salmon :t:

Or was It just the birds,that were the ones to get away ?

 

[Swifty49]

More importantly did you catch any Salmon :t:

Salmon season on the Spey finished on Sept 30th, so this was just a trip to show the others a wonderful area of Scotland. My wildlife observations, whilst wading, all took place on Spring fishing trips.

You always get great, unplanned, wildlife experiences in an area like Speyside. In 2011 four of us were on the way to Aviemore for a fish and chip supper and a Pine Marten ran across the road in front of us - magical!

 

[ospreyscotbird]

Salmon running well here in the NEEng.
Hoodies are often just hanging aboot here + there around the Grantown area, infact was lucky enough to see 2 down here in the spring. Cresties are much harder - keep an ear open that gen. draws you in to where the tiny wee birds are darting about. Crossbills at the top of trees, they are bigger than you reckon + quite noisy they were around here the last time I was out. Ptarmigan you need to make a lot more of an effort for - the vanicular up the Cairngorm is a great start.
The great thing about not seeing the 'wanted birds' is that you will need to go back. A few days fishing + then a few birding - bliss!!

 

[Swifty49]

Salmon running well here in the NEEng.
Hoodies are often just hanging aboot here + there around the Grantown area, infact was lucky enough to see 2 down here in the spring. Cresties are much harder - keep an ear open that gen. draws you in to where the tiny wee birds are darting about. Crossbills at the top of trees, they are bigger than you reckon + quite noisy they were around here the last time I was out. Ptarmigan you need to make a lot more of an effort for - the vanicular up the Cairngorm is a great start.
The great thing about not seeing the 'wanted birds' is that you will need to go back. A few days fishing + then a few birding - bliss!!

Went up Cairn Gorm on the funicular and looked extensively from the viewing terrace - nowt! Temp was 4 degrees at the top but with the wind chill it was in minus numbers!

 

[Sandra (Taylor)]

As someone who fishes for salmon in the Spey at Grantown every spring, I was delighted to go on a 4 day break to do a bit of birdwatching and exploring. I really wanted to get Crested Tit, Hooded Crow and possibly Crossbill and Ptarmigan. After visiting at least half a dozen sites, some with hides, others with feeders, I ended up with no new species at all!

Just back from Nethybridge and the only place we had crested tit was on the feeders at the grebe carpark in Boat of Garten as you approach the village from the school. Red squirrels here too. Hooded crows seemed to be everywhere but maybe I'm getting that info mixed up with Skye where we were the previous week. We heard crossbills over our chalet in Nethy. Didn't try for ptarmigan.

Sandra

 

[Alcina]

Went up Cairn Gorm on the funicular and looked extensively from the viewing terrace - nowt! Temp was 4 degrees at the top but with the wind chill it was in minus numbers!

I've never met anyone who saw one from the furnicular. I've always found you have to WALK up Cairngorm, usually quite early in the morning as it starts to resemble a busy street after about 10am, with all the hill walkers. This isn't as hard as it sounds, as there is a track designed for landrovers belonging to the ski staff which runs as far as the to furnicular station. In bad weather they can be little more than half way up the track. In good weather you might have to head out onto the plateau.

For cresties, I find the car park for the Loch Mallachie loop path is the best. I've only ever seen them in the car park itself, in the trees above the car. Look for something that acts like a goldcrest on amphetamines.

I don't believe you will hoodies in this area. Try driving over to Ullapool. It only takes 2-3 hours.

 

[Robin Edwards]

I've never met anyone who saw one from the furnicular.

If you have a half decent scope and some luck you can get Ptarmigan, I've always connected with Ptarmigan from the viewpoint at the restaurant in the three times I've been up.

Much better views can be had elsewhere though or if you do choose to walk than get the ride up.

 

[Swifty49]

If you have a half decent scope and some luck you can get Ptarmigan, I've always connected with Ptarmigan from the viewpoint at the restaurant in the three times I've been up.

Much better views can be had elsewhere though or if you do choose to walk than get the ride up.

I have got a good scope but the shivering and eye-watering from the biting wind didn't help with spotting the ptarmigan. About 10 minutes on the viewpoint was all that was humanly possible!

As for walking up, due to various physical reasons my hillwalking days are, unfortunately, over!

 

[Robin Edwards]

I know what you mean swifty - I think I've been lucky with the weather.

If you return and fancy a trip to the west coast near Applecross, Ptarmigan can be found relatively close to the road and without a strenuous walk.

 

[JTweedie]

I have got a good scope but the shivering and eye-watering from the biting wind didn't help with spotting the ptarmigan. About 10 minutes on the viewpoint was all that was humanly possible!

As for walking up, due to various physical reasons my hillwalking days are, unfortunately, over!

I don't have a scope but got really good views of ptarmigan from the visitor centre using my binoculars. This was at the tail end of the skiing season when there was still quite a bit of snow around. The ptarmigan came in very close to the centre. It just depends on your luck really.

Snow buntings can be easily seen from here too, and I saw a ring ouzel one year too.

 

[speyghillie]

Hi All,
I am lucky enough to guide on the River Spey and have fished the river for the last 35 years, i see Red Squirrels, woodpeckers and even Ospreys fishing almost every day, as for Ptarmigan, from the cairngorm corrie cas car park walk a short distance towards the Fiacaill Ridge poma tow, behind the ridge is a good spot for Ptarmigan, in a past life i worked on Cairngorm for 9 years.
Gordon.

 

[DMKSlater]

I never walk up the Cairngorm for Ptarmigan, alway view from the viewing point and have an extremely good success rate, does take a bit of time scanning sometimes though (with binos or scope)

Fully agree with you swifty, the Grant Arms is a first rate set-up a real bonus to the area and going from strength to strength.

 

[Swifty49]

Hi All,
I am lucky enough to guide on the River Spey and have fished the river for the last 35 years, i see Red Squirrels, woodpeckers and even Ospreys fishing almost every day, as for Ptarmigan, from the cairngorm corrie cas car park walk a short distance towards the Fiacaill Ridge poma tow, behind the ridge is a good spot for Ptarmigan, in a past life i worked on Cairngorm for 9 years.
Gordon.

For the last 2 years (and again next April) I have been lucky enough to fish Tulchan Beat D with ghillie Rob Mitchell. Brilliant fishing, only the salmon were missing! :-C

One day, up to my backside in Cragganmore, I saw an osprey flying up the river being mobbed by crows! :t:


.