We woke this morning to find a carpet of snow on the ground with the white stuff still falling as we left home heading for Loch Garten.
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| Blue Tit |
We arrived early in the hope of catching site of a Caper at the so called RSPB Caperwatch which indicates that you can watch Capers. Unfortunately somebody has fogotten to tell the Capers they should be being watched so the small gathered crowd on site this morning left disappointed.
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| Great Tit |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Crested Tit |
The Osprey came in with an early catch and Redstart showed well before a Crested Tit put in a brief appearance on the feeders along with the usual Siskin, Chaffinch, Brambling, Coal, Blue and Great Tit. A Treecreeper and Great-spotted Woodpecker also showed here. On the Loch Red-throated Diver and Goldeneye added to the days haul.
A quick look in at Tulloch Moor failed to deliver the desired Black Grouse on this occasion.
Our next stop was Lochindorb where a pair of Common Sandpipers gave another year tick before adding a third when the Black-throated Divers were located at the far end of the loch. Red Grouse and Red Squirrel entertained us our drive through the valley and Suzanne picked out the Rough-legged Buzzard before we left too.
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| Red Grouse |
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| Common Sandpiper |
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| Common Sandpiper |
Leaving Lochindorb we headed up the A9 and down the Findhorn Valley where we found lot's of Wheatear and eventually a raptor tally of Kestrel, Common Buzzard, Red Kite, Peregrine, Goshawk and four Golden Eagles. The Eagles showed well as they played in the air and occasionally landed on the mountain side giving great scope views. The Goshawk was put down by a Raven but gave my best ever views before it gave in to the Ravens attentions allowing me to follow it in the scope for a few minutes.
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| Mountain Goat |
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| Red-throated Diver |
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| Peregrine |
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| Raven |
At Loch Ruthven another pair of Red-throated Diver and three Slavonian Grebe presented themselves in the distance before I left for the thirty mile journey home.
A cracking day in the Highlands and the
year list is now 206
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