Scotland
2008 Tour Report 10th- 14th April ![]() |
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10th April
11th April It was a
very early start (05:00) to get to the Capercaillie watch at Loch
Garten, and be there in good time. Driving there the conditions deteriorated
into blizzard conditions. Loch Garten was eerily lit by the dim light
reflecting off the blanket of snow with Woodcock roding overhead.
Much searching was eventually rewarded with a single m Cape 12th
April A slight
change this morning as we briefly went to Loch Garten, where Osprey,
Raven & Tawny Owl were seen. However we concentrated
on a moorland site for Black Grouse, where we were rewarded with
11 birds, mostly m displaying. After breakfast we decided to head for
the hills, but heavy snowfall and terrible blizzard conditions meant we
couldn't go into the hills, however we found 8 Ptarmigan from the
ski centre, on the hill side by the railway- this was the easiest we had
ever seen them, albeit the coldest, as they disappeared in and out of
the low cloud. 10 Snow Bunting were feeding in the car park. We
had lunch here and headed back to Loch Morlich where Goosander were
seen, lots of Goldeneye as well as brief, distant views of along-staying
f Ring-necked Duck. A return visit to an area of water did eventually
produce a single summer plumaged Slavonian Grebe, they must have
only just returned due to the grim weather. This area also produced more
Swallow and Sand Martin. We headed back into the Abernethy
Forest, where 5 more Crested Tit were easily seen, as were a party
of 4 Scottish Crossbill. Not to mention the myriad of Chaffinch
&Siskin. One member of the party found a Kingfisher
on the stream behind the main road in Aviemore. Returning from to
Aviemore we called off at Boat of Garten, where Hooded Crow, Pink-footed
Goose, Redshank, many Teal & Wigeon were
seen. A warm shower and fresh clothes were donned as we headed into Aviemore
and to the Indian restaurant there, much to the delight of all. 13th April A change
of scenery today as we headed north to the coast. not before a pre-breakfast
trip to Loch Garten where another m Capercaillie was seen by all,
which meant we could head into the woods where the 100's of Siskin
were supplemented by 5 Crested Tit. After breakfast we headed
N to the coast, calling off at a Black-throated Diver site we were
rewarded 4 in stunning summer plumage. We moved onto Lossiemouth. Here
from the harbour area we had 30+ Eider, Guillemot, Gannet,
30+ Kittiwake, but more spectacularly 300+ Long-tailed Duck,
2 Red-throated Diver, 6 Sandwich Tern, with just 3 Purple
Sandpiper on the harbour wall. Moving to Findhorn Bay and a rising
tide produced 80 Bar-tailed Godwit, 100+ Knot, Osprey,
lots of Redshank & Oystercatcher. 14th April Our final day, and the journey south, but not without it's birds! After a stop at the local brewery we headed south on the A9, on the outskirts of Aviemore a field contained at least 10 Whooper Swan. Other notables on the journey through Scotland were Curlew (lots) and Osprey from the car, Stopping near Stirling at a Kite Feeding Centre, our patience was rewarded with at least 6 Red Kite overhead, as well as Common Crossbill over. From here we continued south with several comfort stops, and lots of Buzzard & Oystercatcher, before arriving where we started from in the centre of Sheffield 5 days previously. Another resounding GB tour to Scotland. |
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