It was rather a late decision where to go this Wednesday with Paul with nothing in particular around that was likely to be a certainty for Paul to add to his year-list, and nothing much around for my own either. So having checked the weather forecas and the list of birds that Paul hadn't yet seen this year we settled on a plan to head north to Speyside in the hope of getting Crested Tit and Slavonian Grebe as well as possibly a raptor species or two. We were also hoping to add Ptarmigan on the way up as well, with a walk up a hill in Glenshee a possibility if the weather wasn't too bad.
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| Crested Tit |
I headed out at 0645 to meet Paul and managed to pick up a few birds on the walk down to our pickup point. Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, Goldfinch, Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow and a few vis-mig Meadow Pipits passing overhead. We headed inland towards Glenshee with more additions along the route - Swallows, Starlings, Jackdaws and more Woodpigeons mostly but also a trio of mammal species - Red Squirrel, Roe Deer and a Brown Hare running along the road in front of the car before bounding off into a field. We also encountered a couple of large flocks of Meadow Pipits along the grass verges and on the wires nearby, probably numbering a couple of hundred birds in total.
A Kestrel, a Magpie and a few Pheasants were seen as we headed onto the Glenshee road where Pied Wagtail, House Sparrow and House Martins were all added. As the road rose towards the ski centre we began to see Red Grouse by the roadside including one perched atop the crash barrier. It was far colder than anticipated when we stopped at the ski centre car park, so the walk up the hill was definitely cancelled. We scanned from the car park instead which did prove surprisingly fruitful, even if we didn't get a Ptarmigan. We did however add an unexpected Ring Ouzel, a Wheatear and a Mountain hare high up on the mountainside in just one small area.
Moving onwards into Aberdeenshire a group of (most likely feral) Greylag Geese were in a field as we descended off the moors. We stopped in a lay-by on another uphill stretch where we were able to watch a number of Ravens and a young Buzzard sharing the same bit of sky above the hill and a Peregrine gliding by. It was around 1030 when we reached Nethybridge where a Song Thrush flew across the road in front of us. Around 20 minutes later we stopped off at a rather busy Loch Garten RSPB reserve.
There were feeders hanging by the small reception hut/toilet block and along with plenty Coal Tits a showy Crested Tit gave us good views. A lifer for Paul. Great Tit, Chaffinch and Siskin were also noted before we moved on again. We headed up through Carrbridge, adding Rook, to the A9 and into Strathdearn to search for raptors. Despite the winds there was little action to be found. A distant Red Kite drifted over the far side of the glen, and a few Buzzards flew out from the trees by the road. Mistle Thrush and Common Gull were both seen and a couple of groups of Red Deer stags were resting at the tops of one of the hills. A scruffy Stonechat perched on the Gorse at another stop and a Grey Heron wandered slowly across the river.
Despite much searching from the car park we drew a blank and headed back down the glen to the Farr road. Things were very quiet with only a pair of Wheatear, a few Meadow Pipits and a Buzzard seen on the 7 mile drive, though on the plus side we didn't encounter any other cars either. Loch Ruthven was our destination and as we walked down the track we stopped to see a small dark brown butterfly flitting around. It turned out to be a Scotch Argus - a new species for me, and we saw a few more flitting around in the same area. A mating pair of Common Blue Damselflies were also seen among the heather.
We wandered along the track to the hide where we scanned out across the Loch before spotting a Slavonian Grebe youngster close in and an adult further out. We finally managed to see at least 2 adults and 4 probable youngsters in addition to a small group of Mallard, a pair of Teal and a Little Grebe. A flock of Siskins overflew and a Willow Warbler was heard but not seen. With the time now after 1500 we decided to head back southwards, though with a stop at Insh Marshes on the way planned. Arriving at around 1550 a Robin showed by the car park. There were more Scotch Argus butterflies around by the steps to the hide.
Hen Harrier had been seen earlier in the day according to the book but despite much scanning we drew a blank. A hybrid Hooded Crow was the best we managed, though there were plenty of Rabbits on the mound - giving us all 3 of the Scottish Lagomorph species for the day. There were also plenty of Roe Deer dotted around and Chaffinches, Coal Tit, Blue Tit and Great Tit shuttled in and out to the feeders. The walk along to the other hide added Black Darter dragonflies and a Small Copper butterfly to our list. A flock of Long Tailed Tits gave us good close views as they flitted through the trees by the track.
We called it a day at around 1645 to head back down the A9. There were few birds seen en route though I did manage to spot a few Oystercatchers in a field with corvids just outside Perth and Mute Swans at the fishery by the Friarton Bridge. A large flock of gulls overhead as we neared Dundee contained a few Black Headed Gulls and a Lesser Black Backed Gull was perched on a factory roof by the Kingsway giving us one last species for the day.
Another good day out with 2 of the day's targets seen without too much effort, among the 45 species seen. In addition we managed to see 2 species of butterfly, 2 dragonfly/damselfly and 6 mammals. Although it was a rather long day, the weather was mostly favourable - maybe a bit windy, one brief shower and rather cold at Glenshee, and the effort put in worthwhile. There also can't be many days when we will fail to see a Blackbird but see Ring Ouzel.
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| Meadow Pipit |
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| Red Grouse |
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| Ring Ouzel, Red Grouse & Mountain Hare |
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| Peregrine |
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| Buzzard |
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| Buzzard & Raven |
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| Crested Tit |
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| Crested Tit |
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| Coal Tit |
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| Chaffinch |
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| Siskin |
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| Red Kite |
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| Red Deer |
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| Red Deer |
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| Stonechat |
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| Wheatear |
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| Wheatear |
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| Common Blue Damselfly |
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| Scotch Argus |
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| Scotch Argus |
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| Slavonian Grebe |
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| Mallard |
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| Slavonian Grebe |
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| Black Darter |
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| Long Tailed Tit |
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| Small Copper |
Species seen - Black Headed Gull, Blue Tit, Buzzard, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Crested Tit, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Kestrel, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Little Grebe, Long Tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mistle Thrush, Mute Swan, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Raven, Red Grouse, Red Kite, Ring Ouzel, Robin, Feral Pigeon, Rook, Siskin, Slavonian Grebe, Song Thrush, Starling, Stonechat, Swallow, Teal, Wheatear, Woodpigeon.
Butterflies - Scotch Argus, Small Copper.
Dragonflies - Black Darter, Common Blue Damselfly.
Mammals - Brown Hare, Mountain Hare, Rabbit, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Red Squirrel, Roe Deer.
