Bird and Wildlife Guiding in Scotland
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Spectacular Vismig

23/10/2013

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With the weather turning distinctly more autumnal in the Highlands, though still relatively mild the first major influx of Redwings and Fieldfares occured this week in the Strath. On a walk out with BWWC and Gordon Hamlett yesterday morning the air was filled with the chattering of Fielfares and seeping of Redwings as we enjoyed Crested Tits and Red Squirrels on the feeders.

Later in the afternoon, the BWWC fieldtrip to Insh Marshes was treated to one of the great spectacles of bird migration with a constant stream of thrushes moving through, often just feet above our heads as we stood at the "Lookout". What a fantastic sight as they headed south, funneled at this narrow point of the Strath after feeding on the rich crop of berries further north. We picked out several small er birds in with them and the light was good enough to make out the distinct white rumps of Bramblings, as well as a few Chaffinches.

By 4 O'Clock the passage had largely stopped with only a few straglers passing when our attention was then drawn to a rather smart rusty looking juv Hen Harrier hunting the marshes below us. It was in view for the best of half an hour as it scattered Snipe and Teal with many unsuccessful grabs at them before climbing high and flying off still hungry!

Looking further ahead to next year we are busy adding more short breaks to our itinerary, keep an eye on the website for details. If you have a group wishing to visit we can offer a bespoke all in package for you or just guide hire only for the day. We use the Grant Arms "wildlife" Hotel for our accommodation where you have full use of all the facilities of the Birdwatching & Wildlife Club (BWWC) including a superb natural history library and club room.
With their being little risk of disturbance in the winter months, chances of finding a Capercaillie are much better than in spring. We know the best places to go!
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Amazing Day Out

16/10/2013

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What a spectacular day out guiding last Friday, as we went in search of some of the local Scottish specials.

The day started early at first light, heading for a local Black Grouse lek, where we arrived as the sun rose over the distant Cairngorms, Red Grouse called from the heather behind us and arriving Redwings "seeped" overhead. It wasn't long before our quarry appeared with 8 males flying in from their roost in the nearby long grass, we had been worried at first none were going to show! It wasn't long before they were strutting, tails spread and we could just about hear their wonderful bubbling in the clear morning air. Lekking is traditionally associated with spring but actually occurs in autumn and winter as well on fine mornings, though perhaps not quite as intensive as the spring performance it's still worth seeing.

We moved on, could we get a Capercaillie too before breakfast?..... the challenge was on. Heading in to the Pinewoods, we drove carefully along a minor road as the first rays of sunlight reached in through the foliage.......there he was, a male Capercaillie, strutting through the billberry, tail fanned and even "clip-clopping"......hence the name from derived from Gaelic "Horse of the Woods".
What a sight, just yards away, plenty of chances for photos using the vehicle as a hide, his freshly moulted plumage stunning in the crisp morning light. Three Grouse before breakfast not a bad start at all.

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After breakfast we headed for a local glen, greeted by Stags roaring from the hillsides with their hinds in tow as the river Findhorn glistened an indigo blue on a stunning autumn morning perfect for watching for Eagles. Setting up camp we watched and waited as a Peregrine dashed overhead and a few Ravens honked above the crags. Soon we were on to a bird, high in the sky, certainly an Eagle and very large. It's white tail caught the sunlight, and that's exactly what it was, a White-tailed Eagle, soaring high with a second bird. They drifted closer, super views of these powerful Eagles as they drifted effortless through the blue sky and along the ridge behind us. It wasn't long before we spotted a couple of Golden Eagles too, hunting Grouse or Mountain Hare on the heather clad slopes beyond us. As we headed back down the glen Dipper and Red Kite were also added to the day list.

Heading back to the forest we cut across some of the Strath's farmland to check out any goose flocks, finding a few Greylags and Pink-feet with a surprise amongst them, a single Barnacle Goose. While watching the geese a lone and largish looking Redpoll dropped down in to a tree beside us, giving brief views enough to confirm it was a Common (mealy) rather than a local Lesser Redpoll.

Back in the pine forest we were soon watching several Crested Tits feeding near Loch Garten,  which made a fantastic end to a species packed day!

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Indian Summer

1/10/2013

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Well the summer continues in the Highlands with some stunning days and very mild temperatures, though it looks as autumn may be creeping in later this week.
Yesterday we visited an area to the south of Strathspey on the edge of the Monadhliath Mountains, a secluded strath and very under-watched. As soon as we arrived a young Golden Eagle drifted in from the hills, hunting low through an area of scattered woodland on the hillside giving superb views. Further along  we encountered a second, being mobbed by a couple of Buzzards as a party of a dozen Ravens danced the skyline too.
A walk along the river Spey at the weekend encountered a remarkable flock of 47 Goosanders, resting on a secluded bend in the river, along with 3 Dippers and a couple of Grey Wagtails. Heading back our attention was drawn to the call of a Chiffchaff in bushes along the edge of the bank, the bird appeared and was soon joined by a second bird in the bins, this one showing a remarkable yellow supercillium though! It was a Yellow-browed Warbler, a brilliant inland find during a period of hundreds appearing in the northern isles and at coastal sites. This just shows that these birds move inland also, probably following rivers, though finding them more luck than anything. I remember some years ago seeing a Hoopoe right in the middle of the forest at Glen Feshie in October so it's always worth checking every single bird at this time of year.


We still have a few late Swallows hanging about especially in Strathdearn where they seem to be young birds feeding up before heading on south, we had a small flock pass by at Chanonry point too on Sunday while looking for Dolphins.


Busy week coming up with the Autumn Short break and other guiding days out, so sure to find some excellent birds and catch up with the Red Deer rut too. Don't forget we are running a winter short break in January too, check the website for details.
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    Author

    John Poyner.

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