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.
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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