Day 1.

The day starts with us heading off to the large area of moorland surrounding Grantown where we are soon getting excellent views of Red Grouse as they parade at the roadside, as well as a large colony of Common Gulls nesting in the heather. An Osprey fishes one of the remote large lochs just a few miles away, with two Short-eared Owls hunting over the moors in the distance as we search for our main target Black-throated Diver at one of their most easterly breeding sites.
They prove quite elusive for a while, but we finally manage to track one down, preening and showing well in the scopes from the road-side layby. What a stunning bird in full summer plumage.
The clouds gather rather ominously adding atmosphere to this vast moor as we head for another area in search of Golden Plover and Hen Harrier.
After only a short walk, we are amazed to locate a male Hen Harrier perched in a lone dead tree in the distance, a great find! Returning to the vehicle a small group of Golden Plover gather in the grassy field, giving good views in their full summer plumage. 
We then have lunch at the Grant Arms private hide on a small loch where Slavonian Grebes breed, with up to four birds showing well throughout, a great bonus to our day to see this stunning grebe in breeding plumage so well.
Moving on to another larger loch we finally find our other target of the day, Red-throated Diver, with a pair showing quite well from the parking area once the light improves for us.
A search for Ring Ouzel higher up the road is not as successful, a singing bird eludes us despite much scanning and we return back down to the Strath to be greeted by a torrential downpour and thunderstorm which  cuts short our hunt for Crested Tit somewhat.
After dinner we set out around 8pm back up on to the moors in search of Black Grouse and Owls. It's a calm clear evening, perfect for birding, the heavy showers dying out as the day cools. As soon as we arrive, we spot six Black Grouse males sitting at a nearby fence, some still lekking with tails fanned. As we watch a Short-eared Owl appears quartering the grassland, then drops down on unsuspecting prey to deliver back to it's nest. A Redpoll flies overhead landing in a nearby plantation and Red Grouse call from the heather as the light begins to fade. Though at this time of year even by 10pm it's barely getting dark.

Day 2

We start with another look for Crested Tit, where one was heard briefly but still no good views proving how elusive they can be at this time of year when breeding.
We then head up Cairngorm Mountain, the easy way on the funicular railway, getting a sighting of a female Ring Ouzel sitting on a fence carrying food as we go as well as a Mountain Hare dashing through the heather as we pass.
The weather seems to have settled for us and cloud is keeping well of the tops so perfect for scanning for our target birds.
It wasn't long before we'd spotted one of them, a male Ptarmigan sitting on a nearby ski fence as well as female nearby on the ground. The bird on the fence remains long enough for plenty of photos, thought the Dotterel we finally manage to pick up on a lower slope just a little too far for any decent shots.

We are soon back on the road and heading to a glen in search of Eagles and other raptors, the weather is ideal and a great spot for lunch while we scan.
It's quite a wait, we get a couple of views of Peregrine and Kestrel then at last, a White-tailed Eagle soars in to view and climbs high above us before drifting off in to the blue. Making up for a rather brief glimpse of a Golden Eagle as we arrived.
Our final stop of the day is Chanonry point on the Black Isle, hoping to catch up with some Dolphin action. We are not disappointed as within minutes of arriving, several Bottle-nosed Dolphins appear close in shore just off the point. The sea is fairly quiet on such a calm day, a few Gannets and Auks in the distance and we just manage to glimpse fly-by Common Scoter just as we are about to leave. We return to the A9 via a minor road through farmland, stopping to admire a group of Tree Sparrows on a feeder as well as Yellowhammer and Linnet on roadside fences. Just as we join the A9 we manage to spot a Red Kite as it soars over nearby fields, surprisingly the only one we see, hopefully not due to the recent dreadful poisoning incident.

Day 3.

The day starts with a walk through the Pinewoods adding super views of a parachuting Tree Pipit to our list and great voews of Red Squirrels at the Grant Arms feeders giving great photo opportunities. Crestie still remain ever elusive, with not even a brief calling bird, we still have a chance of finding one on the coast so fingers crossed! It's then on to spend the rest of the day on the Moray Firth where our first stop is Spey Bay in glorious sunshine. Common and Arctic Tern fish just off the river mouth and we spot a small group of migrating waders resting on the tide line. It's a mixed flock of Ringed Plover (looking like northern "tundrae" race, several Dunlin and a paler smaller bird asleep, initially thought to be a Sanderling. Getting it in the scope once it wakes we are surprised to see a stunning Little Stint in full breeding plumage! The flock flies briefly but then settles again giving some great views in the scopes.
We move on and have lunch at Lossiemouth, checking the gulls for anything unusual before making our way further along the coast east. At Roseisle we manage to find a single Common Scoter on the water and several Eiders, though many of the wintering sea-duck have now departed.
A shout of "Osprey" by a child paddling causes us to look  above him and sure enough, a bird is making it's way along the shore on a fishing expedition.
Final bird of the day AT LAST, is a view of Crested Tit in the car park, just sitting long enough on a branch for Mark to snap a photo!

Our finally tally for the three days was 98 species seen and 102 incuding "heards". Thank you to Bill, Anne, Mark, Tracy and Sheena for joining me on the Holiday it was a pleasure and some great birding.

Setting off from Grantown at 6.30 we headed north towards Ullapool where the first stop was a roadside loch high up on the moors. A lone Black-throated Diver with Greenshank and Common Sandpiper displaying across the water, Snipe chipping and a few Hooded Crows drifting past us a great start to the day.
After a stop in Ullapool we were soon heading through the stunning scenery towards Handa Island, boarding the "ferry" at Tarbet for the short crossing. Passing a pair of Red-throated Divers and several Black Guillemots on the way, Skuas and Arctic Terns we now wheeling ahead of us as we approached the beach landing. This first sight and sound of the Island unforgettable, the chattering cry of Arctic Terns all around us with Arctic and Great Skuas performing acrobatics in every direction, their loud calls filling the air.
As we walked to the seabird cliffs, Arctic and Great Skua glared at us from just feet away from the board-walk, busy settling down to nest. Others screamed noisily over head at speed, a tough challenge to photograph!
While watching a flock of Bonxies washing in a freshwater loch, several Red-throated Diver circled over head, honking noisily while others could be heard wailing to mates down at the shore. The air was filled with a constant stream of sound, Divers, Skuas, Terns, Skylarks, Guillemots, Razorbills, Fulmars, Rock and Meadow Pipits.....
On the cliff tops a groups of Puffins were eyeing each other amongst the brilliant pink thrift, as  thousands of auks jostled for ledges below them and wheeled back and forth out over the ocean. A great lunch stop!
We slowly made our way round the island, past more sea-bird cliffs, dropping down to one of the sheltered bays, full of Eider and a group of 7 Red-throated Divers fishing in the shallows, all in stunning breeding plumage. A pair of Red Grouse followed us for a while along the path, as we watched more endless Skua acrobatics above us, swooping down just feet above our heads.

On the return baat trip we pass just feet from a pair of Red-throated Divers as well as more Black Guillemots, Skuas still filling the air over the Island. Very sad to leave what has to be one of Scotland's best wildlife experiences, the weather held just perfectly, with rain just setting in as we headed up the steep road out of Tarbet and the journey back home for dinner!

The question I am asked probably more than any other is "What about Scottish Crossbill" ? Well yes, it is still a species on the British List but the question is "How do you identify it!!?" The truthful answer to that is "You can't, on field characteristics alone." The bill size overlaps with large-billed Commons and small-billed Parrots, both of which are regularly found in Strathspey. Are you still with me! The only recognised way of identifying a "Scotbill" is by analysing call through a sonogram. Large billed unidentifiable birds are often now referred to as Scottish Parrot Crossbill, though true Parrot Crossbill should be relatively straightforward to identify on bill and structure. Some are still happy to tick Scottish Crossbill by hedging a guess, it depends how particular you are about listing!

The word thermals is usually associated with underwear in Scotland....though on some sunny days it has another meaning!
A few hours spent in a local glen for raptors had proved pretty quiet, so we decided to head up on to the moors, taking a road which climbs up to nearly 2000ft to view from there. The day was very warm with unstable air, perfect for some good thermals so we decided to stop and scan.
In every direction we picked up groups of thermaling Buzzards, up to 7 or 8 at a time, climbing to well over 3000ft, joined also by Kestrels, Sparrowhawk, Merlin....and it wasn't long before we got Eagles too. A pair drifted in from high north, from one direction and from the south an imm joined a thermal of Buzzards for a while before heading a few miles west to join a second thermal of Buzzards.
No wonder there were no raptors down in the glen, they were all up enjoying the perfect flying conditions. We watched the Eagles cover 4 or 5 miles in minutes after climbing. There were probably in excess of 20 raptors in the sky at any one time from the view point....brilliant.

Birders used to refer to Strathdearn as raptor or Eagle alley and it certainly still lives up to it's name. As well as the regular Eagles and many Buzzards we've been getting some great sightings of displaying Goshawks recently over the forests. Peregrine have also been putting on spectacular shows in the glen and Merlin have returned now following the Meadow Pipit flocks as they arrive.
Red Kite, Hen Harrier, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk are all regular sights in the area and while looking for these there is usually plenty else to see along the river and hillsides. Ring Ouzel should be in any day now and the river will soon be alive with the piping of Common Sandpipers, Dipper are already sitting on nests, we watched them nest building several weeks ago under one of the bridges.
Mountain Hare have just begun to change in to their summer coats and recently we've been seeing Brown Hare quite far up the glen sharing the same habitat. Begs the question can they ever hybridise, it has been recorded in Sweden apparently where they share the same habitat though I have no idea what they would look like  or if they'd change colour in winter! An interesting study for someone there.

A great day out recently guiding with photographers Sylvia and Sue in search of some of the local specialities. The day started with 14 Black Grouse at the local lek, then after breakfast on to Strathdearn where first stop was for a lovely view of a Dipper, perched with nesting material near one of the bridges.
A party of wild Goats at the roadside also gave some great photo opportunities as they grazed on the juniper bushes. At the end of the Strath a pair of Peregrines displayed over head with some amazing acrobatics and it wasn't long before we spotted some Mountain Hares sheltering amongst the rocks on the hillside. Strong gale force winds made a walk up the hill rather tricky this time, however this excellent photo of some very happy Mountain Hares was taken the following day in better conditions!
After a stop for lunch in Carrbridge the next top was Abernethy forest for Crested Tit, and it wasn't long before a very obliging bird was entertaining us at a local feeding station as well some very tame Coal Tits feeding from the hand! Thank you Sylvia and Sue for a great day out.

Apologies for not updating the blog recently, due to family matters I had to spend most of Feb down in England. Back in Scotland now and it seems at last there are signs of spring! This stunning view of the Cairngorms taken yesterday at Loch Morlich.
Breeding waders are back on the farnmland of the Strath, the calls of Curlews, Lapwings and Oystercatcher filling the air once again. On the hills there is still a lot of snow and Ptarmigan with Snow Bunting showing well around the ski area. At the Black Grouse lek birds have been showing well every morning with 7-10 males strutting and bubbling as it gets light. Dipper are also nest building under the bridge in the village and I had a rare sighting of a Kingfisher fly under the bridge near Grantown last week! A rare sight indeed in the Highlands. One bird which is always a challenge at any time of year is the Goshawk but in early March they can often be seen displaying above the forests. On Sunday along with a client we went in search of this elusive bird. Incredibly we managed to spot one within five minutes of arriving at a prime site, as it flapped high obove the tree-line along with several displaying Buzzards, a Peregrine and Red Kite. Merlin, Hen Harrier and both Eagles are also regular at this great raptor watching location.
The website is now updated with more Autumn Short Breaks and several Natural History Breaks in summer, all staying at the Grant Arms Hotel. Click the "Breaks" link in the menu bar for more info.

The Cairngorms had a good covering of snow, with the local Reindeer herd entertaining us in the lower car park before a chance to encounter a flock of Snow Buntings at the main ski area. They seemed to enjoy our bird seed too! High winds and spin drift snows made looking for Ptarmigan impossible, however the scenery was stunning on the hill with the mountains in full winter glory.
The arctic scenery of Strathdearn was a great back drop as we watched a Golden Eagle soaring high over head, the honking calls of Ravens all around us as they drifted and tumbled over the crags, while Red Deer herds grazed along the snow covered ridges.
In the forest Crested Tit were busy at the feeders, as were the Red Squirrels, we discovered one being beamed live on air by the BBC for winterwatch! Our early morning look for Black Grouse was rewarded, with a super display of lekking males at a secluded location not far from Grantown as Red Grouse called "get back" from the nearby heather.
On the Black Isle rafts of over 400 Scaup bobbed just offshore, as hundreds of Knot and Bar-tailed Godwits swirled in clouds along the tideline. The day was finished off nicely with a visit to the long staying American Coot at Loch Flemmington, easily visible without even getting out of the bus.
Of course we can't forget the other highlight, food, and the wonderful Burns Supper put on by the Grant Arms Hotel complete with "Spud" the piper, piping in the Haggis! A very enjoyable night was had by all though not sure there was much dancing to the band, all being so full after the excellent four course meal! 

We are running more Short Breaks throughout the year, see the link above for details, if you'd like to book  and join us for some great wildlife just email us or fill out the online form.

The Highlands often has some good birds in January but this year is no exception, including the surprise find of a mega in the form of a rather nice Amercian Coot at Loch Flemington. As well as a selection of white-winged gulls, current rarities gracing the region are Lesser Scaup (2), King Eider (moray), American Wigeon, Ring-billed Gull, Glossy Ibis and late last year even a brief Ivory Gull! Being one of the largest regions in the UK guess there must still be plenty of others which just get missed. There are large stretches of coast, particularly to the north of Inverness which get very little coverage, even by local birders. In February and March we'll be exploring some of this wild coast north of the Black Isle, even a full day can only touch up on the many sites to visit. These include Loch Fleet, Dornoch  Firth, Brora, Embo to name but a few. Keep an eye on our calendar for details, and if you are staying at the Grant Arms Hotel, our posters are up on the BWWC notice board.

Well that's the Christmas and New Year festivities over and we are looking forward to 2014 and some exciting birding. There is usually a good bird to see locally over the festive season and this year's was just down the road at Broomhill. Clearly an Iceland Gull, but those darker wing-tips caused some debate as to whether or not this was a Kumlein's type. Some birders think not and some think it could well be....that's birding, sometimes ID is not all that straight forward....lets not even  mention the word Crossbill. As I write another rarity has just been found by a good friend Simon Eaves on the coast at Loch Flemmington, another wanderer from across the pond an American Coot! A first for Highland and only 8th for the UK mainland. This is currently just down the road from the Lesser Scaup showing at Alturlie, so no shortage of great birds to see as well as the regulars.
I have been busy guiding several field trips for the Grant Arms BWWC over the festive period, with some great sightings. At Burghead we had over 50 Bottle-nosed Dolphins as well as an Otter feeding on the shore below us, with great views of Purple Sandpipers on the rocks feeding with Turnstones. In Strathdearn both Golden and White-tailed Eagles have been showing well, January sees the start of Eagles displaying on clear days, already thinking about nesting. Local Black Grouse have been lekking too on clear calm mornings and this activity should slowly increase as we head on in to the year. With daylight not being until around 8 still it doesn't even require an early start too. We are running regular morning trips to see them from the Grant Arms and Nethybridge, email [email protected] or call on 01479 821357 if you are interested in joining a trip.
In the forest Crested Tit have been showing very well especially at the feeders, there have also been quite a few mobile groups of Crossbill Sp. around lately.
Finally, many people ask about Wildcat and how easy it is to see them.....well the answer is "not very"! It is one animal which really just does require a lot of luck and a chance encounter, which does happen now and again. Just before Xmas I was driving to Grantown as I do most days, it had just got dark and my lights caught something ahead crossing the road......it was a cat, quite bulky, and with a very stealthy gait, looking very good for wild cat with a well marked ringed tailed. It dashed quickly across and through a fence then vanished. I can't say it was one, there are plenty of Tabby's around here but based on experience I'd say this one was a pretty good candidate. 

Well I wish you all a very Happy New Year, and some great birding. For all those I have met in 2013 I hope to see you again and thank you for your custom, it has been a pleasure. I intend to extend the Short Break itinerary at the Grant Arms as well as the day tours with some exciting destinations and boat trips this year so a busy time ahead.

Best Wishes

John Poyner & Family.