Snow Geese and Scaup

 The second half of my trip to Speyside was as great as the first. Saturday morning we set off for the east side of the Buchan coast starting at Lossiemouth East beach . Before we got there we had a slight detour to view some Snow Geese in a field with some Pink Footed Geese. There were also good numbers and views of Fieldfare. Arriving at the beach, lots of waders and ducks were gathered not too far away. Those on view included Dunlin,  Ringed Plover, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Bar Tailed Godwit, Red Breasted Merganser, Eider, Common Gull, Herring Gull and Redshank. 

                                                         

Going to Lossiemouth harbour brought back great memories of my time in the Fisherman's Mission. Scanning from the harbour wall we were thrilled to have really good views of Long Tailed Duck, Shag, Red Throated Diver, Eider and on the sea wall were Rock Pipit, Turnstone and Purple Sandpiper.

Shag.  Turnstone 

                                   Purple Sandpiper  

Then on to Loch Spynie RSPB reserve via the Coltfield Loop. This was to look for and find Grey Partridge, but the added bonus of a Brown Hare was great. The feeders at the RSPB reserve proved very productive with Tree Sparrow, Brambling, Yellowhammer, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Great Tit and Blue Tit. We stopped by the Leisure Centre at Nairn hoping for a King Eider, but without success. I was impressed by the driving of our two guides coping with almost a blizzard on our homeward journey.

                

Sunday we went on a twitch but since it was on our way to the Black Isle it wasn't out of our way. I hadn't seen waxwings for a number of years so to photograph these was great. I wasn't able to get a photo of nearby crossbills though.

 A Red Kite flying over our transport was a lovely welcome to the Black Isle, where we paused at Munlochy Bay for packed lunch. Pink Footed Geese, Shelduck, Redshank and  Godwits, though distant were easily identified. One of our sharp eyed guides noticed a Merlin on the ground and the other guide found at least two Greenshanks at a safe distance from this magical raptor. A timely comfort break at Rosemarkie beach gave us delightful views of Sanderling, Black Guillemot and another Red Throated Diver.

 

Our final sites were Jemimaville and Udale Bay. Our finding of two more target species, Slavonian Grebe and Scaup was a great ending to our long weekend. Special thanks to Holly and Jenna from Heatherlea for their expertise. Photo of a Scaup below. I'll have to return in summer if only to see the grebe in summer plumage. The train home wasn't until 11.30 so we had a quick walk up the river in Nethy Bridge. Seeing and hearing Dipper, Grey Wagtail and Long-Tailed Tits was our reward. My running total for my challenge is now at 230

A Tale of Two Bridges.

 I start in Bamber Bridge where I went on Cuerden Valley Park to collect an SD card from one of our camera traps. On the way there, I saw two fungi, Dead Man's Fingers and Blushing Bracket.    

                   

   I actually got excited when I saw the results of my camera trapping. A dog fox being very interested in a vixen. Sadly I couldn't download it here. My day got a bit more colourfull when I spotted a bullfinch on the feeders by the cafe on the Park.

 

The following day I visited Wymott pools to try to spot a Little Owl. I was unsuccessful, but did manage to add Meadow Pipit and Heart's Tongue Fern. Which brought my list for the year to 183.

Then north to another "Bridge" This time Nethy Bridge where I spent a few days with Heatherlea, the bird watching group. Friday had an excellent start where we saw Black Grouse males on the hillside. Our attempt at finding Red Grouse was unsuccessful, but at least I added Juniper and Bilberry to my list.. We decided to go to Loch Garten RSPB reserve. Here we had good views of Crested Tits, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Brambling, Treecreeper, Siskins, a Red Squirrel and Chaffinch. I must confess the best thing was a Coal Tit sitting on my finger eating food from my hand. Crested tit pictured.

 

Travelling south past Kincraig we viewed Loch Insh where Pintail were a surprise. Other ducks included Teal, Mallard and Goldeneye. From here a loop anticlockwise via Kingussie took us to the viewpoint looking over Insh Marsh. Photos here were hard since most of the birds were over the hills and distant. Using our telescopes we were able to identify Golden Eagle, White Tailed Eagle, Goshawk, Hen Harrier and Raven. A little closer were Grey Heron, Greylag Geese, a mixed tit flock feeding, Brambling and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Year total for flora and fauna now 204