A few more pictures from the Highlands.

It was great to visit Speyside again and see some of the birds it is difficult to see elsewhere.  One of the highlights of our visit was to visit an area where we were privilidged to watch young SE Owls last year and this visit watch a pair displaying and hunting over the same moor.

It is always great to see the Cresties and Black Throated Divers.

Black Throated Divers

 Whooper Swan

 EJ back at Loch Garten

 5 Slavonian Grebe at Loch Ruthven.

On the way there we also saw a Magpie which was the only one we saw all holiday.

Two Peregrine also nearby above some cliffs.

 

 Had to watch where we walked along the path to Loch Ruthven, so many toads.

 Who would believe within a week we would go from this (Snow) to temperature showing 27 in car in Northallerton this afternoon.

We watched a snowboarder travel down this gulley.



A Day at the Coast.

 

Started the day at the 'RSPB Loch Garten opening' for the new Osprey season...Sylvia was the first official visitor this year........pity the Osprey's hadn't arrived back!!

The Cresties didn't let us down though as 3 were seen in the area.

We decided to head north to the coast to get away from the snow showers.

We headed across to Forres and visited Roseisle first where there were vast numbers of birds feeding in the field along the entry road - Chaffinch, Yellowhammer, Linnet, Goldfinch, Fieldfare, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Grey Partridge, 2 Shelduck, Buzzard and Corn Bunting heard. There were also a group of Whooper Swans in the field opposite and a pair of Bullfinch further along the road.

At Burghead harbour a pair of displaying Long-tailed Duck were a stunning sight.

On the way back we were pleased to find a Short-eared Owl on it's territory.....a good day.

 

 

Bullfinch

 Partridge

 Whooper Swan family

 Redshank

 Long-tailed Duck

 

 Crested Tit

 

And finally a squadron flew by at Lossiemouth!!

 



 



Winter has arived - In April???

Really enjoying our few days away but just can't believe the weather.  And this is not a joke!!

Lots of birds on the feeders at Loch Garten and Loch an Eilean but not seen an osprey yet though.  Maybe they have turned around and gone back - who would blame them.