Speyside

Good Friday was set fair weather wise and ideal for a trip to one of my favourite parts of Scotland, particularly at this time of year.

I reached Loch Garten with it still dark and time for a coffee before "caper watch". Sunrise over the Ospreys at Loch Garten:

Soon a male Caper was on show, never close but as good a view as I think I have ever had. It was obviously strutting its stuff to something, tail fanned & the occasional jump. The hide was busying & I decided to move on to Tulloch Moor.

Its been a few years since I was last at Tulloch Moor here and the road down is now 'private' although it didn't seem to deter some ! Again the Black Grouse showed pretty well with 2 females in trees and a displaying male on the ground. Added bonus here included singing Tree Pipit & Willow Warbler.

Loch Garten in the morning sunlight was a picture:

Loch Garten in Spring morning sunshine

Reflection of the trees in the loch

Apart from Crested Tit most of the target species were present including Crossbill sp, Redstart, Common Sandpiper, Siskin & Redpoll. I am always taken by the lichens on the trees and the abundant food supply was attracting lots of Treecreepers:

Treecreeper on a lichen covered tree

Carrying Food

Next stop was Lochindorb for Red Grouse and there were plenty:

After lunch I headed to the Findhorn Valley and got lucky with a tour van stopped at the roadside about half way down the valley enjoying a Golden Eagle in the sky with a mobbing Buzzard. A good opportunity for appreciating the obvious size difference of the two species.

Wheatears were plentiful, but I could not pin point a probable singing Ring Ouzel. Some exploration of a mountain stream produced Dipper:

Dipper

Common Gull attracted to my sandwiches

Findhorn Valley