​Mary and Dave Galloway were our hosts for this most enjoyable and unusual outing on their land above the village of Fortrose.   It was suggested that we bring a picnic supper, folding chairs and dress for the weather.
 
Upon arrival Mary lead ten SOC members through her mixed woodland which was extensively planted with native trees in the late 80’s and obviously a magnet for nesting birds.  A very vocal Willow Warbler kept us company during our circular walk and we were lucky that it kept fine throughout the evening.  We then chatted and munched our picnics beside the old converted barn on Mary’s spacious piece of land. There were glorious cowslips all around the barn thanks to Dave scattering a packet of cowslip seed around the barn some years ago.  I only wish our seeds had taken to our ground as theirs have!
 
Initially, I imagine that these 50 or so acres were pretty open to the sky, but extensive and mixed native tree planting on the flatter areas has produced a most attractive secluded woodland for native birds. In one area Mary has attracted Treecreepers to nest behind a nattily positioned large piece of bark attached to the trunk of one of the trees! And at one point we spotted a large excavated burrow, fox or badger??
 
There are steep gullies across parts of the land where recent plantings of white hawthorn were in full flower as were some cherries too.  Some years ago I saw my first Redpoll here so I was interested to see what else was attracted to the seed, nut and fatballs – tits, Siskin, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Blackbird were seen.  A thrush had used a stone to smash many snails.
 
Beyond the woodland area are well-worn paths through lush grass and woodrush eventually leading to a seat over-looking one of the very steep-sided ‘dens’.  Not a term I was familiar with but an interesting geological feature first described by Hugh Miller, local geologist and writer in the early 1800’s.  These curious steep-sided gullies are full of vegetation (gorse, broom, saplings etc) and must be perfect for nesting birds, and support badgers, foxes, pine marten, roe deer and red squirrel. Apparently there is always an area of eroding earth pillars in these dens, very curious.
 
A well-positioned seat looks over the dens towards The Fairy Glen RSPB reserve, a wonderful viewpoint and well-pecked fatballs in evidence! We finally returned to the barn and our cars with a red sunset in evidence to the west.
 
Very many thanks to Mary and Dave for a very enjoyable evening. Number of species spotted:  26


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(Mary Galloway)

​Our group of six arrived at Charleston Harbour at 10am where we met up with our local leaders for the day -Tracy McLachlan from Poolewe and Peter Cunningham from Gairloch who kindly agreed to share their local knowledge.  As conditions were excellent for sea-watching – calm blue seas, blue skies and sun behind - our first stop was at the Gairloch Bay overlook.  There were good numbers of distant auks, gulls, Gannets, a few divers, Common and Arctic terns, Bonxie and Arctic Skuas.  Peter said that he had never such numbers of these seabirds at one time which pointed towards a large amount of small fish. With the feeding birds there were good numbers of porpoise all making the most of this bonanza.   We proceeded slowly along the coast road towards Rubha Reidh lighthouse with several stops  getting closer views of the seabirds, plus a nuclear submarine and very close-in Black-throated Diver.  The small patch of woodland near Sands Campsite gave us good views of a singing Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush with food, Willow Warbler and a passing Cuckoo.  A Sedge Warbler sang from the hidden stream.  Passing on to a patch of old oaks we had excellent views of Redpoll, a Stonechat pair with food, and two male Whinchatsw and one female.  Tracy had arranged for us to drive right to Rubha Reidh lighthouse – we felt very privileged and thanked Susan, the owner, for her invitation.   As we parked, Peter said he had seen a distant whale – a minke – which was finally seen by most of the party as it surfaced with its fin glinting in the sunshine.   Close-in a fully summer plumaged Great Northern Diver was spotted.  In the carpark at least 35 Twites were feeding on nyger seed, flying up to the nearby rocks and perching on the wires where we all had good views.  Our late sunny lunch was taken by the old lighthouse slipway with Kittiwake, Rock Doves and Cormorants flying past.

​Time was marching on so we hastened to Poolewe river for a short walk and an informative talk from Peter (a biologist with Wester Ross Fisheries Trust) on the different life cycles of salmon and seatrout which use the river to and from Loch Maree.  Common Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, Sand Martin,Red-breasted Merganser and Greenfinch were added to our list.  Finally we parked at Inverewe Gardens carpark for a walk to the hide – Ringed Plover, Mallard and Grey Heron – before doing the circular pinewood walk.   Blackcap, Coal and Great Tit, Siskin, Wren, Goldfinch rounded up the day with a total of 65 species.  It was nearly 6pm by the time we headed homewards and we all agreed it had been a memorable outing made extra special with the local knowledge and information from Tracy and particularly Peter.   Our sincere thanks go to them for sparing their time.

Nine enthusiastic Highland birders met Alex Joss, our leader for the day, only to be told by him that we won’t see much, probably only gulls and crows! Undaunted, we set off in 3 cars for the Loch District above Inverness to the south. The weather was fine at the start, but blustery showers were forecast.
Up to Essich and on to Bunachton for a short walk along the road. Curlews were back on breeding sites on the grassy moor and Goldcrests could only just be heard above the sound of the bitter wind. Distant Buzzards were spotted along with a pair of Magpies and a Red Kite.
Down to Dunlichity Church, a sheltered spot where we saw and heard 2 Treecreepers, Blue, and Great Tits, Pied Wagtails, Goldfinch, 4 Buzzards in territorial dispute and a pair of Mandarin Ducks skulking in undergrowth by the river. We hoped to spot a returning Osprey over the fish-stocked ponds near here, but we were out of luck. Lesser Redpolls were heard, along with Crossbill and 2 Mistle Thrushes.

Lochan na Curra (Sue Seright)

Down to Dunlichity Church, a sheltered spot where we saw and heard 2 Treecreepers, Blue, and Great Tits, Pied Wagtails, Goldfinch, 4 Buzzards in territorial dispute and a pair of Mandarin Ducks skulking in undergrowth by the river. We hoped to spot a returning Osprey over the fish-stocked ponds near here, but we were out of luck. Lesser Redpolla were heard, along with Crossbill and 2 Mistle Thrushes.
Unfortunately the weather deteriorated when we got to the north shore of Loch Duntelchaig, but we managed to see a large flock of Pinkfooted Geese and a Brown Hare, before retreating to cars for lunch.
Loch Ashie was home to several pairs of Goosanders, along with a Slavonian Grebe in winter plumage, Common Gulls and Cormorants. A walk to Lochan na Curra revealed several Teals, a Little Grebe and a distant Kestrel. On to near Torness to look out for raptors, but the weather was against us.
A last hopeful look for early returned Wheatear was fruitless, but we did see about 30 Oystercatchers on the SW shore of Loch Ruthven along with Tufted Ducks, Common Gulls and Cormorants.
Despite the unhelpful weather, we managed to see 53 species on a very enjoyable, rainbow-filled, day out birding with friends – a bit more than “just gulls and crows.”
it.

Loch Ashie (Carol Miller)

At the end of the day the cry went up ‘No heron!’.    But our group of nine notched up 71 species including several rarities!  Starting at Nairn, a very distant King Eider was located plus three Purple Sandpipers on the rocks that were then disturbed by dog walkers.  At Burghead a close-in Great Northern Diver was identified, a few Common Scoters plus the usual Eiders, Long-tailed Ducks, Guillemots and a single Gannet.

​A couple of birders from Grant Arms Hotel showed us their mobile phone with a Birdtrack picture of a Surf Scoter – where was Roseisle they asked?  Needless to say we back-tracked and had good views of the said Surf Scoter and several Velvets.  Onto the Elgin-Lossie road – a quick pull-in to view three Snow Geese with Pinks.  The flock was shortly spooked by walkers but we all had excellent views of flying Snow Geese before they disappeared towards Loch Spynie.  How lucky that we arrived when we did!
At Lossie East Beach the tide was very high but it was an ideal place for a sunny lunch whilst scoping the gulls – one of which was a Lesser Black-backed.  Onto Spey Bay where Shelduck, Mute Swan and Goosanders were added to our list plus a very welcome open toilet at the visitor centre.
Next stop – a well hidden, small flooded gravel pit with Moorhen, Coot, Goosander, Little Grebe, Tufted Ducks and Goldeneye whilst in the surrounding trees Long-tailed and Great Tit, Siskin and Goldfinch and Greenfinch.  Finally, to Loch Oire to complete the day with a handsome Ring-necked Duck.  It was then homeward … and still no heron!

 

This week's theme of appalling weather and associated lack of birds continued with this ramble from Croy, past Holme Rose, along the River Nairn and back adjacent to Kilravock Castle. The more sensible folk had seen the forecast and decided to give it a miss but for the four folk and dog whose sanity had taken a leave of absence we met in a blustery and icy car park at 0930 and unsurprisingly wanted to get moving as soon as possible just to keep warm!

With heads down we battled into the oncoming gale for the first kilometre or so but on dropping down towards the river we were pleased to find it a little more sheltered. We stopped only to admire a pair of Goldcrests busy flitting about, a fly over  Crossbill and to scan a flock of Herring Gulls. Along the river a Treecreeper put in a brief appearance working up some adjacent trees. Amazingly not a single Dipper could be found although the high water levels had probably something to do with this with many of the rocks now submerged. We did however stop to admire a huge badger set which was intersected at one stage by the path.

Just as we approached Holme Bridge two ducks flew off the river ahead of us and away downstream never to be seen again despite the subsequent search. It may have been a brief view for us all but it was enough to confirm them as a pair of Mandarins. Also here a small flock of Redwings were enjoyed clinging on tightly in the tree tops.
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On the way back the rain began to intensify and we all picked up the pace in order to rush back to some shelter and dry off. Despite the atrocious weather and lack of birds a good time was had by all and as is often the case it was the good company which was the highlight of the day. 

Jonathan Clarke

Waiting for good Weather in Strathspey    
 
Given the dire weather forecast, it was not surprising that only seven of the ten on the original attendance list made their way to the Loch Garten reserve for 9 o’clock, to be led by Pete Gordon, a last-minute substitute for John Poyner. Amazingly, the carpark was almost an oasis of slightly brighter skies and only light, intermittent showers. Pete made several valiant attempts to get a sighting of Crested Tits. They were heard at several places but always moving into the distance. Crossbills were less occasionally heard but too flighty to get a focus on. Within the woods the air was calm, but the exposed loch-sides were very inhospitable and the only birds seen at Loch Mallachie were two hardy Lesser Redpolls, pecking on the ground between the thrashing bushes. Back at the reserve, among the tits and Chaffinches, a solitary Treecreeper was a nice sighting. All the time, the light rain persisted, gradually dampening the bodies and spirits, so through the morning, some of the party, in ones and twos, jumped ship.

​By 11 o’clock the rain was in full flow, with regular, sizeable puddles on the road along to Coylumbridge and Loch Morlich, where lunch was had, peering through the lashing rain and mists on the far side of the loch to try to count the Goldeneyes bobbing in the waves. Eventually, just as the last two of the  party were setting off after finishing lunch, the blue skies arrived, so they treated themselves to a 20 minute survey of the Aviemore rubbish dump. Assorted corvids and gulls were present, but none with white wings. And that was the sunny weather interlude, as the driving rain, and sleet, quickly recommenced. To summarise, lots of birds were seen, Coal Tits and Chaffinches at the reserve, Mallards at Loch Morlich and Herring Gulls at the dump, but few species, although 21 was a better total than could be expected in the circumstances.
 
Alex Joss

  

Sadly the star of the show arrived before the group!  We planned to meet at 9.15 but around 9 am  a White-tailed Eagle flew east over Udale Bay heading towards Cromarty! I could see  that something was disturbing the waders and gulls and thought it must be a marauding peregrine, little did I suspect it would be a White-tailed Eagle. When the group arrived they were suitably sceptical of my sighting.
 
We started at Udale Bay looking though the waders and gulls. A sharp shower meant we had to shelter in the hide for a short time. The usual suspects were seen on the bay: curlew, lapwing, redshank, ringed plover, dunlin and knot as well mallard, wigeon, teal and shelduck but nothing untoward. We then moved along to the car park east of Jemimaville, where we saw scaup, long-tailed duck, a single Slavonian grebe and a single red-throated diver.
 
In the fields next to Kirkmichael we had a flock of pink-footed geese together with two barnacle geese. Walking down the hedge lined road towards Balblair we had flocks of yellowhammers and linnets as well a single brambling with chaffinches near the houses.
 
At the point at Balblair we had cormorant, a guillemot offshore and a  great northern diver flying into the firth.
 
On our way home we stopped at Rosemarkie where we had an astonishing 39 light-bellied Brent geese and a grey wagtail.
 
A very enjoyable outing with great company.
 
Number of species seen: 64
Number of observers: 6
 
Alister Clunas

​The annual SOC Highland Birdrace happened on Saturday 15th January 2022. 15 teams took part this year and all 43 birders had a good day out in various parts of Highland ranging from Badenoch & Strathspey, Inverness area, Easter Ross, the Black Isle, Sutherland and Wester Ross, including the Isle of Rum and even an enterprising team on the Calmac ferry crossing from Mallaig to Eigg. The weather was fairly kind although the light did seem to disappear quickly in the afternoon.

​The day got off to a flying start on Rum where Sean and Ali Morris, Team Rum, keenly went out at 6.30am, before breakfast, to spot Snipe, Woodcock and Jack Snipe by torchlight.

​​Some great birds were seen, including a Ring-necked Duck at Loch Kinellan. Photo Oscar Puls

 Green-winged Teal at Tain Links (left) and Mandarin Duck at Garve  (right) (Oscar Puls)

Team Guttersnipe at Insh Marshes Lookout.

Lords of the Wings, the winning team of young birders Mathew Broadbent and Oscar Puls, saw or heard an impressive 92 species during the race, which beat the previous 2018 total of 86 species. The total birds for the day was 127 which again beats the 2018 total of 116.         SOC Highland Winter Bird Race 2022 Total birds.docx
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As the light faded, oil rigs in the Cromarty Firth lit up spectacularly.
Sue Sykes

The day was concluded over a friendly online get-together where stories were shared and winners announced.
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Best Team name – The Bearded Tits
Most birds per mile travelled – Team Rum
Best Bird – Jack Snipe – Team Rum                  
Worst Dip of the Day – Great Tit – The Loch Long Loons
A great day out!
​
Carol Miller

Not exactly a Beginners’ Walk – more a walk for those who wanted to learn more about the calls, the jizz of commoner birds and glean some tips to make them easier to recognise as they fly off into the distance.


The walk began with excellent close views of five roe deer grazing near Broomhill Station and very quickly we were picking up our first birds – several greenfinches, then a family of house sparrows, a reed bunting and a distant yellow hammer. On a bit and there was a splendid male yellowhammer in full view with a female nearby for useful comparison. A common buzzard was overhead and we picked out some distant greylag geese as well as a pheasant or three, then, whizz, a small male sparrowhawk low down over our path.

There were coal tits a plenty in the pines but no goldcrests today, so on to the end of the first stretch of the Speyside Way. We walked up past the farm where, sure enough and right on cue was a flock of some 200 finches nearly all of which were brambling – a first for one of us and we did get some really good views. By now we were very cold indeed but had to stay put as another, very mobile, flock came into view swirling around over the field and into the trees – the linnets. Our patience was rewarded when they swirled again and came down in the seed heads and, yes, there were a few twites with them.

 
Café and hot soup next – very welcome as we thawed out before going on into Dell Woods where blue, great and coal tits were helpfully feeding together giving us a chance to look at the size differential. The female woodpecker obligingly came down to look at us but it seemed that we weren’t to get lucky with a crested tit – another lifer for one of us. However, again, patience is the name of the game and, before dusk fell, there he was in all his subtle crested glory, busy with the peanuts before going to roost for the night.  
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Because there were only the three of us we had some interesting conversation too, ranging from reintroductions and rewilding - to species of snakes and fungi – to the iniquities of some drivers and so-called wild campers! Only 27 species but a thoroughly good day! Why don't you join us and improve your birding skills in friendly company?

Sue Sykes

A late decision was made to meet at Udale at 0930  instead of North Kessock, due to tides and possibly rain.  It was a good decision as the tide was already rising and birds gradually being pushed up as we arrived. With eight in the party there were plenty of eyes to spot species of duck, waders, gulls and geese.  Lapwing, oystercatcher, godwit (both species), knot, redshank, dunlin, shelduck, wigeon, teal and mallard all took flight but a raptor could not be spotted.   A noted absence was  grey heron although this was offset by a little egret flying in. A hybrid American wigeon was spotted.  A single whitefront was grazing with pinkfeet in a field of cattle, and a lone and very distant barnacle was seen.   The carpark was soon overflowing as we were joined by vehicles and bird watchers from the Grant Arms Hotel led by John Poyner.  We moved on to Ivy Cottage, Jemimaville carpark for a coffee stop whilst viewing good numbers of scaup, a few eider,  a couple of long-tailed duck and slav grebes; and Alex spotted an elusive red-throated diver.  We returned towards Rosemarkie stopping briefly in search of finches but the fierce wind had frightened them off.  Alex rejoined us with tales of the diver giving him excellent views!

We then visited the land of Arabella Croft, Hill of Fortrose to pick up a good flock of mixed siskins and goldfinches. Three species of tits were on the fat balls and a walk in the woodland turned up  goldcrest, robin, treecreeper, redpoll with redwing and blackbirds gobbling up rowan berries..   A jay and bullfinch were heard and whilst we ate lunch two red kite flew over.

We then moved on to a very windy and damp Chanonry Point where gannets, shag, cormorant, and guillemot were added to our tally. Finally we reached  Avoch seafront after a detour via country lanes as the road was blocked.  I later learned this was a fallen tree.   The light was falling but, at last, we found a grey heron and on the road home a white pheasant with a female brown one were noted.
 
Notable ‘misses’  turnstone, collared dove, starling, linnet, red-breasted merganser.
 
Total number of species:  67

Mary Galloway