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With the weather forecast not looking too good for raptor watching it was a pleasant surprise to be greeted by clear and dry conditions with light winds when reaching the car park at Coignafearn. Once everyone had managed to negotiate the logging lorries on the single track road, we set up camp for a while in the car park to scan the ridges. A flock of several hundred Fieldfares in the heather up on the slopes was our first sighting as well as several Ravens sky dancing, a Kestrel and several Buzzards. It wasn’t long before Raven activity led us to a large raptor flapping across the glen, a Golden Eagle! Most of the group managed to get on it before it disappeared out of view over the ridge.

It seems the Fieldfare flock was attracting some attention with a Peregrine dashing along the ridge putting them up, not long followed by probably the best bird of the morning, a male Goshawk, giving some excellent views as it hunted the open ground. Our raptor list was growing quite quickly. We waited a while in the hope that the Eagle might make a return however there was no further sign from our vantage point. As expected at this time of year there were few passerines about, so far a lone Redpoll calling overhead was our only sighting.

We then moved down to the small car park near the old plantation to take a short walk and warm up a bit. After a short while spent on the bridge over the Findhorn we headed off along the track where It wasn’t long before we spotted a Red Kite coming high over the hillside with plenty of Buzzard activity also. Everyone managed to get views of a Dipper as it paused briefly on rocks in the stream, and a lucky few at the front managed to flush a Woodcock from the edge of the plantation. We scanned the slopes for a while in the hope of picking up a mountain hare as an added bonus, but to no avail. As we wandered back to the cars a Sparrowhawk was also added to the list as it drifted above the plantation treeline as well as further views of two Peregrines.

Looking like the weather might be closing in at this end of the glen we decided to move down and park up for a while near the junction of the Farr road. Redpoll was heard over and several Goldfinches up in the larches though unfortunately the weather closed in and the forecast rain began. With little chance of any more raptor watching it was time to enjoy the last of our warm drinks and sandwiches before calling it day and heading home, seven species of raptor not a bad morning’s birding.
John Poyner