A select party of seven met in Nethybridge and soon after arrival at nearby feeders were enjoying views of the area’s speciality, a Crested Tit. This was to the relief of the leader who, although he had seen one immediately on a recce the previous day, knew this was not guaranteed – in winter, Cresties join other tits in roving gangs, probably to maximise feeding opportunities and lessen predation risk. A flock does not stay long in any one spot and, had we just missed them, it might have been a lengthy wait for a reappearance. Also, as spring arrives, flocks break up and birds regain defended territories. A Mistle Thrush sang strongly here, a Siskin was noted and an unseen Crossbill (- Common or Scottish?) called.
We then had a brief stop at the bridge over the Nethy and enjoyed excellent views of a pair of Dippers which soon will be nesting here and saw a few other common birds at nearby feeders.
Crested and Coal Tits (Pete Gordon)
Approaching Boat of Garten Woods a Red Kite was spotted – it’s only in the last three years or so that this species has become reliable locally. A walk here gave us a pair of Common Buzzards and distant views of a probable Goshawk but failed to deliver another Crested Tit. Three or four Crossbill sp and a few Siskins were seen up high but these woods were fairly quiet although singing Mistle Thrushes broke the silence. 40 Wigeons and a few other common waterbirds took off from the Deshar Flood but water levels are very low this winter and it’s unlikely this site will deliver the good birds it has in the past.
We then drove up to the car park on Cairn Gorm but the coming and going of skiers from an (estimated) 200 vehicles didn’t put off the flock of Snow Buntings which are regular on picnic tables here. We only saw five this time but up to 50 birds are regular here and give superb views. There was a cold wind here and clouds were scudding across the mountain top so the shelter of cars – or the restaurant for a coffee – was very welcome.
We then drove up to the car park on Cairn Gorm but the coming and going of skiers from an (estimated) 200 vehicles didn’t put off the flock of Snow Buntings which are regular on picnic tables here. We only saw five this time but up to 50 birds are regular here and give superb views. There was a cold wind here and clouds were scudding across the mountain top so the shelter of cars – or the restaurant for a coffee – was very welcome.
Snow Bunting (Pete Gordon)
A stop at the layby by the south end of Loch Insh gave us a few of the commoner wildfowl but the reported Smew here almost eluded us until Tim picked it out in the shadow by the far bank. The combination of distance, shade and the bird’s constant diving at first made viewing difficult but in the end we all obtained satisfactory views. Some 500 Pink-footed Geese flew over, a few Greylags were on the water and five Canada Geese did their best to hide behind a bank. A gang of five Little Grebes squabbled, dived and then swam serenely by.
Next, we tried to find the Snow Goose at the south end of Insh Marshes – it was seen earlier that day – but were unsuccessful. A pair of newly arrived Shovelers was slight recompense for that failure but that’s the way of birding. Good numbers of returning waders were seen towards Kingussie – lots of feeding Lapwings and Curlews and some 180 roosting Oystercatchers which will soon disperse to their farmland nesting grounds. The weather had closed in by this time and it had turned colder so we were disinclined to wait longer for a possible raptor and called it a day.
As promised, it was a day of quality over quantity with only 41 species recorded but, as Leader, I found it very enjoyable to share my birdwatching with a group of equally-enthusiastic friends.
Pete Gordon
Next, we tried to find the Snow Goose at the south end of Insh Marshes – it was seen earlier that day – but were unsuccessful. A pair of newly arrived Shovelers was slight recompense for that failure but that’s the way of birding. Good numbers of returning waders were seen towards Kingussie – lots of feeding Lapwings and Curlews and some 180 roosting Oystercatchers which will soon disperse to their farmland nesting grounds. The weather had closed in by this time and it had turned colder so we were disinclined to wait longer for a possible raptor and called it a day.
As promised, it was a day of quality over quantity with only 41 species recorded but, as Leader, I found it very enjoyable to share my birdwatching with a group of equally-enthusiastic friends.
Pete Gordon
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