I was on holiday in Aviemore from the 27th April, to the 3rd May. Here's a brief summary of each day:
27th April - Drove up to Aviemore, stopping off at Lytham St. Annes for the Ross's gull. Arrived in the evening and had time for a quick search of the woods at Craigellachie. Saw tree creeper, willow warbler, and even an osprey briefly from the road, but no sign of peregrin.
28th April - Rained most of the morning. Went to Loch Garten for Crested tit and Crossbill but never saw any. Was told that they (cresties) had stopped using the feeders. Spotted three Scoter on Loch Garten, and a Pink-footed goose amongst the Greylags at Loch Mallachie. Heard a singing Redstart.
Later visited the Cairngorms and saw red and black grouse.
29th April - Started early at 5.30am for Caper Watch, and was rewarded with a splendid male Capercaillie pearched in a pine tree. Stayed there for so long that I was even able to photograph it after the crowds had died down, when I was able to get a clear view from my scope. Searched Loch Garten again and got a female Goosander. Also actually saw the Redstart we had heard the previous day. Finally got two crested tits on the feeders at the car park, but I didn't get time to photograph them.
Drove to boat of Garten, and saw one Slavonian grebe from the viewing platform. Then on to Carrbridge to try for golden plover down station road. Didn't get them but was caught in a massive hail storm.
30th April - We toured the Moray firth coast. Saw red-throated diver, long tailed duck, eider, red-breasted Marganser, Sandwich tern, and Gannet at Nairn. Then on to Findhorn Bay, where we were caught in a heavy shower, so that ended being a wash out. Better luck at Lossiemouth with Fulmar, Sanderling, Shag, Rock pipit, as well as the red-throated divers and long-tailed ducks. We possibly saw a group of purple sandpipers flying past, didn't see them early enough to be certain though but they didn't look like turnstones to me. Finally, we visited the coast at Spey Bay, but didn't see anything that we hadn't seen previously. On the way out though we got Field fare and Grey Partridge (the only ones seen on the trip but I missed them since I was driving).
1st May - Visited Lochindorb and had two red-throated divers at the north end, with two balck-throats at the south end. Lots of red grouse about and a suicidal toad in the middle of the road, which I moved to the bank.
Then on to Nethybridge, where we had two dippers at Broomhill bridge. Then on to the Cairngorm ski centre, where we took the funicular railway up to the Ptarmigan cafe. Never saw any from the viewing terrace though.
2nd May - First we returned again to the Cairngorm, to try again for Ptarmigan, this time walking to Coire an Sneachda. No success though, all we saw were meadow pipits, wheatears, and one red grouse.
We then moved on to the Findhorn valley, where I got some nice photos of a dipper, just under the wooden bridge. We never saw any golden eagles though, nor any raptor other than one kestrel. Sadly no ring ouzels about either.
Then it was on to Loch Ruthven, where we had some brilliant views of the Slavonian grebes. Also there was one tree pipit about near the car park.
3rd May - Back home again, but we were incredibly lucky to see a male hen harrier just off from the verge on the A9.
Overall an enjoyable trip with just over half our targets seen. Shame about the ptarmigan though, and we never saw any Crossbills of any discription.
Hey Helios - well done on the Ross', we passed by it at night both times....
I did a weekend up there mid-April and we never saw Golden Eagle (or a Peregrine!) after two days of watching the Findhorn either. Grantown Woods was the only place we saw any xbills.
I've never failed to see Ptarmigan from the Glenshee ski centre...maybe worth a try next time? And you don't have to walk upwards anywhere and it's well placed to go back to if you start early at the Linn of Dee for Black Grouse.
Also a good site for Rouzels is lay-by 151 on the A9 at Slochd Summit, not far before the turn-off into the Findhorn Valley.
Not much use now obviously, but next time....
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Hi,
We saw both red and black grouse from the car park just after the road splits to the ski centre (Cairngorm). I heard there was a ring ouzel just by the ski centre, and could be seen in the evenings sometimes pearched on the building. We never saw it though.
We did stop by at lay-by 151, but never got any ouzels there either. Must have been unlucky.