It’s a week to the day since we returned home so I figured I’d better get a report written of our trip – it helps to refresh what now feels a distant memory.
[font=Verdana]Rather than create a diary I’ve listed the main sites we’ve visited and what we saw. I'll add the other locations to this thread as and when I have time.[/font]
Between 6th-13th May 2006 we spent a week on Speyside, Highlands, Scotland. It’s an area we’ve stayed in several times before but always look forward to revisiting. We stayed in a rented bungalow in Aviemore which is a nice central location for the areas we like to visit.
The weather that week was glorious. Sunshine and clear blue skies dawn to dusk right from our arrival until the last full day.
Part 1
Loch of the Lowes
Pitlochry
Part 2
Inverdruie Fish Farm
RSPB Loch Garten
Loch Garten/Loch Mallachie
LochMilton
Part 3
Lochindorb
Part 4
Loch Morlich
Part 5
Loch an Eilean
Loch Rutven
Upper Findhorn Valley
Part 6
Uath Lochans
Loch Insh
RSPB Insh Marshes
Part 7
In conclusion
PART 1
Loch of the Lowes
This was our first birding stop on our holiday. We always stop at RSPB Loch of the Lowes near Dunkeld just off the A9 on our way north. It’s one of the most scenic places I’ve visited to watch Osprey. The visitor centre was much improved since our last visit three years ago. A new hide had been added alongside the existing one. Either hide gives good views but we headed up the steps to the first floor of the old hide. We spent about an hour watching the Ospreys in what must be one of the prettiest settings for an Osprey nest. The female was sat on the nest still on eggs when we arrived. After 25 minutes the male arrived – with no fish. They swapped places and he took over incubation as she flew to a nearby perch.
A Buzzard and another Osprey passed behind the nest tree making them wary but neither moved.
On the Loch itself there was little else to see mainly Mallard and a pair of displaying Great Crested Grebe. Around the centre Red Squirrels were visiting the feeders as were several Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Great Tit and a Pheasant. A Great Spotted Woodpecker gave brief glimpses in the woods. We heard the first Cuckoo of the trip.
Pitlochry
A few miles north from Dunkeld. Another regular stop off point. We parked in the usual car park and wandered down to the river, over the suspension bridge and up towards the dam. There weren’t a great deal of birds about. Mainly Willow Warbler. Normally there are a good few birds along the river banks but not this visit, maybe it was due to the number of fishermen spaced every few yards. There must have been a run of salmon as they seemed to be catching plenty. On reaching the dam we saw why there so many out fishing. The fish ladder was pretty full of salmon.
We then headed back to the town and after a wander around the shops before carrying on north to Aviemore.
A few more photos from RSPB Loch Garten