Scotland for Bird's Wildlife & Nature Tours Day 3: 18th June 2024

The hoped for dry day did not materialise but we soldiered on and starting with some distant but perfectly formed Black Grouse brought immediate smiles while a Cuckoo posed for views.

Nearby we stood on a road on Dava Moor amongst 300 or so pairs of breeding Common Gulls which was a delightful if somewhat noisy experience while brave Red Kites and Buzzards cruised the overly managed and dangerous hills. 

It is amazing how bright yellow the legs and red the eye rings are in full breeding

Common Gulls

Red Kite

The rain returned at Lochindorb but a pair of sharply attired Black-throated Divers were located and Marsh Orchids (of one sort or another), Common Wintergreen and the striking Clubmoss (Lycopodium clavatum I think!) were found around the margins.

Bell Heather amongst the Ling

Lycopodium clavatum 

So, the Orchid people have suggested that this one may well be Northern Marsh

While this may well be Hebridensis Common Spotted. Others may be hybrids. To be honest I am confused.  I liked the phrase Machair Muddlers

Coffee time added two Red Squirrels, Snipe, Curlews, Ravens and the still attached heads of a pair of Red Grouse (the only ones we saw all trip) before we retired to the woods for lunch. The rain began once again and thwarted further investigation but with a clear weather radar for the rest of the day we headed to Strath Dearn in the hope of Eagles. Kites, Buzzards and Kestrels were up but blowing drizzle once again descended and scuppered our chances.

Lochindorb

female Red Grouse - Nick Baelz

Strath Dearn may have been dreich but the views were superb

There were birds to be found though with Tree Pipits, Redstarts and Spot Flys in the woodland edges and Sand Martins, Grey Wagtails, Snipe, Oystercatchers, Common Sandpipers and Curlews along the Findhorn’s banks.

Peltigara sp - over to the Lichenologists!

Alpine Lady's Mantle

A very wet male Redstart - Pete Osgood

It did not look like improving so we wiggled back to Grantown. Tomorrow we go west for the day...

I wandered down through the Anagach Woods after dinner.  It was busy with runners and dog walkers (albeit largely on leads) and I saw almost nothing and yet I walked these same woods on my visits 30 years ago and found Capercaille, Crested Tits and Crossbills.  Perhaps it was just the time of year.