Ballinluig Croft

 Saturday April 23

Loch of the Lowes is a Scottish Wildlife Reserve we have visited for some years, because it's a reliable Osprey experience. Three years ago, the old female did not return, the new pair nested away from the reserve. Fortunately, they took over the original site the following year. The nest is at least 300 metres away across the loch from the hides and centre, ensuring a lack of disturbance from the public.

If only we had been five minutes earlier, we'd have seen the male bring in a breakfast fish, What we did see, was the pair standing on the nest.

 

What we believe was the female, then flew off to a nearby Birch tree stump, perch, to eat some of the fish. The male settled down on the three eggs. 

 

Sometimes, it's worth a look at the feeding stations outside the centre windows, We settled down with our hot drinks, on benches separated by large perspex screens - Covid. The best position was hogged by a young staff member taking notes - until a Ranger called her away. Very little variety fed this morning, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Siskin, Coal Tit, and Mallard. Willow Warbler, Nuthatch, Chiffchaff , Blackcap, and Great Spotted Woodpecker called from the surrounding trees.

Another lovely day, we drove the lochside to view the spring flowers. Tiny Wood Anemones carpeted the dappled shade beneath the Birches. their delicate petals open to drink in the sun.

 

The verges had dense growth of butter-gold Celandines which I failed to photograph successfully. 

As we had time to spare, we diverted to drive up to Cairngorm. Despite the mountain railway having been closed for at least four years, the signage remains. I decided to do some investigating. Oh good, it will open eventually. This explains the vast quantity of building materials and equipment which covers much of the parking area.

The current phase of engineering works to strengthen the 1.9km viaduct that supports the railway track began in April 2021, with the aim of returning the funicular to service early next year.

However, despite strong progress made in tough conditions, HIE has concluded that the planned timescale now needs to extend into the second half of 2022.

The mountain resort will stay open throughout winter, with skiers and snowboarders able to access the slopes using nine ski tows that will run every day when weather conditions are suitable.

According to the development agency, several factors have combined to lengthen the funicular reinstatement programme.

These include technical challenges associated with designing and implementing effective solutions to an existing structure, as opposed to a new build.

In addition, progress has been hampered by COVID impacts and by extreme weather, particularly blizzard conditions in the spring.

Extra effort has also been required to source vital construction materials that are currently in short supply across the UK.

HIE interim chief executive Carroll Buxton said this combination of challenges had made rescheduling the works inevitable.

Our route took us across the River Spey and the bridge at Boat of Garten. The only bird on site was our first Common Sandpiper of the year, sat on  a rock.

My IPhone SatNav found our croft easily, up a narrow road signposted to Tomintoul. We knew that it was on a farm and that the main building was across the road. What surprised us was the number of decrepit, rundown buildings and old equipment we found around the croft. We had to wait a while before entry, we were early and the cleaning crew hadn't finished. That gave us plenty of time to look around. However, once inside the Croft we were very impressed with the facilities and the  building and the tremendous views. I'm looking forward to seeing what the moth trap holds in the morning.