General Mooch

Thursday April 28 

With a drive to Skye tomorrow in mind, we decided to stay fairly close to home. Abernethy Forest Lodge has always been a reliable source for Crested Tit, Redstart, Crossbill and - once upon a time - Capercaillie. Last time we came, the gate was shut until 10 a.m.. To-day, the gate was shut and had a new notice. Walkers and cyclists welcome, delivery drivers proceed. That's why there were cars parked outside. Their website does not mention that cars are no longer welcome. I knew that extra precautions had been taken to safeguard the remaining Capercaillie, but not that the reserve was off limits for driving.

We discovered that Blue Badges can be a useful passport. A Loch Garten  warden gave Pam permission to drive up to the Visitors Centre.  I sat outside watching the woods where a Redstart had been prospecting one of the nest boxes. Coal Tits, Chaffinches, Blue Tit, Great Tit and nothing else. When Pam discovered that the drinks machine was only dispensing tea, we left.

Loch Inch was mirror calm, the reflections of the small groups of Goldeneye and Tufted Duck made them look twice as big. 

Loch an Eilean again allowed us to drive up to the cafe/shop. We sat watching the bird feeders whilst enjoying an ice-cream. It was interesting watching very tired looking walkers arrive, collapse onto a bench and one of them go for the ice-creams. There were even dog ice-creams - virtually all the incomers had at least one dog. All on leads I'm pleased to say. Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed, Willow Warblers, Wren, Great Tit and Chaffinch sang.

Dulnain Bridge is where we saw our first Grey Wagtails, but I was not able to take a photograph. There was another car in the layby when we got there, its two occupants sat on the river wall. The Wagtails were on stones near to the far bend. We waited. Eventually the car went, we moved to its position, and one of the birds flew to the opposite bank of the river. I took two shots before it flew away again.


 

A last visit to Dornoch feeding station - in the middle of nowhere - in case there was a Red Squirrel feeding. There wasn't. We have seen one but not to photograph, it doesn't seem right not to. As we were leaving a stand of trees, a Goshawk shot out in front of us. A male. What a splendid bird on which to end our day.

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