Scotland (for) the Brave !

Tuesday January 19 8.45am, and you find me on the train heading for Aviemore, and a short stay with Heatherlea Bird Holidays at the Mountview Hotel.  The train arrives late afternoon and with 4 fellow birders, we are picked up and driven to the hotel by the MD. And....yes....it’s snowing!! We meet for pre-dinner drinkies (Whisky – what else?) and the 8 of us get to know who’s who, and work out which are the most skilful birders! Lawrence is on 129 already this year (I’m on 78 – you see the difference!). We meet Rob our leader for 3 days, a nightcap (more Whisky) and off to sort out what will be needed for Wednesday, the first full day.

Wednesday January 19^th   7.30 Breakfast !, then with the minibus loaded with scopes, packed lunches, hot drinks, we are off to brave the snow and cold at our first location, viewing a lek of 11 Black Grouse, along with several Red Grouse. 

We move on the RSPB site at Loch Garten, famed for it’s Osprey sightings, but in January it’s all quiet...... except for what is to become my bird of the tour. Rob drops some bird food in a hollow tree stump, and Coal Tits emerge from all directions. When we move to the (closed-) visitor centre we find a feeder tube being regularly used by Crested Tits -  FAB-U-LOUS little bird with a very obvious crest, and which defends it’s food source forcefully against intruding Coal Tits. So the Coal Tits happily perch on my finger tips whilst selecting their food choice from my palm.  

En route to our next location, some of us witness a Sparrowhawk race though a garden and take out a Siskin. Upsetting to some, but the Sparrowhawk has to eat too.

Up in the mountains, standing in snow and eating lunch, 2/3 Golden Eagles are seen, an incredible c600 Red Grouse, and plenty of Ravens with their distinctive pointed tail. Through scopes we could see fanatical photographers buried in the snow, trying to get the ultimate photo of Mountain Hare, and we saw one (Hare!) fleetingly.

So day 1 – cold, enjoyable and 7 on my year list with 2 lifers. Cracking start Gromitt!!

Thursday January 20^th    We drive to Nairn on the Moray Firth, then birdwatch east via Forres to Lossiemouth. This was a brilliant day with 40 species (inc 18 on my year list), almost all water birds and including my event of the tour.

At each stop we view the firth, the beaches and other water areas, and different birds were everywhere. Starting with a Slavonian Grebe, we added Eider, Divers (Great Northern and Red), Mergansers, Sanderling and Knot to name just a few. But my Event was the huge raft of about 250 Long Tailed Ducks. Mostly in pairs, with very handsome white headed males they made an unbelievable sight.

I mention Knot, because that was my 100^th bird target achieved  on 20^th Jan, and the fastest 100 I have ever done!!  

And so to the last day Friday January 21^st yet another abortive search for a Capercaille, but our constant checking of Greylag Geese finally produced one white-fronted Goose. The RSPB’s Insh Marshes did include Whooper Swan, and the day rounded off with lengthy searching of the Aviemore rubbish tip. Succesfully, because we all (ultimately!) saw a sole Iceland Gull. White gulls have no black marks on the wings, but each circling bird has to be examined for any black before looking at the next, and when they are moving constantly, is difficult!

I will visit Heatherlea again. Birding colleagues also speak highly of the good food, the friendly staff and the overall professional way they operate. No fuss but goes like clockwork. (including the lassie who found the WD40 for our bedroom!) 

...and 28 new birds for 2016 takes me on to 106. Superb!