This morning, I woke up at 5:00 AM and drove to the Cairngorm mountain car park. During my last visit in January, I missed seeing a Ptarmigan, and I was eager to spot one this time since I hadn't seen one in years.
Although there was still snow on the ground, I took my time walking up to Coire an t-Sneachda. Before long, I spotted my first Ptarmigan.
What a beautiful sight! It was definitely worth the walk.
Other birds of note were four Snow buntings and two Red grouse on the descent back to the carpark.
Snow Bunting
Driving back to Aviemore I stopped at Loch Morlich where I saw a Crested tit at a feeding station.
Leaving the Cairngorms I drove further north and stopped at Alturlie Point on the Moray Firth near Inverness. 64 Scaup were present and showed really well along with 11 Slavonian grebes, 1 Kittiwake, 4 Red-throated divers, and 11 Long-tailed ducks, my first Swallow of the year also whizzed past me.
Greater Scaup
Kittiwake
Moray Firth
Another good day's birding, now a two-hour drive north to Thurso.