HIGHLANDS BIRDING WEEKEND

I have just returned from a three-day birding trip in the Highlands of Scotland with Dan Pointon and Owen Parsons. Despite the challenging weather at times, we were able to see some fantastic birds and mammals during our adventure. A highlight was the Ptarmigan, which was a lifer for Owen. Although Dan spotted it, we were on the other side of the mountain and unfortunately missed it due to time constraints and dwindling daylight. We also attempted to visit another site during our stay, but the weather did not cooperate.

Here is a list of places we visited and the birds and mammals we encountered:

Sunday 5th January

Cairn-O-Mount

7 Red Legged Partridge

South of Tomintoul

4 Black Grouse

Black Grouse

1 Woodcock-Over car whilst driving

1 Redpoll

Tomvaich-Highland

Tomvaich forest where we connected with Scottish Crossbill

Sparrowhawk, 4 Crested Tit, 6 Goldcrest, Eurasian Treecreeper, 2 Redpoll and 2 Scottish Crossbill-N20 call type obtained 

Private Site

1 Female Capercaillie

Lochindorb

                                                               

1 Red Grouse

Dalnahaitnach

Raptor watch at Dalnahaitnach

1 Peregrine Falcon

Cairngorm-Coire a t-Sneachda-Highland

2 Red Grouse, Ptarmigan and 8 Snow Bunting

Willow Ptarmigan

Snow Bunting

Ptarmigan

B970 South of Auchgourish

2 Woodcock

14 Roe Deer

1 Pine Marten

Monday 6th January

Dell Woods

2 Crested Tit

Crested Tit

Nethy Bridge

9 Siskin

Drumochter-Highland

150 Red Grouse-Being flushed by Golden eagle

1 Golden Eagle

Golden Eagle

South Of Airlie

1 Barn Owl

Blairgowrie

Eurasian Beaver

1 Otter

Eurasian Beaver

Tuesday 7th January

Boghead pool and farmland

15 Eurasian Tree Sparrow, 40 Corn Bunting, 30 Yellowhammer and 2 Reed Bunting

Corn Bunting

Braehead of Lunan-Angus

1 Snow Goose

Snow Goose

Lunan Bay-Angus

800 Pink Footed Goose, 8 Velvet Scoter, 450 Common Scoter,  70 Long-Tailed Duck  6 Red-breasted Merganser, 12 Common Ringed Plover, 3 Oystercatchers, 15 Curlew, 20 Sanderling, Razorbill, 50 Red-Throated Diver, 1 Shag, 1 Hooded Crow and a Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gull

Long-tailed duck

Velvet Scoter

Nearby Crop held 5 Tree Sparrows, 1 Brambling, 25 Yellowhammers, and a feeding flock of 350 Linnets

Brambling

As you can see from above, a cracking few days away!

Me and Dan in the Cairngorm forest

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