Looking for Birds

 Wednesday May 14

 Pondering what to do today,we decided to try Loch Insh and Glen Feshie. We had cards to post so stopped on the bridge at Carrbridge so that Pam could walk to the Post Office. Whilst she was away, I enjoyed watching several House Martins and Swallow swooping into the eaves of the Carrbridge Hotel and out over the river. As Pam returned she looked up and saw a party of seven Swifts fly, screaming, over and also into the same eaves before departing. They did this enough times for me to see one of my favourite birds and our first this year. Looking back, it was the birding highlight of the day.

Glen Feshie is lovely, we chose to go to Uath Lochan parking area towards the start of the Glen to have lunch.A Coal Tit investigated the surrounding trees, we enjoyed the sunshine and drove on to the end of the road.  No birds and the river now completely hidden by trees. Must remember that they grow.We did hear a Wood Warbler sing in an area in which we couldn't stop,

On to Loch Insh, a favourite vantage point overlooking the loch and reed bed. No more a viewpoint, the trees and gorse blocked the view.  

Boat of Garten bridge added Goldeneye and a pair of Goosanders.

Earlier this week, I'd got the Merlin app on my phone working in a small entrance to the woods on the way down from Cairngorm. The page disappeared and I didn't read the results - headed by Chaffinch - until a day later. One of the four birds heard was Crested Tit. We went back to the same place today but only saw two Great Tits and heard the ubiquitous Willow Warbler.

A beautiful, almost cloudless May day in which to enjoy the scenery. Not good for birds. We did see a handsome Mountain Hare crouched low under some trees.

 


 Moths

Our best moth trap so far! Eight moths of eight species. Pathetic really for the time of year, but we are not in the best of areas. Very little in he way of trees and flowers set in an enormous carrot field.

Another Lunar Thorn, Scalloped Hazel, Brimstone, Lesser Swallow Prominent, Hebrew Character, Garden and Red-green Carpets, Clouded Drab and our fourth Lychnis.

 

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