Scotland is Yellow

 Monday May 12

It was Pam's pronouncement, I thoroughly agree. Everywhere we go in this area there are large swathes of Gorse, Dandelions and Broom in flower. Then, there is the odorous Oilseed Rape. Where the dandelions have finished flowering, roadside verges are full of gossamer clocks waiting for the wind.

Today, we left the coast and drove inland to Cairngorm, via a quick stop at Broomhill Bridge. Plenty of Sand Martins buzzing about, no Dippers. 

The road to Cairdgorm climbs in a series of shallow hairpin bends to the Funicular car park. As we approached, many cars parked along the verges was a surprise. Then it wasn't. Barriers across the road and a large notice showing parking charges. It used to be free. Having looked at the entry levels, we used the 20 minutes of free parking to eat lunch before leaving.

Part of the way down, I took advantage of a roadside gravel verge to take a photograph of Loch Morlich and the vista beyond.

 


I remembered a small bridge over the  River Luineag off the Cairngorm road where we once saw Dipper. After parking the car nearby, Pam walked across the single track bridge, soon giving me a thumbs up. She returned to say that it had flown off round the river bend. There was a lull in the traffic, we parked on the bridge long enough for me to see the Dipper on some stones on the bend, Just as well I'd had tickable views, we had to move, car approaching.

Soon after turning off the Carrbridge road for the one which leads to Forres, a roadside puddle held Teal and my first view of a Common Sandpiper. I'd heard several. 

Then, Lochindorb called. An empty loch until, north of the Lodge, we found three broods of irresistible Mallard ducklings. These were surely only born today, huddled tightly to their mother.

 She then took them for a swim.


 Soon after, a bird on a roadside wire brought us to another halt. Again, a bird which Pam has heard in several places, a first seen for her and a first for me, a Cuckoo, 

 

 

Unfortunately, after the first sideways shot, the bird flew down, returning with a snack, and was then always in silhouette only in the setting sun.

 

 

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