Four Grouse and a Crossbill

There had been some overnight snow, and it seemed like most of it was on my windscreen! However, even though there was still a small 'fall' while eating the last hearty breakfast at Craigellachie House the sky was already brightening.

While it might be something of a national pastime to bemoan our councils, there is no cause for complain about the Road Gritters right across Scotland. This evolution isn't confined to the arterial roads, on the contrary, even the smallest roads including those through the forests are treated. I'm impressed! Lucky as far as I was concerned,as all that was on my mine was seeing the 4 Grouse species and the Parrot Crossbill.

My first 2 hours of daylight were taken up 'curb crawling' the bye-ways of the Abernethy and Rothiemurchus Forests rather than setting of on foot to find these elusive creatures. Capercaillie was considered most difficult as this would simple be a case of stumbling over one, which I didn't, while there were 2 sites that could be tried for the other.

While turning at Nethy Bridge to take another pass along the Loch Garten road, I couldn't resist the temptation to visit this 'feeding station' once again

where a Crested Tit was the only bird there. Who could resist another look at such a bonny, wee bird?

There was however an onlooker in the shape of this Red Squirrel.

Looking at Cairn Gorm from a distance, just momentarily head above the clouds, I was on my way for a final look at the Black-Cock Lek site.

There, to my amazement was a single Black Grouse* perched on a sapling as a further 3 flew past, all were males.

During the breeding season a wicker screen is erected here, but viewers cannot get much closer to the Lek as the whole area between is a bog. Today, better views were had via the Mighty Midget 'scope.

As the noon bell struck it was time to call it a day on the Caper and return to Cairn Gorm where it was hoped things would be a good deal quieter. They were but with lots of people still around maybe too much human activity for Ptarmigan and Red Grouse. A walk part way up the mountain followed by another perch on the parapet produced no signs of life except human, so it was time to move on. The drive back into Aberdeenshire is via another

Ski Resort, atop

The Lecht which is reached via this steep and winding road,

but up there, where you could almost guarantee a Red Grouse, it was a 'white-out'. The search produced nothing so it was decision time, a straight drive back to Aberdeen or take a 35 mile each way detour in the hope of success. NEVER SAY DIE SAY I!

'Blink' at the Bridge of Brown and you miss the village completely, but passing through brought back memories of the bird we found there last April. A fine male Reeves Pheasant not a bird that is on the British List but an absolute stunner to look at don't you agree?

Passing Corgarff Castle you soon reach the A 939 Ballater road catching the first sight of the

Mountains of Deeside & Lochnagar and the accompanying Braemar Grouse Moors.

It was a long search but finally a single Red Grouse* was sighted which soon took to the air

as I left the car. Good job it was a camera and not a 12 bore!

There was just a short stop at the town of Braemar to admire some of the fine buildings and bring just a flavour to you,

it being quite understandable why the Royal Family love this part of the world so much. As a footnote, there was a time when a Capercaillie made the roof of the Post Office here its favourite perch. It was certainly worth a look, but I couldn't even find the building.

Further on down the road, 7 more Red Grouse flew down a valley followed by the sighting of a male

and a female in a roadside lay-by.

Reaching Glen Shee, the final destination, the

Ptarmigan* proved to be far less troublesome than their cousins as 5 flew across the road close to the car to join a further 2 already perched at the bottom of a vavine. Unfortunately, the photograph is borrowed from the internet and is not mine, mores the pity but the bird was 'in the bag' so to speak.

There were also a number of Mountain Hares in their white winter plumage, but again the photograph has had to be lifted from the archive.

75% success rate on the Grouse is no bad result, and during the day quite a number of Crossbills were seen but none of them that I could see with the massive bill structure of Parrot Crossbill.

The Year (January) List now stands at 190
and we begin the countdown of the final 10 or more.

If You Don't Get One Sort of Grouse, Get the Other!

I'm rather partial to Matthew Gloag's product, if it's a blended whiskey then my choice would be The Famous Grouse. Over the years the distillery have been inventive and produced, probably more for novelty than profit, a Black Grouse, a Snow Grouse (which it is recommended should be sipped directly from the freezer) while last night I was introduced to The Naked Grouse. A visit to the pub next door for a nightcap, was met with a whole host of convivial people not least the Landlord when I asked for a 'wee half' (Scottish for a Whiskey). The bottle is of a different shape to the others, of clear glass and has a Grouse embossed (naked) on its side. Nifty I thought!

To make things clear we are running one day behind.

This morning the gale had given way to a gentle breeze, the sky remained overcast and whatever precipitation there was arrived in light and infrequent bursts. One might consider these perfect conditions for a bit of Grouse hunting of a different kind, but Oh how WRONG you can be!

One of the many quaint quirks about being a 'fixed income pensioner' is that you rarely know, or care, what day it is. Yes, I know now that it was Sunday because someone told me but unfortunately in retrospect! No Buggers at work, and I'm heading for Cairn Gorm.

First encounter was at Avemore where the International Sled Dog Championships were taking place. Now while I have no liking for dogs at all, it was intriguing to spend a little time watching this event.

There were said to be at least 1,000 'Huskies' on site and probably double that number of people, with vehicles piled bumper to bumper both sides of the verges,

a PA system blaring out and the associate noise of people and pets.

Everybody and their dog were here so you begin to see why my idea was flawed, but there was worse to come.

At the Cairn Gorm Ski Centre and Funicular Railway, there were literally hundreds of people here to celebrate National Snow Day! The noise that was belching from the 8 huge speaker, probably rejected by Led Zeppelin as being to LOUD, was deafening and hardly what you would expect in a National Park - how do they get away with it?

The traffic was of 'convoy proportions

while a continual snake of Sherpa like figures where climbing the very mountain intended for my rendezvous with a Ptarmigan.

I got as far as The Burn and decided to abort, thinking this had been the wort idea I'd ever had!

Ptarmigan or Red Grouse had most certainly been there earlier,

as had quite possibly a Rabbit (Mountain Hare would show a 'snowshoe' hind leg/foot) but the hubbub was frightening me away so what chance them?

Had the visibility allowed the Mountain of Cairn Gorm would stand centre stage in this shot as I drove off to pursue Plan B.

Perching the car on the edge of the precipice I scanned the area for about 30 minutes in hope of seeing a bird in flight, there being no chance of hearing one with PA's in all directions.

From there I revisited The Slochd Summit but failed to locate any Red Grouse, and was thinking, on my way to the Findhorn Headwaters again, that it was about time Lady Luck sprinkled a little of her dust in my direction. About 8 miles down the single lane road she did so as it seemed as though the sun had been Obscure By Clouds (Pink Floyd). Looking up

Flippin' Ek, or words to that effect, a Golden Eagle* directly overhead!

A little editing to bring out some colour,

as it folded its wings for a stoop into the Glen.

I was gifted a full 8 to 10 minutes watching this magnificent creature scouring the cliff face and scree in hope of a meal,

then barely without a wing beat it gained altitude and disappeared over the mountain top - Pheeew!

On the way back to the Rothiemurchus Forest there was time to visit Boat of Garten Central Station and

The Railway Museum.

Passing through Nethy Bridge it has always raised a little mirth when I see this Butcher Shop.

Drawing on a little 'local knowledge', there was a good chance of success at a feeding station I know in the Abernethy Forest not far from Nethy Bridge. The station was constructed, sighted and is maintained by the people of the village

and is the best chance I know for Crested Tit*.

No disappointment today as there were probably as many as 4 present. In addition there were several small groups of Crossbill, but deciding which species is a minefield even for those who live with and study them. It was fortunate that during the 'ringing' programme here in the late 90's I paid 2 visits to the ringing station seeing both Common and Scottish Crossbill* in the hand, total catches amounting to 20% - 80% in favour of the latter. Of the 3 or 4 I could make any sense of today they also appeared to be Scottish.

The Year (January) List now stands at 187

Finally, a few words about Craigellachie House. Probably the best guest house I have ever had the pleasure of staying in, and again an excellent hub for keen bird and general wildlife watchers. As this part of the world is busy all year round it would be advisable to book well in advance. The telephone number is 01479 841641.