After an hour we located the AMERICAN WHITE-WINGED SCOTER mixed in with Eider and 5 Common Scoter. It was very close inshore allowing all the id. features to be easily seen. Also present were 2 drk. SURF SCOTERS, 20+ Velvet Scoter, 2 Arctic Skua and 8 Arctic Tern flew north.
Me and Jake successfully twitching the White-winged Scoter-dutch style!!Ythan Estuary - no sign of the drk. King Eider, but plenty of Grey and Common Seals and 16 NORTHERN MARSH ORCHIDS.
The next couple of days were spent in the Cairngorm mountains.
Along the river at Balmoral were 2 PARROT CROSSBILLS, 6 Common Crossbills, Dipper and a Tree Pipit.
On the way to Glenshee a GOLDEN EAGLE was spotted, along with Wheatears and Red Deer.
On Glenshee we counted 24 PTARMIGAN (10 JUVS) including a group of 12 adults. Also 8 Red Grouse, 8 MOUNTAIN HARE and 30+ Frog Orchids.
On the way back from Glenshee a Spotted Flycatcher was at Gellaig Hill and a male Ring Ouzel flew across the road at Glen Gairn.At first light the following morning a BLACK GROUSE was seen on Tulloch Moor along with a family of Whinchats, 6 Goldeneye and 7 Roe Deer,
At Loch Garten RSPB were 7 Red Squirrels, 7 SCOTTISH CROSSBILLS, 3 CRESTED TITS, Osprey and a Bank Vole.
The day was spent around the Abernethy complex. A total of 21 NORTHERN DAMSELFLIES were found along with 3 Small Pearl Bordered Fritillaries and 2 Common Lizards.
Male and female Northern Damselfly.This Wood Warbler was found near Tulloch
Whilst resting in our B&B in Nethy Bridge, a Common Rosefinch had just been found near the village hall in our village. We rushed round there and soon heard the lovely song of the male COMMON ROSEFINCH.
The last day was spent in the same area. On a small open area a scattering of 200+ Lesser Butterfly Orchids and 15+ Heath Fragrant Orchids were present.
Yet more Small-pearl Bordered Fritillaries were spotted around several pools in Abernethy, along with more Northen Damselflies.
We popped into Avielochan before we made the long journey south and found a lovely family of Slavonian Grebes.
Whilst watching these we got told a site for Northern Emerald Dragonfly, a species much wanted on this trip.
We arrived deep in Inshriach Forest and after about 2 hours a single NORTHEN EMERALD was spotted. There were 2 other possible sightings but views were poor, but probably was this species. Other Dragons included Four Spotted Chasers, Common Blue Damselflies and Large Red Damselflies. Also 4 SCOTTISH CROSSBILLS and 9 Common Crossbills were seen in seperate flocks.
Inshriach Forest with Carn Ban More in the backround.
Inshriach Forest with Carn Ban More in the backround.
