|
| Scottish Highland Diary |
West CoastA trip over to the west again, nice 1st w Iceland Gull at the fish farm near Corran ferry and a couple of Slav Grebes there also, already coming in to summer plumage. Goldies were impossible to find for some reason, but a smart adult WTE soaring in the mist was a bonus. Fantastic otter sighting, watched it fishing for nearly an hour, then swim ashore just yards away where it groomed, rolled about a bit doing cute otter things before falling asleep.Great Northern numbers are building up, counted over 20 at least in Loch Linnhe (or is it Lhinnhe or Lhine or linny or lhinney, whatever I can never spell it without looking it up and I can't be bothered to check). So didn't find a single Goldie up despite driving through about half a dozen territories. All or nothing with these birds.......one's up and they all follow or they just all laze around doing absolutely nothing for hours on end. If you are lucky enough to manage to find one sitting you will see I am correct, I once found a perched bird, then went on to tour the whole of south Mull, had lunch, toured some more of Mull, had numerous coffee breaks, a brief snooze then went back and it was STILL there. On the way home had ridiculous views of Black Grouse doing acrobatics in roadside birch trees.......I discovered that the optimum speed to pass them is 15mph..........lower than this and they'll fly, but if you keep moving they stay and you get crippling views. You can reverse back and forward if you want, but keep an eye for massive logging lorries in your mirror as the impact tends to flush everything for miles. 9:21 PM - 24 February 2009 - post comment
|
Description Home User Profile Archives Friends Tooth and Claw Photos Highland & Moray Forum Recent Entries - Autumn? - Scottish Crossbill............the real truth!! - Blogless - Seems to be Spring? - White-billed Diver no.2 Friends |