Phew, what a scorcher!

Wall to wall sunshine some days, frost some nights and 22 degrees C on two days, what a week! A bit worrying though is the complete lack of rain for the month so far, a bit at night wouldn't go amiss. With no rain, "Taylor's tadpole rescue service" has been in action again, a few clumps of spawn have been moved but in one quite warm & sheltered pool, hundreds of tadpoles were moved as the last bits of spawn (their initial food supply) and the water was running out fast. At least the toads seem to have a better idea by breeding in bigger, well established pools, where they are still to be heard in good numbers. Around the house & chalet the garden continues to bloom quite nicely, though a bit of water is having to be given to the plants in the tubs. Pride of place this week goes to the passion flower (right), though the cherry and plum trees are budding up very quickly and will be well in flower by next week - a bit early as we are still due some heavy frosts and we have also had snow in late April in the past. My information last week about hairy bittercress being all over the place may have been a bit misleading in that there is also a very similar plant growing in the same sort of areas - common whitlow grass (Erophila verna). This isn't a grass! The seed pods help to make the correct identification, long and thin & taller than the flowers in the bittercress, and flattish & elliptical in the whitlow grass. The picture (left) helps, the daisy gives an idea of size. The Good Friday grass from last week was also growing close by - so you get a picture (right) of that as well!
Both of the above plants were photographed close to the River Spey and adjacent to the Strathspey Steam Railway line. I was just quick enough to get a picture of the train as it chuffed its way past. From the train you get wonderful views of the adjacent farmland, the River Spey and the snow capped Cairngorm Mountains. It really is worth having a ride if ever you are in the area, you can even have tea & cakes on board. However, the engine that pulls the carriages on the Strathspey line was dwarfed by a couple of monsters that thundered through Aviemore en route from Inverness to Perth and the south on Saturday morning. A chance meeting with a "Steam through Britain" enthusiast at the Osprey Centre alerted me to the fact that this steam special was in the area so I thought the least I could do was go and see it. Trips in my childhood from Lancashire to Aberdeen to stay with Granny Ross started off at midnight on Preston station, and memories of the express trains that didn't stop but came thundering through the station, whistles at full blast, will be for ever with me. So thoughts of steam & noise got me out of my bed bright & early to see the Union of South Africa double up with a second steam engine to fly down the main line towards Perth. It didn't disappoint, and well worth going to see if ever you hear of a steam special in your area.

Friday morning was also an early start as staff on the Abernethy Reserve set off before dawn to count the black grouse leks on the reserve. As well as good birds we had a brilliant dawn with a fiery red sky thawing out the frost of the night before. The count finished with pies & sausage rolls back at Forest Lodge and collation of the figures from the leks that were counted. The best bit was that the overall count of males at leks was up - a great end to great morning. With the heat more butterflies are on the wing, small tortoiseshell and peacock to date. A northern eggar moth, a day-flying species was seen whizzing across Tulloch Moor on Friday. This moth drops its eggs as it flies ensuring some will find good heathery habitat for the caterpillars as they emerge from the eggs. The caterpillars are the big-hairy ones that most people see on heather in the autumn, the caterpillar over-wintering before feeding up in the spring before turning into a chrysalis. In the same area the first tiger beetles of the year were encountered - a little earlier than usual. These green beetles can be seen on most tracks in open woodland or moorland areas on sunny days, taking off & flying ahead of the person walking along the track. If you are not sure whether you have seen one there is a picture of one above.

With the hot weather the Scots pine trees have been very noisy as this years crop of cones start to crack as they open to release the seeds. As the cones open (see left) the winged seed (below right) spiral down to the ground where chaffinches, siskins, woodpigeons & no doubt small mammals feed on them. The ones that are left alone might grow into the next generation of trees. Whilst the cones are on the trees our famous Scottish crossbills break off the cones & whilst clamping the cone under a foot, the birds will systematically open up the bracts of the cone allowing access for a slightly sticky tongue to remove the seed. Squirrels also feed heavily on the cones but they use their sharp teeth to nibble away the bracts to get to the seed, leaving something that resembles an apple core once they have finished.

And finally, the bird news. Migrant have started to arrive with swallow, common sandpiper and tree pipit putting in an appearance. Sand martins can be seen feeding over Loch Garten and a visit there on Wednesday produced four red-breasted mergansers, four goosanders, tufted duck, mallard & a dozen goldeneye, the females of which have been busy laying eggs in the nestboxes specially put up for them. A bonus, thanks to Diana & Ian her son (past chalet guests) as we peered through the developing darkness, was an otter, swimming close to the loch shore.

We will be having fun looking for the pinewood hoverfly next week so more about that anon.

Happy reading

Stewart & Janet

All photos © Stewart Taylor