Well, the event of the week had to be last weekends eclipse of the full moon. Locally, we were blessed with clear skies and perfect viewing all through the eclipse and, with a bit of fiddling with my 100mm telephoto lens, the image left was obtained. Not many street-lights locally, so easy to watch - the stars weren't too bad either.However, the evening started well a little earlier with a visit to Loch Garten to see what birds were roosting
. A bit quiet really, with a few mallard, a couple of goosander, a dozen goldeneye and a few wigeon. About 50 carrion crows were also roosting in the woods. The main event though, was the moon rising,
slowly, from the back of Tore Hill. Thankfully, I had taken the camera with me. The early views were really as good as the picture left shows, the blues haven't been added/enhanced by photoshop, they are just as found. The scene just got better and as darkness was descending all around, the view was stunning. Having lost track of time I had to phone home at 7pm to say that I hadn't drowned!
. A bit quiet really, with a few mallard, a couple of goosander, a dozen goldeneye and a few wigeon. About 50 carrion crows were also roosting in the woods. The main event though, was the moon rising,
slowly, from the back of Tore Hill. Thankfully, I had taken the camera with me. The early views were really as good as the picture left shows, the blues haven't been added/enhanced by photoshop, they are just as found. The scene just got better and as darkness was descending all around, the view was stunning. Having lost track of time I had to phone home at 7pm to say that I hadn't drowned!We have had Neil & Rachel in the chalet this week, and Neil, being a keen wildlife photographer, has had his "log" set up in the garden, close to the feeders, to try and get good pictures of the birds and red squirrels coming in to feed. Birds have been similar in the garden as listed in the last report and it has been nice to see up to 5 yellowhammers joining the 30 or so chaffinches feeding on the ground food. The squirrels have been quite good with at least 3 around most days. Both male & female great-spotted w
oodpeckers have been seen with the male drumming all morning from a nearby tree. He's been so noisy that folk walking past have been stopping to try and see him. Blue tits and great tits have also been cleaning out the nearby nestboxes.
oodpeckers have been seen with the male drumming all morning from a nearby tree. He's been so noisy that folk walking past have been stopping to try and see him. Blue tits and great tits have also been cleaning out the nearby nestboxes. Caught the local bus on Tuesday to Grantown on Spey and walked back to Nethybridge along the River Spey and the Speyside Way path. It was a bit breezy and a bit chilly, so the birds were a bit harder to find but 33 species were recorded for BTO Birdtrack, the highlight being about 250 lapwings, 60 curlew, 14 whooper swans, 400 greylags and recent arrivals, 100 pink-footed geese. Eight fieldfares were a nice surprise and the first pied and grey wagtails for the year were seen. No osprey at Loch Garten yet but there are a few reports of birds in the country. The first osprey staff are also on site, preparing for the new season. The woods have started to fill up with singing birds including big-billed crossbills (Scottish or Parrot) which will be nest building as I write. In the garden the snowdrops continue to be the highlight.
The chill of Tuesday produced a bit of snow today and a bit of ice on the road - a bit tricky when pedalling to
work. There is still a bit of snow high up, with skiing still okay on Cairngorm. This was the view across Loch Garten to Meall a' Bhuachaille, with its white mantle.
work. There is still a bit of snow high up, with skiing still okay on Cairngorm. This was the view across Loch Garten to Meall a' Bhuachaille, with its white mantle.I also enjoyed my 60th birthday present at the weekend, a day out with wildlife photographer, Neil McIntyre. Lots of photos around Loch an Eilean, Rothiemurchus Forest and Glen Feshie. If it stunning scener
y for photography, they you really can't go wrong in those areas and learning classic techniques of blurry waterfalls into the bargain. A great day out and thoroughly recommended. Chalet change over day tomorrow and a quick visit out with a work colleague in the afternoon to look at a few (unusual) lichens growing on ancient aspens, so something a bit more unusual to report on next time. Isn't it great as the days get lighter, the birds start to sing and we head off into the best four months of the year.
y for photography, they you really can't go wrong in those areas and learning classic techniques of blurry waterfalls into the bargain. A great day out and thoroughly recommended. Chalet change over day tomorrow and a quick visit out with a work colleague in the afternoon to look at a few (unusual) lichens growing on ancient aspens, so something a bit more unusual to report on next time. Isn't it great as the days get lighter, the birds start to sing and we head off into the best four months of the year.Enjoy the read.
Stewart & Janet
All photos © Stewart Taylor
