I slept in this morning, warm and comfortable - until I got up. We staggered out before mid-day, intending to try out the moth lure at one of the marked survey squares. They are supposed to be known areas for Kentish Moth residence. We chose Drumuillie on the A95. It looked promising, birch, gorse and scrub with open areas. I put the small tube containg impregnated lint into my butterfly net and hung it from a tree. After the recommended 20 minutes, we crossed the road and tried again where we'd seen a small group wielding a butterfly net enter through a gateway. No luck again. Nil desperandum... will try again and again.
The sunny morning was clouding over. Pam said that where we went was my choice, we went to Lochindorb. We saw a female Wheatear and a Raven (I've signed the anti culling petition) on the way plus the signs for a new wind farm. Oh dear.
By the time we entered the Lochindorb road, it was raining steadily, always a good time to see Red Grouse we've discovered. They stand out on little islands in the heather and on the road. This bird was already pretty wet and just stood there looking at us - about 6 feet from Pam.
Male and female are not often seen together at this time of year, failed nest or a new pair ?
A lone Curlew rose trilling its moors evocative call, nothing else until past the Lodge when I saw a Redshank and a pair of White Wagtails (they count on my list when I'm desperate). Their call is a different note too.
Despite all the scanning and a 20 minute wait at the far end when we saw two Common Sandpipers and two Mallard, no divers were seen. On the way back, a Norfolk birder was scoping the loch. We stopped in the next layby/passing place and I found two Black-throated Divers on the far shore, constantly diving for what seemed like minutes. One of my foolish photos below.
A fortunate stop on Carrbridge saw a Dipper flying up river before disappearing under the bridge beneath us. Nesting under there again probably.
Still only 3.30 we decided to drive to Dorback. It's a pretty bleak high moorland area anyway, felled trees like rotten teeth poking through the coarse undergrowth. A heavy sleet and hail shower did not improve the view and definitely made it unlikely that any Black Grouse would be lekking. The return journey takes us through Nethybridge. The roads were empty until a Ford passed from the other direction and Pam said 'it's them'. Who, I said as she rapidly turned round. Sue and Ian. We met them coming towards us as Ian had also turned round. 'Follow us', he said. We said firmly that we wouldn't go in for a cuppa as they'd just arrived from Langdon Beck. Sue was insistent and we gave in, having tried to do the decent thing. Thanks Sue for a lovely cuppa.
We exchanged news, spending a very pleasant half an hour or so (could have been longer than I say) gassing.
Home to an empty moth trap. It's in the shed with te door open again to-night as the forecast is iffy. The trap has 'do not operate in the wet ' on it for some reason, wish I'd known that before I bought it. As the thermometer went down to 3C on our return trip it will be another cold night. Lovely and warm last week they said.......
No comments:
Post a Comment