An improved catch of fourteen moths of three species, quantity but not quality. 10 Hebrew Characters, 3 Clouded Drab and an unknown - it escaped before Pam could catch it. The Drabs were very dark but, we couldn't persuade them to be Northern Drabs.
After breakfast, Ian and Sue called round to collect the Kentish Glory Lure as Culbin Forest was on their itinerary for the day. Fingers crossed for them as it's overcast and not forecast to change.
Findhorn was the morning's destination. Still not many birders around so the single track road with few passing places was not the nightmare it can be. 9C with a strong and gusting wind is not encouraging for birds to show themselves. It was a very quiet drive to the end of the permissable road, two Brown Hares and a pair of Red-legged Partridges the highlights. The hares' large ears and bigger size distinguish them from Mountain Hares.
Parking on our favoured mound a couple of hundred yards before the parking area, we spent the time waiting for raptors to appear reading to-day's DT and doing the crossword (me), scanning (Pam).
It was Pam who called distant dots above the mountainside which became a Raven and a hassling Merlin as they neared. Common Sandpipers called from the river below, all was quiet elsewhere. Time to move on. Across the Farr road towards Ruthven.
We saw one car on the whole 7 mile trip and that made us move on to a layby as I was about to photograph my first Red Squirrel of the trip. Pam reversed but it had gone.
The rest of the drive was totally birdless !!
A small herd of Roe Deer fed on both sides of the track as we approached Loch Ruthven. Pam managed to photograph one jumping a fence. I had to wait until the return journey to do some photography when they all refused to stop feeding and lift their heads
- until Pam Psh'd at them.
- until Pam Psh'd at them.
As we entered the car park, an Osprey flew in to the loch end nearest us and disappeared out of sight.
None of the wanted birds could be seen from the car park but three Slavonian Grebes were scoped from a layby at the end of the loch.
Where now? A second try for Black Grouse at Dornoch. There are now 6 young horses gallumphing around the field next to the lek. Maybe that's why there weren't any birds again.
We stopped for another look at the fenceline when my attention was drawn to an approaching raptor. A magnificent Golden Eagle flew low overhead, followed by a second much higher flying bird. Waw. They had large pale underwing patches so juvenile to 3rd winter birds, I didn't have time to see any more ID features. They must have risen from the hillside opposite.
Sue and Ian came round to return the lure having been successful in seeing both White-billed Diver and Kentish Glory. Great double whammy, so pleased for them.
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