Aviemore Trip (Day 1)
Saturday 08 June 2024
Today is the first day of outings with the local RSPB group - who are also staying for the weekend. My dad, Olivier, and I woke up at 5am to see what we could find at Loch Inch this morning. Unlike last night, there was much more bird activity this morning. We took the RSPB's Loch Insh Wood trail, down the east side of the loch. We soon saw two female Goldeneyes and a Grey wagtail on the water's edge and heard a few Treecreepers. Further on, we found some more common species, like Blue tit, Robin and many Willow warblers. Not too long later we were very happy to see a male Pied flycatcher in the birch trees near the trail! The bird had food in its beak so we left it at peace to feed its young. We walked further until we bumped into a lovely flock of Siskins, which were feeding in the conifers, as well as the Siskins we heard a Goldcrest and a Great Spotted Woodpecker before turning back to head off to meet to RSPB Group at Craigellachie NNR, where were hoping to see Wood warbler and Pied flycatcher - even though we already saw the flycatcher.
eBird Checklist
When we joined the others at Craigellachie NNR, it was a chilly 10°C and we all felt it. We got a flyover Lesser redpoll from the car park while we were waiting for everyone to arrive. Not long after we split up and crossed the A9 to the reserve, we heard a male Pied Flycatcher singing in the trees. Unfortunately we were unable to get any views on this bird. We continued along, scanning the cliffs for any nesting Peregrines - since they have been know to nest on the cliffs in the past. Apart from some droppings we didn't see any Peregrines. Soon, we passed the Old reservoir where we finally got eyes on a Tree pipit that was singing away at the top of a birch tree. Further on we went, finding a Spotted flycatcher on the way, while checking the nest boxes, although many were occupied by Blue tits. We went further, until we arrived at the active Pied flycatcher nest box, were we waited for the adults to come. After a 10-minute wait in the rain we saw the female fly out and deeper into the forest. Luckily the rain stopped so we kept going finding a Jay, a Goldcrest and another Spotted flycatcher to end our visit to the site.
eBird Checklist
Tree pipit singing from a birch tree
We left Craigellachie on to RSPB Loch Garten to try and find Crested tit, Redstart and Osprey. We walked through the woods hearing another Tree pipit. We then went a little off the trail to find a male Redstart singing in the tall conifers. After a long wait the Redstart finally showed itself and sung from branches giving great views. Soon enough, we found the female too, in the trees behind the male. We knew they were trying to enter a nest so we left them at peace. A little bit later a member of the group found a Spotted flycatcher in the trees and a Crested tit in the tops of the trees, but unfortunately, I didn't see it. Later on we found a young Mistle Thrush and not long after, I found a Crested tit (a lifer!!!), sadly if flew away within seconds and not many people had a chance to see it. Back near the car park we saw a single Crossbill and a female Goldeneye on the loch. We quickly moved to the Loch Garten Nature Centre which was only a few hundred metres away. We didn't find much but we did see the male Osprey perched on a dead tree.
A male Redstart
©Edgar Joly
Boat of Garten Pools
After Loch Garten, we took a short drive a road-side pool for Slavonian Grebe. The pools were very active when we visited with Redshank, Wigeon, Little Grebe, Pink-footed Goose, Teal, Shoveler, Coot and Tufted Duck. After a bit of scanning we found 2 Slavonian Grebes (also a lifer)! Slavonian grebes are quite rare in the UK with only 20 pairs (as of 2021). This bird's UK population was at a peak in the 1970s, from the first nesting pair in 1909, but its population is now on a rapid decline. The Slavonian Grebe is a specially protected species and therefore the site-specific information is not given - for the well-being of the birds. Once we got drenched in the rain, we left to find Black-throated Diver at the next site: Loch Morlich.
It was freezing wen we arrived at Loch Morlich but we almost immediately found a diver, it turned out to be the more common Red-throated diver, but still a nice find. Two female Goldeneyes were also nearby, resting on a rock. Later we found a single Common sandpiper in the distance. Not many birds were here but there were a decent amount of Mallard all of which, quite tame and hungry for bread. A few ducklings of differing ages were also about. Unfortunately, we didn't find any Black-throated Divers and it was getting late so most of us decided to go back to their accommodation while the few others tried the Cairngorm ski centre for Ring Ouzel. The choice to not go to Cairngorm was fatal; the others got great views of both a male and female Ring Ouzel.
A Red-throated diver in summer plumage
Finishing a great day of birding, the whole group came for a huge feast at the Italian restaurant, La Taverna. We even saw a Blackbird with a fledgling as well as a Song Thrush from the restaurant!
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