Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Yesterday we worked all day on our new translation job, so today we went for a walk. Greger chose a round walk on the Reay Forest Estate at Kylescu. This is a huge estate belonging to Grosvenor Estate (the Duke of Westminster).
Just above the main house a reddish bird erupted from a marshy ditch and flew low and silently up the slope where trees had been felled. I was so startled that I thought at first it was a red grouse, then realised it was a woodcock. Our first woodcock in Scotland.
This is a new view for us of the Kylescu Bridge and Quinag.
A dipper was surprised feeding in a corner of a loch and went flying off a short distance, above its own reflection.
This is looking along Loch na Creige Duibhe towards the hills east of Loch More, giving us an idea for future walks. Soon after this we turned onto the return track.
We often see this effect, where white cloud seems to flow over hill-tops and ridges. The thin stream of water seen centre-right is the famous Eas a' Chual Aluinn Waterfall. This is said to be the highest waterfall in Britain, falling nearly 200m.
It's always good to top a rise and get a view of the sea, and as we did so the sun came out again in a burst of gold. Along this stretch we flushed a snipe which went winging madly away with two nasal calls.
The walk was just over 14 kilometres in length and fairly hilly. Red deer were everywhere - culling is undertaken on the estate and when it is, I don't think you're allowed to walk here. Back at the car we heard and then saw a raven fly over.
// posted by Christine @ 12:55 PM 
