Monday, December 24, 2018
We crossed the dam on this cold, still, sunny day, following the track past the hill on the left of the picture to reach Loch Vaich Power Station before retracing our steps in a 7.3 kilometre walk.
It wasn't until about half-way along the track that we saw our first birds - a pair of stonechats. This is an unzoomed pic of the female, showing the lovely plantation that's growing up here - similar to but younger than Altan Wood, where the black grouse have been seen. This is possibly part of the attempt to replace some of the lost Caledonian pine forest across the Highlands, so I hope it's successful; keeping the red deer out (at least until the trees reach a certain age/height) is imperative.
Shortly after this a raven cruised along the ridge seeming agitated about something; the something turned out to be a golden eagle - which slid back behind the ridge after I'd grabbed one shaky shot.
A runner with his spaniel, who'd set off just before us, wished us a happy Christmas as he passed. Later on our own return we would meet a man walking out - and those were the only other people we saw.
On the drive home, we stopped for coffee and a mince pie where we could look over both the end of the loch, and the plantations across the road. We counted 35 whooper swans, and there were at least six juveniles among them.
The four Canada geese had been present yesterday but couldn't be located today. When I eventually turned to scan the plantations I was amazed to see at least seven black blobs in the trees.
The light was difficult, as the sun had now gone behind the hill above the grouse. I managed to get one pic showing the lyre-shaped tail.
This seems to be the best way to see the grouse; and when we drove away they were still there.
// posted by Christine @ 1:40 PM 
