Saturday, February 15, 2020
Just one snow bunting was on the dam today, braving a strong gusty wind and the occasional shower of rain.
We took a short walk across the dam and along the track. One of the stonechats was spotted a little way up the slope - and then suddenly two chunky birds rose from the rough grass below and flew off across the loch, gaining height and finally disappearing towards the wind farm. I flushed a red grouse along this track a year or so ago, and it flew off low, away from the loch and up the hill. These birds flew strongly with rapid wingbeats - but I can't say for sure that they were black grouse.
Returning to the car, we saw an immature golden eagle soaring way above the Aultguish Inn. A calling raven on its territory, a pair of mallards on the loch, and a buzzard as we drove home were the only other birdie encounters; but we'd enjoyed some fresh air and exercise on a day when we didn't expect to get either.
// posted by Christine @ 2:50 PM 
