Tuesday, December 15, 2020
It was a fairly bright day so I went for a walk at the dam. The winter sun was just clearing the hills to the west, but a bank of low cloud then put me in the shade. This gave extra allure to the lower top of what I call "my two hills" - but although it looks close, I know well the tract of rough and boggy ground you have to struggle over to reach it. Not for me today.
Bird-wise it was very quiet; I failed to see even the stonechats and ravens that can usually be counted on while the meadow pipits, reed bunting, and solitary redpoll seem to have moved on. The day was saved by a dipper at the base of the dam, which stood motionless as I leaned over the wall to snap it.
Of a record (in my experience) 26 mallards here a few days ago, 14 remained. There were 23+ whooper swans at the other end of the loch but I couldn't see the Canada geese today.
The oddest sighting came as I set off across the dam. A dark chunky bird with dishevelled-looking plumage came flying low over the loch. It continued over the road just as a white van passed, and I lost it. Returning to my car I went a little way along the road to check the ditches - in case it had gone down there, or in case the van had hit it - but I could see nothing. I can only assume it was a grouse, although it appeared a bit small - and whether red or black I can't say.
