Friday, January 20, 2023
Yesterday, we headed up the Dirrie Mor for a walk at the dam, but that particular lay-by hadn't been cleared for some reason; not only that, but ploughing as well as salting has taken place, with the snow pushed into brownish ramparts at the side of the road. There was no way Greger was getting in there with the Tesla - in fact he said he would have thought twice if we'd been in the Toyota. So we drove on and down to the Black Water car park again, and from the old bridge Greger pointed out an otter, bounding through the snow and then slipping into the churning water. It kept close to the bank and eventually disappeared into the trees downstream. While scanning for crossbills I got onto a bullfinch, a handful of redpolls, and a great spotted woodpecker - all firsts for the year. They were as distant as the crossbill had been a few days ago, so today I decided to return there while Greger drove to Inverness for some shopping.
I stopped at a different lay-by (one which has an awkward turnout) just uphill from the dam; this entailed a short stretch on the road and then a crunchy walk along the dam in snow that had a frozen crust. The tracks left by the hydro vehicles were solid ice and too slippery to walk on. The hills looked beautiful and there was a film of ice on the surface of the loch. I stood admiring the views until my feet got too cold for comfort and then trudged back to the car. No birds were seen.
I drove on to the Black Water and walked a short way along the river path, hoping for the birds we'd seen yesterday. A blackbird in the car park seemed a good start. A little way along where the path splits, all the footsteps followed close to the river - so I took the right fork (which I often do anyway, as the conifers are smaller here and mixed with birch, making it easier to spot birds) and walked through virgin snow.
I enjoyed the walk, but the only bird encountered was a great tit - and that was heard only! Back at the car park Greger pulled in on his way home to have a coffee and use the loo; he said his car had shown temperatures of minus 6 and 7 degrees on the drive out.
I headed home - and as I turned into the drive, there in the garden was a redpoll.....
.....which is one of the birds I'd gone all that way hoping to see!
