Scotland

18/19 April - an overnight visit to Scotland, fine weather forecast, rain down south. I flew to Edinburgh, then drove to Inverness via Vane Farm (no Ross' Goose) and Loch of Lowes, where an Osprey circled over the loch. A fine evening driving up the A9, a lot of snow visible on the Cairngorm massif. A (very) early start in the morning for the Capercaillie watch at Loch Garten resulted in a glimpse of a male - also a Crested Tit and a Red Squirrel on the feeders, and the female Osprey incubating on the nest (lower). On Tulloch Moor Black Grouse could be heard lekking, and Curlews song-flighted on the bog. The Farr road produced a few Red Grouse (middle), and the Findhorn valley a Golden Eagle gliding over pursued by a Peregrine. A herd of c50 Red Deer were on the slopes across the river. Loch Vaa and Loch Ruthven both held Slavonian Grebes (upper at Loch Ruthven). A successful but tiring 24 hours - fantastic views of the West Highlands on the flight back to Bristol, including Ben Nevis and the Cuillin ridge, snow-capped in the sun. As they say, Haste Ye Back.