21st November 2021: Bonnie Scotland

 We arrived here in the Cairngorms late yesterday afternoon, when it was already dark, so our birdwatching started this morning. There was little activity on the hotel bird feeders, which are rumoured to attract both red squirrel and Crested Tit, so after a hearty breakfast, we set off on a cold but dry morning to explore the beautiful pine forests at Anagach, carpeted with cowberries and heather, branches dripping with lichen, a sign of the excellent health of this special forest habitat. 

Unfortunately visibility was quite poor when we arrived, and although Crested Tit were heard calling, they were with a mixed tit flock high in the pines and we struggled to identify any clear features to satisfy a confirmed ‘tick’ view.  Coal Tit and Goldcrest were more readily identified and a red squirrel was also seen. As we continued along the path the distinctive ‘chip chip’ call of a Crossbill was heard. We scoured the treetops and a stunning red male was sat devouring pine seeds at the very top of a tall tree, which showed brilliantly in the scope. As we watched a Coal Tit tried to land on the same branch but was quickly sent packing, then a moss green female Crossbill arrived and we had both birds in the scope together, a magnificent sight.

Cheered by this we moved on to another woodland area at Tomvaich where several more Crossbills were feeding plus a mouse-like Treecreeper climbed a birch trunk, which Tim saw but I failed to locate. Next we drove to Dalnahaitnach, with views across the hills and moor, to scan for raptors whilst eating our lunch. A distant Golden Eagle was called, but with only brief, distant views we hope for better sightings later in the week. Some Black Grouse flew across some distant woodland before dropping down to the trees and a Buzzard also drifted over. More satisfying was a cluster of three juvenile White-tailed Eagles, which we were able to track in the scopes as they soared and played together above the pines. Stonechat and Mistle Thrush were active around the lower vegetation as were Long-tailed Tits.

In the afternoon we drove to a nearby estate at Inverlaidnan in search of Capercaillie.We had visited this area twice on our previous trip and had no success, so my expectations were very low. This is a species in significant decline, with the Cairngorms their last remaining stronghold in Scotland. However, I was astonished and delighted when a male appeared right on the track a short distance in front of us. Although seen through steamed glasses, rain and a windscreen, this was a very special sighting - indeed a lifer - and a fitting finale to our relatively small bird list for the day.

Capercaillie
(View through wet windscreen, photo Mark Warren)