Pinkies Geoff (probably). The nice thing is it’s not uncommon for them to re-cross the country later in the winter again before nipping off home for the summer. Wonderful to watch the skein form, ‘collapse’ and re-form like a cyclist peloton as they travel
Yes, we assumed Pinkies. We couldn't hear them talking to each other from the car though! (Apparently that's a good way to identify them when they're flying overhead.)Originally Posted by Derby Tup
They’re incredibly vocal birds. I always like to imagine them geeing each other up for ‘a pull’ on the front of the skein and then saying well done, have a bit of a lean now at the back after a good shift up top
We were in the Cairngorms for a long weekend. Braemar area on Saturday and Sunday for the Grampian Mountain Challenge (fantastic event) then a couple of days' walking around Glen Feshie on Monday and Tuesday. We saw plenty of Mountain Hares, including an amazingly pure white one on Saturday; heard Stags bellowing (always nice for a Mansfield fan!); saw a pair of Snow Bunting; a Black Grouse and a pair of Ptarmigan. Possibly saw a Crested Tit or two, but we couldn't be certain.
How did you get on up Feshie Geoff, it’s stsrting to look pretty special up that way with the change of land management practices.
pies
Well, apart from not realising that the Carnachuin Bridge was swept away in 2009, giving us a long walk up and down the glen...
There are some beautiful Scots Pine along the glen there, and it is a lovely place. It was our first visit, so I don't know how it compares to previously. We did notice that were quite a lot of small pine trees quite high up on the fell side, presumably helped by the reduction in deer numbers.
It is a marked improvement for sure.
The Grouse blasting community might not agree.
The Black Wood of Rannoch and Abernethy Forest are also both worth a visit. Although I would note the Black Wood holds water and Abernethy dries quickly.
pies
That's interesting. We've got a couple of trips to Killiecrankie planned (honeymoon next month and 60th birthday in February!), so Black Wood would be pretty handy from there. We had a walk around Loch Garten a couple of years ago - that was really nice.
Thanks!
Well, if you’re heading up that way you might want to take a look walk out to the Craigenour Estates Skyspace by James Turrell
Few pictures here https://artnathan.wordpress.com/2016.../loch-rannoch/
Congratulations Geoff!
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