Tuesday, 24 January 2017

24/01/17 Scotland Day 3 (last day)

Tuesday 24 January 2017

Our last day promised much with another attempt at seeing a Capercaillie - this time we would be on foot, followed by an Eagle session to end our visit to Nether Bridge.


  • First stop was Inshriach Forest where we finally found Capercaillie after a search lasting almost 2 hours.  We caught sight of a male and a female  some 10 minutes apart.  The only problem was that both sightings together barely added up to more than 1 second!  We had spent a total in the region of 6 hours for this meagre return.  I was pleased with the result but not with the experience.
  • By way of compensation we had an excellent view of a Scottish Crossbill, sitting majestically in the canopy of a close pine tree.
  • In the Findhorn valley things took a huge turn for the better with spectacular views of a White-tailed Eagle and at least 2 Golden Eagles.  We must have had 10+ sightings in total from these 3 birds.
  • The White-tailed Eagle, a juvenile, showed first and flew directly overhead before ascending.  In one scope view we had it with a Peregrine and  a Buzzard causing an apt comment " ....in comparison the Peregine looks like a Swift....."
  • The views of the first Golden Eagle were similarly superb, the first one with wings streamlined as it raced overhead and the second with wings spread for normal flight.
  • This was a fitting finale to a really good trip where we saw 95 species plus another 2 heard, some excellent hospitality and great food.



Terrific value!





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