14/02/17 Last Day

Tuesday 14 February 2017

Another great deal from the weather man - dry and sunny with light winds.

• Started off with a fruitless search for the Scottish Crossbill in the Abernathy Forest from Loch Garten to Loch Mallachie.
• We then headed off to Alness by the A9 to twitch a Snow Goose which was obligingly waiting for us in the field beside the road.
• Our second twitch, at Clacknaharry near Inverness, was the American Wigeon which we were able to view from about 30 metres.
• Then we headed down to Aberdeen calling in at Milton of Culloden to see 125+ Scaup - my biggest ever haul and RSPB Culbin Sands to see Long-tailed Ducks and Scoters including several Velvet Scoters.

We dropped the car off in Aberdeen in the evening, before heading into the airport for a 8.30 p.m. flight back to Gatwick

• A really good trip with a species count of over 100 including 4 year ticks, unbelievably good weather and superb accommodation at the Grant Arms in Grantown.
• On the way back to Uckfield, in Andrew's car, a Tawny Owl flew in front of us.  Unfortunately I was not paying attention and missed it.