Breakfasted, car packed and away by 8 a.m. We always enjoy our time at Seaview, John and Jane are great. Welcoming, friendly and they run a good establishment. The newly re-furbished Erraid (our room) was even better, the beds exceedingly comfortable.
In plenty of time, so we dropped in to Grass Point, seeing one Eagle fly in with prey, two more Stonechats and a trip addition, Great Spotted Woodpecker.
The ferry was a little late, 'medical emergency on the previous sailing' is what was cited. We didn't bother going on deck, cool and with occasional spitting rain.
After a big Tesco shop in Oban and a petrol stop - 15p a litre cheaper than that on Mull - we left for Carrbridge via Fort William and Newtonmore.A screaming group of six Swifts were our first this year, we often don't see them in Scotland. Despite warnings of heavy rain making driving conditions hazardous, we didn't get any at all.
Pam had forgotten our usual bird feeders and food, we bought some in Kingussie, we can always do with some new ones.
A notice on Fairwinds door told us that Silver Birch was open, no sign of Alison and Lindsay. The chalet has been refurbished this winter. New carpet, wallpaper, pine walling and furniture, looks good.
Whilst we were hanging up the feeders, Lindsay appeared to welcome us, asking after Aileen and Bridget. Alison then appeared cuddling a ten and a half month old Maltese terrier. Quite delightful but, he's waking them at 5 a.m.Lindsay later returned with a bottle of red wine which we enjoyed with our Chilli con Carne supper.
The Hotel is closed until Monday so no internet access until then, I didn't like to ask......They've taken the time off to settle the dog, Lucy.
Sunday May 8
I caught up with some much needed sleep at last, we didn't leave until 9.30. The forecast was for showers, some heavy, the north east coast seemed the best option. Burghead called....We went the pretty way, via Lochindorb and had seen eight Red Grouse, perched in the open, by the time we reached the Lodge. It being a Sunday there were more fishermen than birds.
Burghead Maltings area is not very salubrious but a magnet for good birds. An extensive rocky bay backed by rough ground on to which backs a row of houses.The sea was pretty rough this morning, plenty of birds, many of them rising and falling well out of sigh tin the troughs, others flying in circles of frenzy over a shoal of fish.
Our favourite parking place was largely occupied by a very large motorhome - much to Pam's disgust. We parked further west, me scanning the sea from the car initially - until I had a brief view of the Yellow-billed Diver. I hopped out , set up my scope and couldn't find the bird again! Disaster.
During the next hour and more, scanning from a bench, we ID'd Kittiwakes, Common Terns, Black-throated and Red-throated Divers, squadrons of Gannets and flights of Fulmar.As the tide came in, the birds disappeared, the wind got up and a shower drove us into the car to eat our lunch.
Returning to the Maltings area to scan again, an elderly man approached me to ask if I'd seen anything. Bless him, he told us that the YB Diver was off the west end. Five minutes later we'd BOTH got the hefty bird in our scopes, it's pale bill upturned like that of a Red-throated.
Some House Martins -few and far between this year - were collecting mud for their nests from a nearby puddle.
Findhorn Bay
Loch Flemington
Alturlie
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| What a smart bird- Ringed Plover - probably the Tundra race. |
Home via a windy Lochindorb.
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| Mergansers with the wind up their tails. |
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