Early Wind

Sunday October 15

Pam drew the curtains, exposing wildly waving birch tree branches outside. Already? Hurricane Ophelia is not due until to-morrow. Pam was dead slow to stop this morning, we were still out by 9.30 though. Mike Dilger's group had long gone. We'd planned Strathdearn (Findhorn Valley) and kept to our plan.The moorland where we leave the A9 has been productive in the past, well worth a look. Three calling Red Grouse to-day and a Weasel ran across the road.

Despite frequent stopping to scan the river, there was no evidence of a salmon run, one of my most wanted experiences. The mountainsides also got a good scrutiny. We saw some Red Deer, a couple of large antlered Stags attended by a few hinds, no rutting behaviour at all.

Another Golden Eagle,  our first Kestrel. a small flock of Mistle Thrushes with one Redwing accompanying them and, little else. The wind still gusted, clouds loured and fast scudded, intermittent sun and the odd shower punctuated the morning. 

The sun shone as we made our way back down the valley mid-day, gilding the buttery birches, adding depth to the lovely mountain-etched river valley. A Brown Hare huddled down in its form and the ever present herd of wild goats was scattered very high up a mountainside across the valley from their usual haunts. Only the pale ones were obvious until we used our binoculars.

What was this? Another Raven, using the wind to hover? No it wasn't. I frantically reached my camera from the back of the car and snatched a few shots as it flew away. I'm still not really sure of the bird's identity. Having edited the photos to-night, I'm still unsure, apart from that it's a Harrier species. It has a long tail and an apparent pale rump is visible in one poor and unsharp photo. The paler patterning is not familiar to me. More research required.

Any opinions gratefully received.
(I've decided that it was an immature male, probably Hen Harrier)

Some red fungi roadside, photographed frm the car as there wasn't a passing place nearby. Luckily, there was little traffic to-day.

A different one, more orange than red.

It was a real gale at Alturlie, making scoping from the window unsatisfactory. The tide was out, exposing a lot of mud on which many gulls, a few Wigeon, Crows, Bar-tailed Godwits and, some interbreed Hooded Crows, fed. Heavily choppy sea in the Firth, no ducks nor grebes viewable. 

Time to retire to our comfortable room for tea and a slice of chocolate birthday cake. We really must find out where the library is..........

Another pleasant dinner, the food is fine but not quite there. We both had battered mushrooms with garlic dip followed by pan fried chicken in a cheesy sauce. I then had sorbet and Pam had Lemon Posset. The Mike Dilger group - mostly older women - appeared part way through. Just as well they are seated at the far end of the enormous dining room, noisy bunch.