I'd originally suggested a visit to the Cairngorm summit, via the funicular of course. Despite waking to a lovely blue sky, crisp, late Autumn morning, there was a necklace of cloud around the summit. So warm still.... would there even be any Ptarmigan to see? We both love the sea, Burghead here we come. A family at dinner to-night went on the led trip to Cairngorm this afternoon, had no view in thick cloud and, didn't see any birds at all. Lucky escape for us.
We drove via Lochindorb as everywhere looked so beautiful. Good decision. Three adult Whooper Swans and four young were preening at the southern end of the loch. They looked newly arrived. Very distant, too much of a challenge for my 300mm lens - as you will see.
Watching the breakers crash in is mesmeric, we'd caught high tide again at Burghead Maltings.
We spent a couple of hours parked at the western end of the bay, watching a group of Gannets of all ages diving, circling and just sitting on the sea. Five delightful and, spectacularly lovely, male Long-tailed Ducks flew by and ditched so that I could scope them. Three were in their black and white winter plumage, two still had their summer brown wings. A few Eiders, Shags, Herring Gulls and far fewer Guillemots than the last visit. A Red Admiral made a surprise appearance as we were getting ready to leave.
After a loo visit, we had a look at the town beach under the caravan park. A dozen Greenfinches exploded out of a bush, startled by a man and a dog. The beach had feeding Black-tailed Godwits and our first Knot.
Cooler to-day, single figures when we left this morning and only 11 C this afternoon as the sky clouded over. A most enjoyable and relaxing last day at the Grant Arms before starting on our journey home to-morrow.
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