Beside the seaside.
We both slept in this morning, rushing to a 9.00 breakfast. After eating, we mentioned to the receptionist that we were concerned at the lack of the promised moth-ing sessions. Daily - and free to guests - events are posted in a single sheet 'The Daily Chirp' left on every breakfast table. These include guided walks morning and afternoon. Longer guided trips in a minibus cost extra. e.g Red Deer rutting and Reindeer viewing.
The receptionist phoned Sue, the Wildlife guide, who told us the extremely disappointing news that the trapping had been cancelled due to low expectations of catching anything at this time of year. True for the usual October temperatures, but, it has been 15C for the last few days. Sue admitted this, saying that it was warmer than July. The only advice she offered was to talk to the Inch Marshes warden who is well known for having found several colonies of the rare Scottish Mountain Burner, previously only known from one small area. Very disappointing. Even if I'd brought my own trap, I don't know of any flowering ivy around Grantown. We did look.
The receptionist phoned Sue, the Wildlife guide, who told us the extremely disappointing news that the trapping had been cancelled due to low expectations of catching anything at this time of year. True for the usual October temperatures, but, it has been 15C for the last few days. Sue admitted this, saying that it was warmer than July. The only advice she offered was to talk to the Inch Marshes warden who is well known for having found several colonies of the rare Scottish Mountain Burner, previously only known from one small area. Very disappointing. Even if I'd brought my own trap, I don't know of any flowering ivy around Grantown. We did look.
The sun was shining, with a strengthening westerly breeze leading to the birch trees shedding what Pam called yellow leaf confetti, as we left for the north coast. Both the roadside gutters and the air above were full of leaves as we drove to Findhorn Bay. The road passes the track to Lochindorb and some pretty bleak high moorland and mountain scenery. Just the right place to see a Golden Eagle. We had good views of it circling away hassled by a Carrion Crow.
Reports of two Lesser Snow Geese amongst the flock of Pinkfeet visible from the hide on Findhorn river estuary yesterday, gave us hope. Not to-day. Pam got out to recce - the hide can only be accessed via a keypad, its numbers only available if you phone someone. No geese to-day and she had to balance her binocs against the hide to try and hold them steady. I put my phone away, no point in getting the code.
The deeply potholed track to the beach gave us views of a pair of Stonechats swaying atop some low vegetation. We drove on to the eastern end of the bay, where we were astonished to find sand where there was always a deep layer of sugar almond shaped stones onto which one walked from the parking area. Now a steep drop to a sandy beach. The power of the sea.
Burghead has long been a favoured place of ours for sea watching. From the site of the Maltings to the rocky western promontory and then the town harbour. We had a lovely afternoon scanning the sea and rocks. Bright sunshine, disturbed waves,
white-topped chop
and a constant light procession of Guillemots, Razorbills, diving Gannets, the first Long-tailed Ducks, a few Eider and one Puffin.
white-topped chop
We both loved it.
Back to the hotel via a coffee at a superior garden centre and Sainsbury's at Nairn for a bottle of fizz for to-morrow. Having to pay the hotel corkage on top is still less than buying their cheapest Cava - and one gets the fizz one likes best. (The champagne was really good and we were not charged corkage as per menu).
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| Shags, Herring Gulland an Oystercatcher watching an approaching dog and its owners. |
Pam's choice of how to spend to-morrow.
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