A trip to Loch Garten

Tranquility

We returned to the Cairngorms on day 2 of our stay at Black Isle Yurts

Loch Garten proved to be a tranquil, wild place that we shared with a few RSPB membership recruiters and families out enjoying dog walks or outdoor pursuits. We had been warned that there were no remaining ospreys breeding this year and informed that we could do a short walk from the carpark and then make decision over seeing the visitor centre. There was an autumnal, wild forest foraging feel about the place. Blaeberries (Bilberries) carpeted areas of the ancient forest and our children stuffed them in their mouths while gaping at small toads crossing paths and fairy-like toadstools such as the Russula species above and the better known Fly Agaric.

Oak Eggar Moth Caterpillar

We took the two lochs walk to the peaceful Loch Mallachie where we stopped to have a picnic. We found an Oak Eggar Caterpillar that the children assisted to cross the path then continued until we had a beautiful view of the island at the Mallachie end of the trail. We had left behind a couple of noisy walkers and a dog loose off a lead. Finally we could set up the scope and gaze out at the island. We were very happy to see our first ever sightings of Scottish Crossbills! There was enough time to view one preening its scruffy green feathers before flying off in a pair into the pine trees beyond the lake.

Scottish Crossbill

Fabulous family birdwatching experience

Back at visitor centre we were able to entice coal tits to feed by hand on birdseed provided by RSPB warden

Siskins were another bird spotting treat for us to see at close hand

Wildlife Dreams Come True in Scotland

Common or Harbour Seal with Cormorant

 

The Brunet Family reach remote Lake Coruisk

This was the summer when it made sense to take our family to Scotland rather than trying to understand and fulfill covid restrictions travelling abroad to see grandparents and extended family of the kids. So, like many other families we made our pilgrimage to Scotland and what a fine couple of weeks it was! Now, my experience of Scotland goes back to 2 holidays as a child. I discovered mist and midges with my Dad and younger brother. One time we took a caravan in Galloway, another time we spent a week in a rather small sailing boat with Dad's tent near Oban, Loch Creran and the Hebridean islands of that area. The wildlife stood out at the time: seals, black guillemots, hooded crows... but there were disappointments too: Golden Eagles that were always buzzards on Dad's inspection and a distinct lack of wildcats that had populated my young imagination until those holidays.

My husband's experience of Scotland was of 2 weddings we were invited to together (one in Oban, one in Gretna Green) and a hazy weekend at a Glasgow hotel to see a distillery via a Lake District in torrential rain. It was Samuel who decided he needed to do a proper tour of Scotland and that it would involve at least Ediburgh and Inverness. We began making our plans....some of the plans that unfolded will be in my next post...

Today, over a year since we first locked down for the pandemic, I am treating myself to looking back through some of our October half term photographs. It was precious time away snatched in a tiered-lockdown easing time before things got complicated again. We stayed in a lovely house in Newlyn with a view of the harbour and lighthouse. The holiday was completely seal-focussed, energising and exciting. There were big waves to watch, long walks and only ourselves to spend time with.

 

We decided to return to Gweek Seal Sanctuary as Arthur had only been a baby and it had been an incredibly rainy day back then. This time there was a lot more to see and even a glimpse of sunshine! Arthur loved communicating with the seals in tanks, especially a small helpless pup in the rehabilitation hospital unit. It was such a good day out for all of us we decided to return again on the same ticket on the Saturday before we returned home.

Thanks to  a tip from friends (we couldn't meet up with them even though in same area due to social distancing) we discovered where to watch seals in the wild at Godrevy. There were big waves and wind and we had to be careful walking.

Here is my favourite close-up shot of a seal at Gweek Seal Sanctuary

The Wildest Walk we went on was near a tin mine where we watched huge waves foaming with chemicals leaching out from the mine works.

 Finally we are back! Still in a third lockdown. This is one of my absolute favourite SLR pictures I've taken over recent months. It is a friendly Pied Wagtail that Arthur loves watching out of the window. Here it is standing on a chair back in the rain. Not even bad weather will stop birds! This year was our best garden birdwatch on record. Not only did Isaac's count towards a naturalist cubs badge and Arthur's assist towards him learning to count with a tally...we also used extra birdfeeders and gained more species to view. This year we had a pair of Greater Spotted Woodpeckers in the oak tree at the front of the house too. I have recently finished "The Hidden Life of Trees" by Peter Wollenbaum which certainly gives food for thought. Written by a german forester, it goes into the details of slow root and chemical communication between trees, which trees adapt to where and the ecology of a mixed forest. I would like to see 100 birds over lockdown but haven't made a list of the first ones yet! Also to follow are nostalgic pictures of seal watching from last half term in October.