Back up to enjoy the new property in Aberdeenshire for the next few weeks before we give it up for rent for around a year or so before the final move.
It's amazing to see, having driven up from the Midlands last Thursday, how far behind everything is! For example, the Hazel, Hawthorn and Blackthorn have yet to bloom, although there are a few signs this morning (Tuesday) that things are beginning to happen. When I visited Brandon Marsh the day before coming up
Blackcap,
Chiffchaff and
Willow Warbler were all in full song and the usual Hirundines had all been noted. Since arriving I've only heard a single
Chiffchaff and
Blackcap, although along the coast and on a few inland lochs I've noted many
Sand Martins and the odd
Swallow.
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| Sunrise from the drive across to Bennachie |
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-2C Saturday 13th April 2019 ~ I took the short drive at dawn along to the Bennachie Visitor Centre for a walk around the Pine and Larch forest trails, I'll leave the climb to Mithers Tap for another day. It was a chilly -2C and on the road, I had to stop twice for two groups of
Roe Deer to cross, it was an awesome sight, particularly with the gorgeous sunrise.
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| Common Crossbill ~ Bennachie |
The centre feeders were devoid of
Red Squirrels on this visit, perhaps a little too cold and still quite dark.
Siskin appears to be everywhere and it's lovely to hear them singing high up in the trees, interrupted occasionally by the
Common Crossbills. The usual woodland species can be found with many
Coal Tits,
Chaffinch and several
Treecreepers, although it's a real learning curve as to which species actually venture this far north, For example, there are only c260 pairs of breeding
Nuthatch in the whole of Scotland, with a winter population of 1250 ~ 1500.
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| Coal Tit a constant companion |
Along my walk, a few
Brambling high up in the canopy but just a single
Chiffchaff and distant
Blackcap heard, plus two
Great-spotted Woodpeckers investigating a nesting hole. Through the gaps looking across to the fields and beyond a half dozen
Curlew along with
Linnet,
Skylark and
Meadow Pipit, with one or two of the latter performing their familiar parachute drops.
