π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ Friday 7th June 2024 π¦️ 10C ~ NE @ 10MPH ~ A long weekend staying in Aviemore for Dazza and I joining up with 25 other members of the RSPB Aberdeen & District Local Group for Saturday and Sunday.
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| The Lech Mine |
With Dazza in Dunfermline attending a birthday party and making her own way to Aviemore I drove from home, taking a leisurely drive through the Cairngorms on Friday morning. I made a couple of stops, visiting The Lech Mine on the Glenlivet Estate and the new hide at Tomintoul, a designated Dark Sky Discovery Site.
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| The Lech Mine |
A short walk along the burn from the car park takes you to the isolated site of the Lecht Mine, a former iron and manganese mining site. Iron ore was mined between 1730 and 1737, and manganese mining began in 1841. However, due to decreasing prices, operations ceased in 1846. At its peak, over 60 men worked at the mine. In the 1920s, iron ore from the Lecht was analyzed to possibly justify the building of a railway to Tomintoul, but the results were not satisfying. In 1983, the building was restored by Moray District Council.
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| Meadow Pipit |
Near the small car park, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Song Thrush and Dunnock, and along the path, numerous Meadow Pipits were seen, some of which were feeding their young.
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| A Grey Wagtail calling continuously. |
Several Pied Wagtails and a lone Grey Wagtail along the burn the latter was persistently calling, leading me to suspect the presence of their young nearby. Overhead a Buzzard and as is the norm in the Cairngorms at this time of year plenty of Common Gulls.
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| Stonechat Male |
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| Stonechat |
Over the heather, many House Martins were hawking keeping the midge population to a minimum and a couple of Stonechat were nice to see before continuing my journey.
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| Pied Flycatcher - One of the keys birds for our walk tomorrow. |
I reached Aviemore in the early afternoon and opted for a brief stroll at Craigellachie NNR before settling into my accommodation, anticipating our RSPB walk here tomorrow. Just after passing through the tin tunnel beneath the bustling A9, I was greeted by the melody of a Pied Flycatcher, a sought-after species for our weekend. Within five minutes, I spotted the bird happily perched in a nearby tree, singing. This promising start augurs well for the weekend!
