Boatbirder.com: 📖 Aviemore 18-19/06/2025

With Dazza away in England until tonight, Sunday 22nd, I decided to head over to Aviemore, planning to stop for the night on the 18th. My route included a stop to visit the Lecht Ski Centre and the old Lecht Mine. David Leslie had guided in that area in late May and mentioned to me that he had seen Ring Ouzels around the old mine building, suggesting they might be nesting there.

The last surviving building of what was once Scotland’s largest manganese mine.

The parking area at Lecht Mine was bustling with activity when I arrived. I spotted Stonechats, Willow Warblers, and Meadow Pipits all busy carrying food, and I could hear the young birds calling all around.

A young Stonechat closeby to the car park.

I began the short walk to the mine building. As I crossed the burn via the bridge, a couple of Dippers and a Grey Wagtail took flight. I saw both of them a little further down the burn. Upon reaching the mine building, there was no sign of any Ring Ouzel, but I did notice several nests built into the rafters, unfortunately, all of which were empty.

A Dipper along the burn.

After stopping for breakfast in Tomatin, I drove an additional 90 minutes to Loch Ruthven for the anticipated Slavonian Grebes. After parking my car and before heading up to the hide, I took a quick look around the loch and spotted a single bird. It turned out to be quite a fortunate sighting, as it was the only Slavonian Grebe I saw. My 45 minutes in the hide drew a blank, apart from a couple of Little Grebes.

Slavonian Grebe

I spent the rest of the day in the Findhorn Valley, which was somewhat challenging due to road construction in several areas. The roads are narrow and single-track, making the situation more difficult. Additionally, the parking area at Glenmazeran Burn was nearly entirely occupied by roadwork machinery. I managed a few excursions, particularly around the plantations where Willow Warblers, Siskin, Redpoll, Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Spotted Flycatcher were seen. The skies were particularly quiet, just a couple of Buzzards to report and no sign of any Eagles! The River held the usual Common Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail and Goosander.

Spotted Flycatcher along Finhorn Valley.

The following day, on the 19th, I started early at Craigellachie National Nature Reserve. It was a beautiful morning with clear blue skies. My target species were Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler, although I knew that the latter had not been reported. This location used to be a great place to find Wood Warblers, but, like my visit here last year with the RSPB Aberdeen & District Local Group, I drew a blank. I was more successful with Pied Flycatcher, managing to photograph a male feeding a newly fledged youngster. Also of note was a Tree Pipit.

Male Pied Flycatcher feeding a newly fledged youngster

While I was in the woodland, I could hear Ospreys' calling and eventually caught sight of one of the birds through a gap in the trees, perched on a branch of the adjacent cliff face. A short time later, in a clearing, I watched both adult Ospreys and what appeared to be a couple of juveniles.

Osprey is keeping an eye on the siblings.

My next stop was Loch Mallachie, where I planned to search for Crested Tit. Fortunately, I didn't have to venture far from the car park. I was sitting on a new bench near the Two Lochs Trail signs, checking my phone, when I suddenly heard a bird calling nearby. To my surprise, it was perched at the top of a pine tree right above me! It didn't stay long, but I did manage to snap a record image.

Crested Tit record shot.

After a pleasant morning, rain showers began to appear, prompting me to head to Lochindorb earlier than expected. My goal was to see Black-throated Divers. Fortunately, I found them almost immediately upon arrival and managed to get good views through my scope of a pair, although they remained quite distant.

Black-throated Divers at Lochindorb.

An enjoyable few days with some good species observed, although Wood Warblers have now become a rare commodity for the area. More images of my visit are below.