An afternoon walk through Glen Girnock near Ballater with Dazza provided a peaceful retreat into a wonderfully varied landscape that I last visited in July last year. Under mostly overcast skies, with a comfortable 18°C and a gentle breeze keeping the air fresh, it was ideal weather for a few hours of slow exploration. The landscape begins in mixed woodland and structured plantations, where the treeline extends outward before the glen opens into view. From there, it unfolds in gentle layers, leading the eye across patches of rough pasture, along the quiet meanders of Girnock Burn, and finally rising into sweeping moorland where the purple heather was beginning to come into its prime, framed by rolling low hills.
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| The view heading back along the track. |
Despite the muted light, the local butterflies were pleasantly active.
Scotch Argus stole the show, difficult to photograph dancing on the wing in surprising numbers across the heather and grasslands. Joining them were a few
Small Heaths fluttering low to the ground and the bold, colourful flashes of
Red Admirals. A lone
Dark-green Fritillary made a brief appearance, along with a single
Comma. The latter was once uncommon to scarce in Aberdeenshire, though its status is gradually changing. In fact, I had one in the garden last week.
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| Scotch Argus - Finally, one settled on the path for a photo. |
The birdlife kept the walk lively from start to finish. Although the final species tally reached a modest nineteen, the volume and activity were remarkable.
Spotted Flycatchers were a real highlight, with at least nine individuals logged, including several youngsters venturing out from lower branches to snatch insects. A similar count of noisy
Crossbills kept to the canopy, while bright, chatterbox
Siskins were just too numerous to keep track of as they moved in restless flocks through the trees.
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| Spotted Flycatcher |
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| Common Crossbill |
Seasonal shifts were clearly underway across the higher ground. Summer residents like Redstart and Whinchat, which regularly breed in the glen, had already cleared out from their nesting territories. Just a single
Stonechat perched on the rocks alongside a handful of
Meadow Pipits, while
Treecreepers,
Chiffchaffs,
Song Thrush and a
Great Spotted Woodpecker added activity deeper in the woods. Overhead,
Buzzard and
Red Kites drifted along the thermal currents, while a busy mixed flock of
Swallows and
House Martins swept low over the moorland in pursuit of airborne insects. It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon in the hills, capturing the subtle, quiet transition of early late-summer nature.
A Few More Images of the Walk...
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| Scotch Argus underwing. |
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| A worn-looking Dark-green Fritillary. |
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| Common Crossbill. |
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| View across the Glen. |
Glen Girnock 22/08/26
