Glen Affric

Staying in a house at the end of Glen Affric in the Highlands. The birds on the feeder in the garden make for interesting viewing, with the majority being siskins. The commonest bird song to be heard is that of the willow warbler, whilst a pair of spotted flycatchers have three youngsters in a nest amongst the roses climbing up the end wall.

Pied wagtails are very abundant hereabouts, whilst hooded crows inhabit the fields. A pair of hares come down from the mountain each evening to feed on the valley bottom pasture lands.

A walk through the glen revealed common sandpipers and dippers on the river whilst a cock redpoll resplendent in scarlet head and breast made an impressive spectacle.

A small pool beside the river was full of tadpoles whilst a small newt was also in evidence. Perhaps it is not surprising that they are around so late in the season as fresh snow can be seen on the tops.

Red squirrels and pine martens have so far proven to be too elusive.

Swifts at last!

Much later than their usual date of arrival, I saw four swifts flying around the village church today. They are so late that I had come to the sad conclusion that they would not be returning this year. Swallows have been here for some time and not far away I have seen numerous house martins.
There do appear to be fewer hedgerow birds around such as yellow hammers and whitethroats. Otherwise, there has been plenty of evidence of breeding birds and yesterday I saw a group of young goldfinches in a low tree.