Walking out

Simon and Matt walking out from Derry Lodge along Glen Lui to the Linn of Dee, the Cairngorms.

We rose at dawn and packed up the camp and walked down to Glen Lui to try and get a view of lekking black grouse. They were there in their usual place, we counted 12 in total. But they were nervous and aware of us, and we couldn't get very close. I have a few blurry photos with the big telephoto, but not good enough to blip.

The 4 mile walk out was easier than the walk in, we'd eaten all the food and drunk the wine. We had a bit of a purple patch half way, halting to look at a palmate newt that was crossing the track. As we stopped, we heard a barking sound, and eventually realised it wasn't a dog, but a skein of 17 whooper swans flying north (heading back to their breeding grounds in the tundras of the north). Whooper swan was number 110 on my 2011 year list. At the same time we saw three curlews mobbing a raptor, a very pale bird, and suspiciously like a rough-legged buzzard. Not a good enough sighting though to be sure. We also saw 6 more black grouse.

Later when we were having breakfast in one of the Braemar cafes, Matt spotted a large bird of prey circling above the town. We were pretty sure it was a golden eagle, a bird that had eluded us all weekend. Not a good enough view though to add to the year list.

Another great winter camping trip with the lads to the Scottish pinewoods.

After Braemar. it was the long drive back to Cumbria, to Wifie and Bob, to fish and chips, and a bath and clean clothes.

I have back-blipped Monday's post. I shall have to backblip Saturday and Sunday tomorrow evening. I also need to sort out the bird list for the trip and the year. Then I shall start catching up with everyone else's journals.