Wildlife Day

I’m hoping to fit a few more rides in so I figured a rest day was in order. I left the hut and drove to Loch Garten. I then mooched - probably slower than Little Dog now goes but about four times as far - and not far at that! Along the roadside path, I heard a woodpecker and finally found him, unexpectedly at ground level along with a mistle thrush.

The wardens told me where I might see certain things so in a quiet spot in the woods, I took my iPhone out to find out what a crested tit sounded like. I was quite surprised to hear it still playing after I finished - it seems I set them off! But could I spot them?! I’m fairly certain I heard the crossbills but they were equally elusive (lots of chaffinches pretending though). Cuckoo… same. I was glad of a fallen log to sit on when I reached the other loch. I curled my back into a welcome stretch for a while and headed on back. 

The return was, thankfully, more interesting. I heard a singing bird that I didn’t recognise and eventually found this redstart in the treetops. Some beautiful reflections, a common sandpiper and a goldeneye later and I was back at the van.

I went into the hut to sign out and checked whether to switch the main electrics off by seeing if anyone was left in the hut. I hadn’t spotted their names yesterday but two people were there that I knew… and they hadn’t signed out yet! So, when their car arrived back from their outing, I leapt out of the van to say hello. I haven’t seen either of them for a very long time so it was lovely to see some friendly faces. I realised too how arthritis has curtailed my mountain days early as these guys are 15 years older and still stomping. Made me doubly glad I can bike hills instead.

Back to the van for route planning and stretching and now an early night for, hopefully, an early start.