Full day tour

I delivered a tour today for Dawn and Bill to various areas in the immediate vicinity. I'd met them both last year on a beaver tour and it was great to see each other again.

I can't say the day started too well though as the first thing I saw was a single Magpie. One for sorrow?

Anyway, it was a beautiful morning and we headed up Glenshee. On our way up the Glen, a herd of Fallow deer was spotted with at least 4 magnificent stags in their midst. We had the usual sightings of Buzzards, crows, rooks, pigeons etc and on entering the northerly part of our trip, there were sightings of curlews migrating back to the glen, plus oystercatchers, lapwings, grouse. and a good few ravens.

We parked up and exited the car to be met with two duelling grouse and only feet from us.

So, a good start to our morning after all. We started the short climb up Sunnyside and we didn't have to go far before we came across our first hares

As we wandered on this hare got spooked by some skiers

We had a look about for ptarmigan and although there were a few hollows in the snow showing where they had lain up, none were forth coming. As we made our way down the hill a few snow buntings were seen pinging about.

We headed back down the road a wee bit crest fallen that we hadn't seen a ptarmigan but there were still lots to see and do. As we drove down the road, we came across a kestrel hovering just above the road. We managed to stop in a safe place and as we exited the car the kestrel made it's kill and flew off before we could even get the cameras out.

Next on the list was a run through Glenisla and a visit to the Reekie Linn. On our way we spotted a couple of Mistle Thrushes and a few Skylarks. Reekie Linn is a beautiful place especially in spring

So onwards to our next stop, Bamff estate. On our arrival I showed the guys the recent beaver workings and as we headed to the next dam we spotted this Peregrine falcon

The next sighting was of a Grey Wagtail bouncing about beside the beaver dams, bonny wee bird.

Next stop was Kinnordy and we had various sightings of various birds from wren's to robin's, any amount of several species of tit to chaffinches. There were a few Whooper swans on the loch

A rather handsome and colourful pheasant

A very cute Red Squirrel

An even cuter Long Tailed Tit

Lapwings and a Curlew

There were also a fair amount of geese, tufted ducks, oystercatchers, mallards, wigeon etc kicking about. We moved to the next hide and saw a few Mute Swans plus a variety of ducks plus a Reed Bunting

We decided to call it a day at Kinnordy and after a bite to eat headed back to Blair where Dawn managed to try out this beautiful ferruginous hawk courtesy of my pal Eric

Next was a trip to see the Great Crested Grebes at a local loch

As we walked back to the car, we saw quite a few Goldeneye and Dabchicks.

We decided to stop for a wee bit and arranged for me to take Dawn to hopefully see the Pine Martens later on.

When I picked Dawn up, this posing beggar was poncing about

As we drove up the road another few buzzards were spotted plus a wee herd of Fallow hinds. As we sat in the hide, the only things we saw were a wee field mouse stealing the peanut bait and his other partners in crime, a Great tit, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush and a few Chaffinches plus this lovely wee Robin