Rosebank rapture
Last night I received a call from Jim at Rosebank B&B asking if I was free on the Saturday evening to take a couple to the river to see the beavers. After the tremendous early visit by the Pine Marten on the Friday night I suggested that we could go for the Holy Trinity; Black Grouse, Pine Marten and Beavers. Ian and Jillian from Swaffham, were well up for that, so we met up at 1730 on a gorgeous early summer evening and headed for the moor to hopefully catch the Black Grouse. There were the usual sightings of Curlew and Pippits but Ian managed to spot a male Hen Harrier quartering an area beyond the lek. An absolutely gorgeous bird, one of my favourite raptors in all honesty and one I used to see often as a kid when I went fishing on various lochs in the hills however, persecution by estates in favour of grouse put paid to that and regardless of what anyone says (SGA take note) this still continues!!!!!
It was again a no show by the grouse, fickle buggers that they are, so we headed to the Pine Martens via Bamff. The drive across threw up a multitude of Buzzards, baby Conies, Swifts and Swallows, Wagtails, Pippits, Thrushes, Corvids (Carrion and Jackdaws) and some Roe deer. We had a wee wander around some beaver pools admiring the workings of Monsieur Castor then headed to the Martens. I must admit, it was a wee bit of a wait but we passed our time watching Chaffinches and Field Mice taking the Marten bait. At last, the Marten showed and what followed was pure frustration. The animal "Squinty" (cataract on his right eye), stayed low and was always hidden behind some grass blades.
By this point it was after 9 and even though even though the light was ok, it was certainly on the wane. Ian made the call, lets try for the beavers. On my tours it is always the clients decision as to how long we stay out, but I must admit I wasn't particularly hopeful in seeing any beavers due to the diminishing light. On our way down the glen we came across a wee herd of Fallow and this lovely Hare
In all honesty I thought we might see a ripple or two from the beavers and possibly a fleeting glimpse. But on arriving there were ripples below us, obvious signs of a bow wave and sure enough a beaver showed face, my pair were ecstatic, two firsts in one night, beavers and Martens =quality. We moved down the river a bit and were blessed with a few more sightings in really poor light, it was well after 10 by this stage.
All in, even finishing up at 1045 and a no show by the Black Grouse, it was a really successful evening by Nature Nuts, my clients left happy, I went home happy that they were happy, and what better way to spend an evening than with a guide that sometimes delivers? We even managed a wee dessert of strawberries, mmmmmm cracking :-)
