Cairngorms Holiday.........

[PMG]

Tues 6am 25th March off we set for Rothiemurchus in the Cairngorms full of hope and expectation but I was feeling ropey from a heavy cold which got annoyingly worse while we were away …………. And maybe not helped by the supposedly -11 overnight temp that first night, which froze the van windows inside and out, and the water supply – and the engine……

Last year was such a good holiday and brought such fantastic shots of Crested Tits that, somewhere in the back of my mind I almost knew it couldn’t happen twice!! And it didn’t – despite seeing cresties every day – and once again they were 2ft off the campervan windows on our pitch at the camping site – we were wrong-footed every time – cameras not set up (bed set up – me in bed feeling rough - cameras safe in bags – me stuck on the porta potti - curtains closed……. that kind of thing!)

The site was very busy with folks and families, walkers, skiers and bikers. Our neighbours in the next caravan put up with us in our mobile hide probably to their own detriment – keeping their kids quiet – and not keep opening their van door – for which I thanked them – but all to no avail – no crestie shots this year. What I have come home with is 300 shots of Chaffinch – and I promise not to download more than a couple once I’ve sorted thro them – honest! They just seem to mount up while you’re waiting for cresties and siskins – oh look that’s a lovely chaffinch – and that’s a nice chaffinch pose – and well – I’ll just click to see if the camera is still alive – oh look another chaffinch ……….. LOL!

What I did get was a male Brambling when half way thro the hols getting increasingly frustrated by unsuitable weather etc I looked out and this cracking male was feeding with the – by now big flock of 70+ chaffinch….. I paused for just a heartbeat – before snatching the mobile pop-up out of its retaining bag, throwing it up and diving in before the brambling came on its second visit – I got my shots – and over the next few days caught another couple of his visits – but basically – and photography can be like this – that first ten min visit clinched the keepers……….

We had two visits to the Speyside Mammal Hide – and dipped out there too – twice……… LOL! Not a whisker on the Thurs night and a distant glimpse of a badger, which turned tail and fled on the following Tuesdays (freebie!) visit. Apparently we can have another freebie next time we go – which won’t be before March 2009 unless one of us wins the lottery……….

A midweek day was spent yet again on the car park at Loch Garten – hoping for cresties….. a couple came past every hour or so but totally ignored the food and feeding frenzy that was in full swing on our bird feeders and fat balls. The red squirrels ignored us and our plentiful food supply too. One of the highlights was to be on the car park when the female Osprey first turned up! EJ as she is known flew over the car park at 2.45pm on the 26th and was a real treat for us.

A long days drive round the Tomnintoul road to Braemar and Glen Shee found the Mountain Hares even higher up the mountain than last year – so no chance for me getting up there – but the bonus was Ian spying three Ptarmigan feeding and plodding across half way down. Needless to say he was up there like a whippet – round and beyond and started stalking them – he got some shots but not as close as he wanted before they took umbrage and flew! And I was feeling so poorly I collapsed in a corner of the van and went to sleep………..

4am on the 1st of April found us up and crawling unwashed into our clothes to go on the capper watch at Loch Garten! The centre opens at 5.30am and we were stupid enough to turn up at 5.30am – to find we were the 18th persons booking in and not a cat in hells chance of getting near a scope or a window!! Eventually I squeezed in beside a chap and his scope and some time later found myself looking at a male capper head sticking up out of the heather! No-one else had seen it cos they were all looking out front and I was reduced to a skimpy side view – which for once was lucky – as that’s where the cracking male appeared! I grinned for a half a beat and then blithely announced ‘I’ve got one’ …. I thought the hide had erupted as around 30 folks shouted ‘Where?’ in unison! All I could say was between those two trees over there………. And there’s a hell of a lot of trees out front!!! Finally I managed to explain where and folks started finding him. He spent maybe 20 mins playing hide and seek in and out of the heather before disappearing altogether. Then I got thanked by the rspb warden for being the first person to find a capper on the 1st morning of the 2008 season …….. a bit like a good April Fool if you like!

We busied ourselves for the rest of the day with a ride to Lochindorb to be rewarded with distant but clear views of a pair of displaying black throated divers and some very flighty red grouse. The plan was to go up to the coast and meet Big Bill but I found I felt too rough and ended up in the Findhorn Valley having a sleep instead!

And the next morning it was home time on a gorgeous warm and sunny clear spring day …….. when leaving the Cairngorms is doubly hard ……… Roll on next March!!

[DavyG]

Sounds like you had not too bad a trip Pauline, despite you being unwell.

Congrats on spotting the Caper, not many people get to see those.

I'll look forward to seeing your pics.

Dave

[Ann2]

I'm sorry your holiday didn't quite live up to last year's expectations Pauline. We must have been very close to bumping into each other as I was there for part of the same week, before heading down the west coast of Scotland.

I was luckier than you with the crested tits. A pair were very obliging at Loch Garten and I got some good photos (even though it was quite dark by the feeders at the entrance there).

I had pretty much the same luck with the mountain hares though. I tried the drive from every angle and was forced to retreat each time due to the roads being blocked by snow.

I still haven't seen a capercaillie in the flesh but I did see my first pine marten up at the Glenmore campsite so was very happy with my trip there.

And lastly, I also had a couple of camper van troubles. The roof vent lifted up in the wind and blew clean off whilst driving down the motorway on the first day's travel. Luckily it didn't rain that night and I was able to fit a new one the next day at a caravan centre at Wishaw. I also got stuck in the snow and had to be pulled out by the very kind owner of a 4wd.

Here's to next year's trip, maybe we'll bump into each other then.

Ann

[big bill]

Going by the weather for this coming week-end Pauline and Ann you have both got out in time they are forecasting 10-15cm of snow to lower levels so it will be alot more around the Cairngorms last week-end snowgates were closed to Tomintoul and to the south near Drummocter Pass.
Next year should be better Pauline you will just have to take care of yourself leading upto your holiday ansd with any luck we can meet up then take care

[PMG]

Originally Posted by Ann2

I'm sorry your holiday didn't quite live up to last year's expectations Pauline. We must have been very close to bumping into each other as I was there for part of the same week, before heading down the west coast of Scotland.

I was luckier than you with the crested tits. A pair were very obliging at Loch Garten and I got some good photos (even though it was quite dark by the feeders at the entrance there).

I had pretty much the same luck with the mountain hares though. I tried the drive from every angle and was forced to retreat each time due to the roads being blocked by snow.

I still haven't seen a capercaillie in the flesh but I did see my first pine marten up at the Glenmore campsite so was very happy with my trip there.

And lastly, I also had a couple of camper van troubles. The roof vent lifted up in the wind and blew clean off whilst driving down the motorway on the first day's travel. Luckily it didn't rain that night and I was able to fit a new one the next day at a caravan centre at Wishaw. I also got stuck in the snow and had to be pulled out by the very kind owner of a 4wd.

Here's to next year's trip, maybe we'll bump into each other then.

Ann

My my Ann - that sounds exciting maybe too exciting tho - the roof blowing off......... yes we saw the cresties were keeping to the feeders near the gate and little entrance building but as you said it was just too dark and after getting cracking shots last year in excellent light, I wasn't willing to accept less this time - and the birds weren't willing to play - so that was that as they say!

Originally Posted by big bill

Going by the weather for this coming week-end Pauline and Ann you have both got out in time they are forecasting 10-15cm of snow to lower levels so it will be alot more around the Cairngorms last week-end snowgates were closed to Tomintoul and to the south near Drummocter Pass.
Next year should be better Pauline you will just have to take care of yourself leading upto your holiday ansd with any luck we can meet up then take care

Ahh thanks Bill - I can't tell you how annoying it is to be back at work with nose dlrying up and feeling quite sprightly again.......... the trouble is while ever I work I will be tired and stressed just before hols - I've done this ranger job for 18 years and never arrived at at hol yet without the job causing stress and worry - I really hate the firm for this particular behaviour as I suspect they do it on purpose - well thats the way it feels to me anyway.......

And Davy G - I'd post pics but my machine and the website are not 'talking' to each other again - I've tried creeping up on it at various times and mulitple and single uploads and its said no every time - might have to ask my mate and champion Graham to upload them for me

Pauline

[Pete Collins]

Hi Pauline,

I'm sure you've got some great photos to show us, so I hope you manage to upload them somehow. Shame you were ill, and that the holiday wasn't as good as last year (how could it be!), but sounds like you made the most of it anyway.

I've seen Crested Tits abroad, I'd love to see one in Britain.

Pete

[PMG]

Originally Posted by Pete Collins

Hi Pauline,

I'm sure you've got some great photos to show us, so I hope you manage to upload them somehow. Shame you were ill, and that the holiday wasn't as good as last year (how could it be!), but sounds like you made the most of it anyway.

I've seen Crested Tits abroad, I'd love to see one in Britain.

Pete

Still no luck with pics - I shall have to lean on Grahams good nature again Now that we've been back a few days - looking back I think it was a good break - I wish I didn't get so hung up with photography at times - I'm a very addictive type personality - and I get such a high when I get a shot I've wanted for a long time - but of course the low is LOW when I'm not having any luck at all (and the constantly running nose didn't help - course its drying up and I'm getting better by the min since I went back to work - Grrrrr )

If you've not been to the Cairngorms Pete you should make it an ambition at some point - the whole place is just stunning - there's something about it - its a little pocket of Scotland that's so special and I can't explain why - but it tugs at my heart every year to go......... Rothiemurchus and Abernethy Forests are just gorgeous, peaceful and healing, the River Spey is spectacular and seeing cresties, red squirrels, sikins, ospreys, divers etc is such a treat

Pauline

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by PMG

...

If you've not been to the Cairngorms Pete you should make it an ambition at some point - the whole place is just stunning - there's something about it - its a little pocket of Scotland that's so special and I can't explain why - but it tugs at my heart every year to go......... Rothiemurchus and Abernethy Forests are just gorgeous, peaceful and healing, the River Spey is spectacular and seeing cresties, red squirrels, sikins, ospreys, divers etc is such a treat

Pauline

No, I've not been to the Cairngorms - in fact I've not visited Scotland much at all. I'd love to go and see the wildlife there though, and I'm sure I'll get there eventually.

[outdoors]

you cannie beat the gorm's walking ,climbing, on ur bike, bird watching ,you name it's got everything...

[PMG]

Thank you Graham for uploading my first lot of pics - like I said I still have 300 chaffinch to go thro so I won't be mithering for those anytime soon!!!!





















I have to admit the brambling gave me the biggest buzz in the getting of it - tho time and the weather fell right in the red squirrel session - it threw it down - the heavens opened - its a good job I had put the mobile hide up!
With hindsight and now feeling better (after a shift back at work - grrrr!) I can admit that as hols go it could have been a lot worse!!

I've said it Pete and so has outdoors - Cairngorm is a fantastic and special place - and it does accommodate all activities without too much angst. After all if I can get shots despite the site being busy and kids being on hol and having a good time riding round and running around the campsite - birds and squirrels still came for food - and found me waiting - patiently

Pauline