Speyside

We had a quick trip across to Speyside to catch up with the specialities over there. On the way across most of the Black Guillemots were looking good...

...but there was still the odd one looking very mottled.

A trip into the woods in Speyside will always produce a few good sightings - Long-tailed Tit...

...and Crested Tit.

The weather was just fantastic - blue skies and very little wind. We had tried a couple of spots for Capercaillie and found nothing so it was nice to come across this handsome chap at our third attempt.

After he had shown us who was boss he settled down to feed next to the track before heading back into the forest - awesome!!

A trip up Cairngorm next. With the weather so good the car parks were absolutely rammed but not too many people in the area we were heading for. It took a wee while to find the Ptarmigan but what a fantastic bird to see. The male birds look like bandits...

...while the female birds just blend in.

The Red Grouse just stand out out like sore thumbs!

A cracking weekend away but it's good to be back.