A DEESIDEdly Grand Day Out

14/05/09

A DEESIDEdly Grand Day Out.


25th April 2009. Yesterday I had the pleasure of the company of Ian. He is a Torry Loon, more accustomed to the birds of Girdleness, so I was determined to show him some of the delights of Deeside. I met him off the bus in Aboyne at 9 o'clock, and we set off up the Dee valley as far as Dinnet. Being a conscientious tour guide I had done some exploratory work the day before, just to see what birds we could expect.
We started at Dinnet with a short stroll to Clarack Loch, through pine and birch woods, where I knew there was a chance of seeing a Jay. Ian was desperate to see a Jay. But they are shy birds, more often heard than seen. And hear one we did. Later we had a tantalising view of two of them chasing each other through the tree tops. Hopefully we'll manage better views another time.


So we returned to the car and set off along the Ordie road. No sooner had we started than a Jay flashed across the road just in front of us. Ian nearly missed it, but managed a brief glimpse before it vanished into the trees. We went to New Kinord, and set off along the track towards Loch Kinord. The woods were alive with Chaffinches in particular, and also several Willow Warblers newly arrived from Africa. A few Swallows zoomed around the tumbledown steadings. When we arrived at the loch shore, it was quite breezy, making it harder to spot any birds on the water. With patience, we managed to find Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Greylag Goose, Goldeneye, and a raft of Tufted Ducks. A few Cormorants have set up a colony on one of the islands, their presence given away by the white splashes on the fresh green leaves of their roosting trees. The urgent high piping of a Common Sandpiper told us of the arrival of yet another summer visitor.


Our next stop was at the Burn o' Vat, a spectacular melt-water carved pothole, a relic from the last ice age. We kept disturbing a Grey Heron as it tried to fish in the beautiful crystal clear water of the little burn that flows out of the Vat.


We continued up the Dee valley to Glen Gairn. Last time Ian and I were there we had watched two eagles soaring over the valley. This time, at exactly the same place, I spotted a pair of raptors high overhead. We stopped, got out for a better look, and began to convince ourselves that lightning had indeed struck twice in the same spot. Then, one of them came closer and landed on the top of a larch tree about 250m away, and we began to have second thoughts. Maybe just a Buzzard after all? I took a photo, but the range was too great to get anything conclusive. Here it is anyway, in case anyone wants to pass an opinion.


We had lunch near the old school, watching the skies for any more signs of life. Nothing showed, so we continued for a bit to a higher viewpoint, passing a lone Red Grouse surveying his territory from a clump of heather. More sky watching, again nothing, so we returned to Gairnshiel and took the road over the hills to Crathie.


We hadn't gone far when I remarked to Ian that it looked like good habitat for Merlin. Guess what! Yes, one flew over the road, and vanished across the moor. We debated whether to stop and try to follow it. We stopped. We set off across the soggy moorland to a white-stained prominent rock, obviously somebody's lookout perch. But of the Merlin there was no sign. Ian began to scan further away, and asked me what he was seeing on a boulder. What boulder? I couldn't even see a boulder where he was looking. Then I found it, and nearly fell over with astonishment at what I was looking at. A magnificent Golden Eagle was perched on the rock, some 500m away, the golden feathers on its head and neck glowing in the weak watery sunshine. What a find! I nipped back to the car for the 'scope, and we took turns at watching it. We didn't want to disturb it, so reluctantly moved back to the car and continued along the road to Crathie, enjoying the wonderful scenery.


On the way back to Aboyne, we stopped again at Dinnet, where I had arranged to collect a couple of books from the antique shop there. If any of you are interested in quality second-hand and antiquarian books, I can recommend The Old Shop in at Dinnet crossroads. There is a fantastic collection of books with a large section devoted to Natural History. The two I had chosen were The Natural History of Shelborne by Gilbert White, and Morning Flight by Peter Scott. I'm looking forward to reading them.


The web site address is: www.ukbookworld.com/members/janesbooks


There was still half an hour to spare before Ian's bus back to Aberdeen, so we had a look at Aboyne Loch. Ian had told me his favourite bird is the Osprey, and I knew they were regular visitors to the loch. And right on cue, one appeared, circled the loch several times, giving us great views. I would like to think it did it just for Ian.