Page 15 - Out Birding Autumn 2023

Highland Fling 28/4 - 1/5 2023
A total of nine people convened in Old Portlethen on the Friday evening for a meal, ready to depart early next morning for the Aberdeenshire Cairngorms and Spey- side. For four people, this was their first GBC event. Aside from enjoying our com- pany, the event got off to a flyer when Carol spo􏰀ed a Black Guillemot, later two, si􏰁ng on the sea in full view of the back porch. For some of the par􏰂cipants, this was a new species, and for me, one that I see rarely from the house.
We had an early start to get to the Forest of Birse the next morning so that we could see Black Grouse lekking at a regular site. The weather wasn’t great with light sleet falling on us and the birds were nowhere to be seen. We were welcomed by Willow Warbler and a Song Thrush singing their hearts out as we hoped. Thank- fully, a casual glance at some red deer on a different part of the hill revealed a dis- 􏰂nc􏰂ve grouse profile, which on closer inspec􏰂on was a Black Grouse, jumping up and down and shaking his booty to other males out of sight. They had moved! Sneaky.
We went on to Glen Tanar and took a short walk from the car park where we saw Mistle Thrush and two Tree Pipit. A􏰃er a hearty breakfast in Aboyne, we drove on to Dinnet and took a good look at the River Dee. Several Common Sandpiper flew up and down the river, as did Grey Wagtail, and a Goldcrest 􏰂nkled his song as he fed in clear view.
We took a long drive up to Glenshee Ski Centre. Unfortunately, the hill tops were shrouded by low cloud and the chairli􏰃 wasn’t working, ruining any chance we might have of seeing any Ptarmigan. A􏰃er a coffee and ‘fine piece’, we set about trying to find Ring Ouzel around the ski centre, normally a good spot for them, but drew a blank. So we journeyed down Glen Clunie, where we could see plenty of Red Grouse holding territory. We were able to hear a male Ring Ouzel delivering his monotonous song from the hillside, but despite our best efforts, could not pick out his song perch. We did see a Kestrel patrolling the hill tops, however. To finish off the day, we looked for Dipper in the middle of Braemar from the bridge and hit the jackpot. Two birds were feeding ac􏰂vely in the river below us and disappearing into a crevice on the rocky riverbank. Two minutes later, and they had disappeared to feed out of sight, reminding us how much luck plays a part in finding birds.
Accommoda􏰂on is increasingly difficult to find now in upper Deeside for a single night, and our group was fractured in two, one group staying in glamping accom- moda􏰂on in a beau􏰂ful loca􏰂on, which was character building!
Sunday morning a􏰃er breakfast, we travelled up to the Linn of Dee on the Mar Lodge Estate near Braemar and took a pleasant walk towards Derry Lodge. Two of the group managed to see a first year Golden Eagle flying low up the valley. We managed to hear what for everyone was our first Cuckoo of the year. Eventually, we managed to see two par􏰂es of Sco􏰁sh-ish Crossbills, one of which was feeding
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