[thesalebirder]

Hello All,
Myself and 3 pals are having a quick 3 day birding trip to NE Scotland based just below Banff. We are planning to range up to 75 miles per day and are looking for Crested Tits Crossbills Capercaille and as many raptors we can get our hands on !!
Any ideas on likeley spots gratefully received.
John

[samleg43]

hi john
i haven't been birding as far as banff but culbin forest near nairn had good flocks of crossbills when we were ther earlier on in the year. we actually went to see crested tits but didn't find any. the only place i found them after a year and half of looking in countless woods was when we visited glenmore on the road to the ski slopes outside aviemore. there is a campsite with a cafe next door not the posh visitor centre opposite. they have a lot of feeders infront of the windows and crested tits visit them along with red sqirrel. very civilised way to birdwatch sitting with a coffee. can't help with capercaille as i'm still looking.
goodluck. sam

[Joseph N]

Hi there,

I really reccomend you take a trip to the Loch of Strathbeg a few miles of south of Fraserbrugh. The birdlife there is just fantastic,and its records of rarities are good too, so you maybe lucky enough to be there when something rare is around! As for raptors, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Hen Harrier can all occur here. Not just that, but you may be lucky to see 'Ralf' a juvenile White-tailed Eagle which was part of a handful of birds that were released in Fife a few years a go. Seeing that Banff and Fraserbrugh aren't far from each other, I think this would definitely be a good place to go! If you want more information, just ask (or on the other hand someone may give you more information).

Cheers,

Joseph

[Henry B]

Also Troop Head would be near hand. good luck.

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Crested tit easier in winter especially on feeders at Loch Garten or Boat of Garten. Culbin also has good numbers and you could score some goodies in Findhorn bay too - twite, snow bunting, long tailed duck all easy.
Capercaillie try Anagach or Forest Lodge, also good for crossers. The crossers can roam though so up to date info prob better.
Raptors best normally in Findhorn valley.

[Farnboro John]

Originally Posted by Marcus Conway - ebirder

Crested tit easier in winter especially on feeders at Loch Garten or Boat of Garten. Culbin also has good numbers and you could score some goodies in Findhorn bay too - twite, snow bunting, long tailed duck all easy.
Capercaillie try Anagach or Forest Lodge, also good for crossers. The crossers can roam though so up to date info prob better.
Raptors best normally in Findhorn valley.

Marcus,

Wasn't it you who had the monster cat chasing Rabbits at the edge of Culbin at the start of the year (or late last year?) Something else to look out for.....

John

[Marcus Conway - ebirder]

Originally Posted by Farnboro John

Marcus,

Wasn't it you who had the monster cat chasing Rabbits at the edge of Culbin at the start of the year (or late last year?) Something else to look out for.....

John

Yes John. Camera in hand at dawn (which is only 8AM in winter ) I sat watching a big pussy cat chase a rabbit at about 300 yards across the small inlet out the mouth of Findhorn. Didn't really dawn on me at all what I was watching. I have since reported it and understand they appear occasionally along the clearings and edges at Culbin. It's 9 miles long and in my experience a place where you can easily get off the beaten track.

Just don't tell anyone else about it

[Farnboro John]

Originally Posted by Marcus Conway - ebirder

Yes John. Camera in hand at dawn (which is only 8AM in winter ) I sat watching a big pussy cat chase a rabbit at about 300 yards across the small inlet out the mouth of Findhorn. Didn't really dawn on me at all what I was watching. I have since reported it and understand they appear occasionally along the clearings and edges at Culbin. It's 9 miles long and in my experience a place where you can easily get off the beaten track.

Just don't tell anyone else about it

Roger that!

I might have to think about what to do at Xmas/New Year....

BTW, did you remember to press the tit?

John

[thesalebirder]

Thanks all,
we are just back and aprt from the weather it was fantastic. Apart from follwing the sites with Kens great website we came across Glen Muick near Glen Tanar, 15 minutes into the glen and we had 6 black grouse and a pair of Golden Eagles being mobbed by Ravens, ...hell of a day!