A fantastic day birdwatching in Speyside

Posted byMichael CookPosted in1. Scotland & UK, HighlandsTags:, , , , , , ,
Ring Ouzel bird in Speyside grass with nesting material in its beak.

This week 3 of us got up for a 6am departure and headed up the road for a spot of birdwatching in Speyside.

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1 The heart of birdwatching in Speyside
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Our first stop of the day was at Kincraig where you get good views of an Osprey nest from the church graveyard.

  • Osprey perched in its large stick nest against a clear blue sky.
    Osprey on nest
  • Osprey nest atop a tree, with an osprey visible in the nest.
  • Osprey in a nest of sticks and moss against a bright blue sky.

Whilst we were there we heard a few smaller things about, bullfinch, willow warblers and newly arrived from its migration Spotted Flycatcher.

  • Spotted flycatcher perched atop a leafy branch against a clear blue Speyside sky.
    Spotted Flycatcher
  • Speyside bird perched on a leafy branch against a clear blue sky.

Heading back towards the village we stopped at the long pontoon bridge. Whilst checking out a distant Grey Heron we also picked up Lapwing, Barn Swallows and Sand Martins flying about and two distant Canada Geese.

  • Great blue heron standing in calm water, reflection visible. Speyside wildlife.
    Grey Heron
  • Black camera strap with comfortable shoulder pad and logo. Camera accessory.

It was then that we noticed a female Goldeneye being followed by first one then six chicks in a small group.

  • Female goldeneye duck swimming in dark water
    Female Goldeneye
  • Female goldeneye duck with duckling swimming in water.
    with chick
  • Female Goldeneye duck with duckling swimming in a Speyside river.
  • Black camera strap with comfortable shoulder pad and logo. Camera accessory.
  • Black camera strap with comfortable shoulder pad and logo. Camera accessory.
  • Black camera strap with comfortable shoulder pad and logo. Camera accessory.

The heart of birdwatching in Speyside

Next stop we moved up the road to the south side of Aviemore to visit the Craigellachie reserve. This is a mature birch woodland and we were hoping for Wood Warbler and Pied Flycatcher. We dipped on the Wood Warbler but after a few minutes we were sucessful in finding a pair of Pied Flycatchers who were making regular trips to one of the nest boxes which have so supported their recent increase in numbers and breeding success.

  • European Pied Flycatcher perched on a branch. Birdwatching in Speyside.
    Pied Flycatcher
  • Speyside bird: A male European pied flycatcher perches on a wooden birdhouse.
  • Eastern Phoebe at a birdhouse in Speyside.

This ended up being one of my birds of the day but we were soon surrounded by a small flock of Tree Creeper perhaps as many as 7-8. I have never experienced Tree Creeper in a group like this and it was amazing to see and hear them all about. A real highlight of our day birdwatching in Speyside.

  • Black camera strap with comfortable shoulder pad and logo. Camera accessory.
    Tree Creeper
  • Speyside bird: A Eurasian treecreeper clings to a mossy tree trunk in lush green grass.
  • Speyside Treecreeper clinging to textured bark, foraging for food.
  • Eurasian treecreeper clinging to a mossy tree trunk in Speyside.
  • Camouflaged treecreeper bird clinging to lichen-covered bark in Speyside.
    note the camouflage – who wants to be seen from behind?
  • Small bird on a mossy branch, possibly in Speyside, with insect in beak.

Our last bird in this location was a family of at least three Kestrel who appeared to be nesting on the cliffs above the wood.

  • Kestrel in flight against a clear blue Speyside sky.
    Kestrel
  • Hawk soars against a clear blue sky.
  • Hawk soaring high in a clear blue sky, likely hunting in Speyside.
  • Hawk perched on a tree branch in Speyside, Scotland. Camouflaged bird of prey.

We then drove to another location which I wont share due to the Schedule 1 status of this bird. Here we had very distant views from the roadside of breeding plumage Slavonian Grebe. I trust you can tell from the poor quality photo which was at the full 500mm of my lens that we kept a respectful (and more importantly disturbance free) distance.

Two little grebes swimming in a Speyside loch, surrounded by lily pads and reflections.

Next we drove through Carbridge and turned west to Dalnahaitnach Glen. This is a location where I have seen both species of Eagle before and I was hoping to repeat this experience. We did have brief and close views of an Osprey but had to settle for this and three Redpoll and some displaying Lapwing.

  • Small bird perched on a branch against a clear blue Speyside sky.
    Redpoll
  • Lapwing in flight against a clear blue sky in Speyside.
    Lapwing

I did get brief views of an Eagle (probably Golden) before it disappeared behind a hill. Communication confusion meant I wasn’t able to communicate its location to my fellow birders.

Next we headed to another location hoping to get scope views of Black-Throated Diver. On the way we passed a large Common Gull colony.

  • Seagull perched on a wooden post against a clear blue sky.
    Common Gull
  • Speyside: Three seagulls standing in a grassy, brown field.

We dipped on the Diver but did have good and sustained views of a Cuckoo – perched and in flight. The Cuckoo activity has been quite poor in my area so far this year so I was pleased to catchup with them here.

  • Cuckoo in flight over Speyside trees.
    Cuckoo
  • Cuckoo in flight against a backdrop of birch trees on a Speyside day.
  • Cuckoo in flight against a backdrop of Speyside trees and blue sky.
  • Cuckoo bird perched in a tree, Speyside nature.
  • Cuckoo bird perched in a lush green tree against a clear blue sky.
  • Cuckoo in flight against a bright blue sky.
  • Cuckoo in flight against a clear blue sky, near Speyside.
  • Cuckoo in flight against a clear blue sky. Speyside birdwatching.

A last site of the day was the Cairngorm Ski Area where we wanted to see Ring Ouzel and if possible Snow Bunting. With the fantastically warm weather we have been having it was no surprise that the Snow Bunting were too high for the 30 minute walk we had in mind. We were also having no luck with the Ring Ouzel and pronounced those ominous words “we will just give it five more minutes and then head back” and sure enough two Ring Ouzel appeared. Our first views were distant but before long we were able to stand under one of the ski lift buildings and get the closest views I have ever had of this charismatic bird as it collected food for its young. Another highlight of birdwatching in Speyside.

  • Ring Ouzel in Speyside grass with insect in beak.
    Ring Ouzel (male)
  • Speyside blog image: Ring Ouzel bird with nesting material in its beak, standing in grassy field.
  • Ring Ouzel in Speyside grass, foraging for food.
  • Ring Ouzel bird in Speyside grass. Black bird with white chest band.

As we walked back down the 4×4 track we kept seeing the Ouzel fly to an area and from the track we managed to make out the next and even saw the parent feeding the young. We didn’t leave the track so as not to distress the birds.

  • Bird feeding chicks in nest, Speyside habitat.
    Ring Ouzel nest
  • Blackbird feeding chicks in a Speyside nest hidden in the brush.
  • Speyside bird with white neck patch near its nest in grassy terrain.
  • Ring Ouzel bird taking flight from its nest nestled in Speyside foliage.

Heading down the hill we saw a few more Meadow Pipits and Willow Warbler our last birds of the day birdwatching in Speyside.

  • Two birds perched on a Speyside pine tree.
    Willow Wabler (left) Meadow Pipit (top)
  • Speyside bird: A small warbler perched on a pine branch in Speyside, Scotland.
    Willow Warbler
  • Skylark perched on a Speyside pine tree branch
    Meadow Pipit

We did miss a few hoped for birds but all in all it was great to spend some time in some lovely habitat and catch up with some highland birds before heading home. We really enjoyed our day birdwatching in Speyside.

I am available for guided days birdwatching in Speyside. Check out my guiding page and do get in touch.

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Black bird in flight, "Wild Scot" text. Scottish Wildlife Photos.

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Published by Michael Cook

Wildlife Photographer based in Scotland

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