A work visit to Edinburgh on Monday 13th September provided an opportunity to head further north to the new pad of the clan Carroll. Andy and Caroline have decided to join to landed lairds and take residence in their new country estate. And very lovely it is too.
I took the train from Edinburgh to Dyce (nw of Aberdeen), where Mr C collected me. Carolyn was away so we settled in for an evening of beer and oven-warmed ready meals. It's been way too long and it was excellent to catch up.
The next day we were out at the crack of ten for some birding around Andy's superb local area. Before that breakfast in the garden in the company of Crossbills was lovely.
We visited Strathbeg RSPB, Rattray Head and the coast at Inverallochy. Whilst not exactly a bird-fest (we weren't trying very hard) the highlights were way better than an average day in Cheshire: Marsh Harrier, 2 Greenshank and 2 Ruff and 5 Pink-footed Geese (autumn is here) at the RSPB reserve and a pair of the locally breeding Common Cranes on the roadside were the highlights, along with a Merlin that dashed across the road.
The potential up here is superb. An under watched part of the country where rarities must be regular. Great to see Andy enthused by his local birding and something to aspire too.
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| Common Cranes are gradually recolonising Scotland (and parts of England). There are apparently 5 pairs in this area now. Wonderful birds. |
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