After a quiet summer and early autumn, thoughts do go back though to two new ticks with the BB Albatross at Bempton, and the Elegant Tern at Hightown.
A long awaited return north of the border yesterday, with numerous Buzzards through the Southern Uplands and Highlands. Highlight though was a Golden Eagle near Dalwhinnie.
Today, we woke to blue skies and hardly a breath of wind. Twenty five minutes from our cottage in Cawdor (Macbeth quotes welcome) is Culbin Forest. I last visited here 30 years ago and enjoyed close views of Created Tit. They were less co-operative this morning with several calling birds in amongst Coal Tits, Goldcrests and Siskins. Numerous skeins of Pink-footed Geese flew over, their calls echoing around the massive forest.
We walked to Hill 99 - an impressive tower built above the trees with amazing 360 degree views.
As we walked back to the car we finally heard and saw several small groups of Crossbill fly over. Comparing the call with xeno-canto they sounded spot on for Scottish Crossbill. We will hopefully explore some more forests later in the week and look for their chunkier Parrot cousins.
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