Autumn arrives in Scotland

Despite threats of something nasty if I don't finish the bathroom(wet wall nearly finished,new light and switch next),managed to sneak out and find a few geese.Early days yet,think there's about 2000 in this flock on a field on top of the small hill at the back of our village.Also a shot across the Montrose basin,mostly gulls and Shellducks,odd Curlew and even a goose or two.


Just showing off that the sun actually shone for a change.

Really lovely pictures TB. I love the patterns the geese make in flight. Thanks for taking a break from the bathroom!

SM

Don't the commonest(in some places)things look brilliant with a new coat

There's plenty of berries when you've finished with the fat ball..........

A one year old Salmon,known as a Grilse,this is a hen that has been in the river for a few weeks,just turning "Tartan".They do not make good eating,so this was returned happily to spawn next year,first year fish don't successfully breed.

Something has had a nibble at it's tail,probably an otter that found this meal a bit too big.

Lovely photo's TB I never tire of seeing beautiful bird pictures. So glad that Gilse got returned to the river to have a chance to breed, a shame about her tail though but she was obviously meant to live on.
Always nice to see others photo's and share in the joy they have had in capturing them.

littlewid-x-

This afternoon was our first trip out looking for the Red Deer rutt,this is one of my favoutite Glens,quite small compared to some of them


We were a bit early as the females we saw were on their own,the stags were close by,so it's only a matter of days away.

Whilst scanning the hills for deer I spotted these two dots,in the telescope they turned out to be our two resident Golden Eagles.On the way back we we saw one much lower down,but it vanished behind a hill before I could get the camera.
The upper hills are barren now,apart from the Pheasants and a lone Kestrel,there was little else seen.
But the sound of a Stag roaring down the Glen as we left is still ringing in my ears.

That Glen is breath taking TB, how lucky to live so close, just such a wonderful place to go and get some peace and quiet and enjoy the nature all around.
So hoping ypu manage to get some pictures of the stags, whether they be rutting or not, it would be amazing to see them and I hope they follow them on Autmnwatch this year.
I missed the Golden Eagles the first time and had to look again when I read what you had written, you must have a keen eye to spot them, i'm keeping my fingers crossed you may be able to get some closer shots of them.

littlewid-x-

It is a really fabulous place,nearly an hours drive,though not that far in distance,just tiny winding roads.I can't name it on the forum as the Eagles need anonimity,but I've got others in mind that might give me better views that I can name later.
Our next trip is looking for the white animals that are easier to find before the snow settles(yes it has been snowing already).
Bit of a quiz:-
what white animals are we looking for?

Oh thats got me thinking TB I don't blame you for not naming the place, I wouldn't either, these marvelous birds of prey really need protecting so I titally agree with you keeping it quiet, this is an open forum so always best to be cautious.
I'm not surprised it has snowed already, I heard that snow was heading your way last week and it did turn cold. I would imagine the Glens just look spectacular in the snow and I bet you manage to get some stunning views for us to see. You and Mandy live in a wonderful place and it's great that we can share in it with your pictures and accounts of the local wildlife.

littlewid-x-

TB - those are stunning photos. What a fantastic place.

Lai Pai

white animals???

the only ones I can think of are

Hares, weasels/stoat/polecats, do you get ptarmigan up there????

Great photos TB, and it looks a brilliant place to go to see wildlife. It would be brilliant to see the rut when it starts.
White Animals would be the Ptarmigan which changes colour from winter through spring into summer, and Hares? Rabbits which do the same.
I also think its great when other members, reply to posts that have been put on to show their appreciation of the effort made in putting photos, and news of wildlife, onto the Forum
WS

Yep,Ptarmigan are one I've still not seen yet,Mountain or Blue Hare go white,you may recall some rather poor pictures of those last winter.Stoats are the ones that go white from the Weasel family,Ermine is the term they use.You've got me with a white rabbit,the only one of those I heard of was on a record by Jefferson Airplane in the 1960's.

I will confess I do get confused between weasel, ferrets, stoats and polecats and couldnt remember which one went white.

I know that ferrets are the ones that are domesticated as my friend coincidently has a white ferret as a pet

Like your friend PPH, my neighbour had a white ferret, he was male and called Boy, he was such a sweet cuddly ferret and so gentle but he is the only white ferret I have seen before.

Do you get Stoats there as well TB?

littlewid-x-

I was'nt sure if it was a Hare or Rabbit. Your memory's letting you down TB, there was one in Alice through the Looking Glass
WS

Just been informed we had 65,360 Pink Footed Geese in Montrose Basin today,now who counted all of them!!!!!!
Might be worth looking at the SWT webcam during the day,low tide at breakfast time would be a good time.

Thats a lot of PFG TB but I imagine it was quite a spectacle. Don't they count large flocks etc by taking something like a square metre of an area, counting the animals in that area and then multiplying by the whole area :?: Mind you I did see a programme on the TV earlier in the year where two guys wer employed to count fish that came through an estuary or something and they were actually counting them as they swam by.

Will try and check the cam outin the mornings, it would be lovely to see them all.

littlewid-x-

That's funny Doogs, can you imagine? Definitely a cam to check, thanks TB.

Lai Pai

Spent the afternoon up the hills looking for the Red Deer Rutt,can you see them and the Wild Cat under the tree(what do you mean,what tree!),it's just to the left of the Yeti riding by on Shergar.
On a slightly more serious note,mini quiz,do you know what the poles are at the side of the road?
We did actually get out of the clouds and Scotch Mist

Found this fisherman,bit over ambitious,I thought

I'm sure I lost a bigger one than this last week

Nice TB. That was some mist!

Great pics and love the leaping fish, hard to capture.

Will have to think about those poles though

SM

Thought you'h been to the Pub when I read the first bit
Nice mist shot. Are the Poles something to do with sending height signals to aircraft ?.
Great shot of the Grey Heron, and the Salmon ?
Was that a Pub, I'm sure a bigger one got away or True