04/05/2025
Today having spent the last two days on the coast we decided to head inland and visit the RSPB's Loch of Kinnordy Reserve. This proved a good idea, with Osprey, Marsh Harrier, and Red Squirrel, found by Margie among the highlights. I also may have seen a Beaver! We'd seen plenty of evidence of beaver activity, but whilst sitting in one of the hides, I heard an almighty splash just outside, stuck my head out to see a large brown hairy body heading into the reeds!! Another guy in the hide said he thought he saw a thin tail, so thought it was an Otter, but wasn't sure and seemed a bit too chubby for an Otter for me, either way an exciting if all to brief episode!!
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| Margie's pic of the reserve beautiful in the sunshine but the wind was still bitingly cold! |
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| Mute Swan flypast |
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| Osprey,were at least two knocking about the whole time we were there, but annoyingly always seemed to be near the hide we weren't in! |
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| A Cracking male Marsh Harrier patrolled the reedbeds but also refused to come close! |
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| First Swifts of the year, large group hawking over the water, with Hirundines |
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| Greylag Goose |
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| Reed Bunting having a sing |
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| Sedge Warbler, several in the reedbed |
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| Signs of Beaver activity Pic by Margie |
At one point driven out of the hide by the ferocious wind that I was bravely ignoring in the hope of a decent Osprey pic, Margie went for a wander, returning a few moments later with claims of a Red Squirrel sighting!!! Her pics below
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| Red Squirrel |
Of course I wasn't jealous at all!!😧 I headed out to get some pics of my own! Obviously it had buggered off !! We waited!! Pleased to see some Tree Sparrows visit the feeding station while we waited for the star turn!
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| I'm not a big fan of Feeder shots, but thought these were quite nice in the dappled light, also the buggers wouldn't pose in the trees! |
Suddenly movement in the canopy, the Squirrel had returned!!
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| Red Squirrel, they are cute!! |
With the reserve pretty much covered we decided to head over to the Backwater Reservoir, a birder we had bumped into on Carnoustie beach had mentioned he'd seen a pair of Black-throated Diver there a few days previous and it wasn't that far! As it turned out we couldn't find the Divers, probs just passing through, but we did manage another Osprey a couple of Red Kites and a friendly Pied Wagtail. The scenery around the Reservoir is pretty spectacular, Margie's pics below
Pretty exposed and windy!!!
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| Several Mistle Thrushes on the Dam |
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| Several Song Thrushes as well, saw loads of Song Thrushes on this trip |
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| Osprey |
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| Pied Wagtail |
We drove around the area stopping at likely spots to scan or examine Rivers for Dippers ending up at Loch of Lintrathen where yet another Osprey put on a show, lots of Hirundines here as well!
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| Goosander |
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| Common Sandpiper |
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| Wheatear, from the car! |
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| Osprey |
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| Sandmartin |
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| Common Gull |
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| Red Kite |
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| Swallow |
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| House Sparrow |
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| Grey Wagtail, with lunch! |
We were flagging a bit now, but on the way back to base we stumbled upon the Reekie-Lin Waterfall so despite our fatigue we decided to explore, good decision great views of a Dipper and spectacular scenery! Bit worried when i thought Margie had fallen in, but she reappeared from behind a tree so all was well!!
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| Me in Action |
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| The resulting pic |
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| Margie admiring the view |
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| Dipper |
We was well and truly shattered by now so headed back to base!! A very enjoyable day!!!
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