Loch Garten and Loch Mallachie

There is a delightful short walk near Boat of Garten that links Loch Garten and the smaller Loch Mallachie going through mature Scot's pine and birch woods.

 The above four photos are all of Loch Garten and the two below are of Loch Mallachie.

A giant ant heap beside the path near Loch Mallachie.

Some Speyside Birds

At RSPB Loch Garten the best views of the osprey nest, eggs and adult birds  are from the webcams at the visitor centre. The above photo shows the osprey nest. Can just see the head of the adult bird in the middle of the nest.

A siskin on one of the feeders at the centre. Looks like it contains black sunflower seeds.

Great spotted woodpecker on another feeder.

A heron taken from the Heron Trail, Milton Loch at Boat of Garten.

Spot the treecreeper in these last two pictures, taken on the Speyside Way  between Aberlour and Craigellachie.

Red Squirrels at Loch Garten

Have seen red squirrels before on several occasions but they were either too far away or too quick for a photograph. However, on holiday in Speyside last week, at RSPB Loch Garten which we were visiting to see the ospreys, it was a bonus to see red squirrels on the peanut feeder.

Lucky enough to snap two red squirrels!

At Ballindalloch Castle a red squirrel is a blur as it dashes across the path.