Swans Nesting

For some years now mute swans have nested amongst the rushes on the small island in Birnie Loch and it looks as if they are going to do the same again this year.

Normally only one pair of swans nest on one stretch of water and the male defends the territory.

There were also a number of black-headed gulls, tufted ducks, pink-footed geese and the ever present mallards.

A pair of tufted ducks.

A pink-footed goose

A Waddling of Ducks

The mallards at Largo Bay are quite shy and tend to swim away if approached, however, in the Lake District they congregate round car parks and picnic spots, indeed anywhere there might be a bit of food going. These above were in the car park at Pooley Bridge on the march for grub.

These four ducks arrived as soon as we sat down at a picnic table on the shores of Ullswater.

These two remained after the other two got bored. Eventually they settled down and fell asleep next to us, seemingly quite happy in our company.

Rather than waddling these ducks were paddling in Ullswater. They were a bit far away for identification, but I think they were tufted ducks.

Loch Faskally

On a day trip to Pitlochry on Tuesday, we walked along the shore of Loch Faskally. There were some snow flurries and still some patchy snow lying on the hills above the loch.

View of Loch Faskally from the boating station

Male tufted duck

There was a large group of mallards which are regularly fed by the boating station, but also a pair of tufted ducks. The male is a smart black and white with a long tuft at the back of the head. The female (pictured below) is dark brown with a shorter tuft.

Female tufted duck

Pitlochry Interlude

Enjoyed a short break in Pitlochry at the excellent Green Park Hotel, which overlooks Loch Faskally. Awoke to a light covering of snow yesterday morning, but it soon turned to rain, which cleared away in the afternoon. Took a short stroll along the shore of the Loch. Groups of mallards at the edge of the water. Spotted two pairs of tufted ducks in the middle of the loch. One of the nature highlights of the trip was seeing a red squirrel running across the road in front of the car between Killiekrankie and Pitlochry. Fortunately we didn't hit it! There are few enough of them as it is. Didn't get the chance to take a photo of it (I was driving at the time!), but came across this carving of a squirrel on a bench in Faskally Woods.
A pheasant seemed to have suicidal tendencies. It darted in front of the car. I stopped to let it cross, expecting it to carry on crossing, but it got half way across the road changed it's mind, ran back again, turned again and finally made it to the other side.