12th February

A much, much nicer day with only a couple of light snow showers and plenty of bright, clear sunshine but we kept the cold, sharp breeze, especially during the very infrequent snow showers; I spent most of the day walking up the Findhorn Valley where it was brilliant in the bright sunshine and the thick covering of snow over the hills.   Highlights included good views of a pair of Goshawks halfway up, over a plantation (the female especially was a massive brute of a bird) and a single distant, adult Golden Eagle (thought maybe there would be more in the fine conditions but…).   Other bits of note were scarce but included at least three Dippers, 10+ Buzzards, plenty of Ravens, 5+ Common Crossbills, 2 Mistle Thrushes, plenty of Red Deer on the hills, a little group of Roe Deer and both Brown Hares and Mountain Hares on the tops.

Buzzard

Dipper

Common Crossbill

Red Deer