Cairngorms
In the summer of 2022 I visited the Cairngorms in Scotland, A couple of things on the wish list were to visit the RSPB site at Loch Garten to see some Crested Tits, hopefully see an Osprey and get some shots of the lochs….I am pleased to say all were accomplished!
I stayed in a glamping pod at Badaguish which is only 5 minutes away from Loch Morlich. Unfortunately the 3 days we were here were mainly rainy and misty apart from the day we went to Loch Garten. I tried in vain to get some shots of Loch Morlich on the first day, sheltering under an umbrella and wiping my lens between every shot to wipe away the rain drops. It was atmospheric but I would not settle for these images and had to try again later with the hope of a sunset image.
Back at Loch Morlich for sunset and with some gaps appearing in the clouds I was semi confident a shot would materialise, however the rain moved back in and once again I was unsatisfied. Maybe tomorrow morning for sunrise?
An early start to arrive before sunrise and finally, I could see the sky! I could see the sun trying to beam through the clouds and as the light rose it lit the mountains in the background nicely. I didn’t get a colourful sunrise but to have some light to play with on the 3rd attempt was fantastic!
The scenes here at loch Morlich are stunning, this particular shore on the north side has a sailing club and these rocks which make great foreground subjects. The east shore even has a beach and water sports activities and is the main tourist area, I felt the photography would be best here with the rocks.
After 3 attempts at Loch Morlich, next up was Loch Garten and the RSPB reserve there. The main aim being Crested Tits and fingers crossed for an Osprey! We arrived before the reserve itself opened and were welcomed by a totally calm and mirror like Loch Garten. After a few shots of the loch itself we headed out onto the first trail, an amble through the woods.
On this first trail we had a glimpse of a Red Squirrel, a woodpecker and our first distant views of Crested Tits! The woodland had been well managed by the RSPB, leaving dead trees in place to become habitats for various critters and creatures and thinning parts of woodland to allow more light to hit the ground - this allows more plants and mosses to grow and in turn increases the biodiversity and creates a really healthy ecosystem.
We headed back to the start and the RSPB visitor centre which had now opened, from here another trail leads up to the Loch Garten Nature Centre which during the summer has views looking out towards an active Osprey nest. There is also a live camera feed on that nest being broadcast onto screens inside the centre. RSPB staff are also on hand telling people about the birds and showing previous footage. They also had a live camera on a Goshawk nest somewhere in the Abernethy forest nearby.
Outside the nature centre there were lots of bird feeders dotted around, there were loads of small birds flitting around and coming into the feeders including Chaffinch, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Woodpeckers and eventually, the rare Crested Tit! These birds are only found in this area of Scotland, confined to ancient Caledonian pine forests and Scots pine plantations.
Whilst in the Cairngorms we also visited Insh Marshes and Loch Insh where more Ospreys were seen! unfortunately the weather was terrible and photography was a waste of time but it was absolutely amazing to see the Ospreys - wonderful birds of prey! From here we were heading south to our next stop at Argaty near Stirling for a pre booked slot in a Red Squirrel hide and to witness the Red Kites feeding as this was a major site in the reintroduction of Red Kites into Scotland….Another blog on that coming soon!