The hammer came down at £900 when this painting of Ballochbuie, near Balmoral, by King Charles came up for auction at a sale held earlier this month by Gloucestershire firm Dominic Winter. This seems a respectable price given that it is not the original but one of 20 prints. The scene was painted in April, 2002, long before Charles became King. Might it have been enhanced if it had included a passing raptor such as an Osprey or a Golden Eagle?
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| Stonechat country - moorland on the fringe of Padley Gorge |
Date: May 29, 2025
Time: 10am - 1pm
Weather: Mostly overcast and raining
Target species: Dipper
Star species seen: Pied Flycatcher
Other species seen/ heard:
* Wood pigeon
* Carrion crow
* Pied Wagtail
* Wren
* Nuthatch
* Great Spotted Woodpecker
* Robin
* Tree Pipit
* Stonechat
* Willow Warbler
* Chiffchaff
* Wood Warbler
* Blue Tit
* Great Tit
* Grey Wagtail
* Red Kite
* Cuckoo
* Song Thrush
* Blackbird
* Mistle Thrush
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| Tree Pipit |
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| Wood Warbler |
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| Pied Flycatcher |
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| Study of Spotted Flycatchers from Meyer's Illustrations of British Birds (1835-50) |
The Spotted Flycatcher is readily distinguished from other little birds by its peculiar manners, and, when once pointed out, cannot be again mistaken.
It sits, when on the watch for food, in the outer spray of a tree or, more commonly, on a wall or on the top of the palings of a park, and every now and then descends from its station upon a passing insect, and then regains its former place.
If followed, it flits along before its pursuer, alighting again and again on the wall or palings a little way in advance of him, and often admitting of a very near approach.
It is one of the least shy of our summer birds and builds commonly in gardens in situations similar to those chosen by the redbreast, and on the walls of houses where fruit-trees, or other climbing shrubs, are trained, placing its mossy nest in an angle formed by the branches.
Flycatchers are said to rear but one brood in the year which is very probably the truth as their arrival in England is later than that of most summer migrants.
However, we have known an instance, where the first nest and eggs having been taken away, of a second and a third being placed in the same locality where a brick had been displaced in an old wall.
They are believed, also, to return to the same spot for incubation year after year, provided the locality is a permanent one such as the place just mentioned.
The Spotted Flycatcher, although the most silent of our summer visitors, is not one of the least interesting.
It makes its appearance in England the middle or latter part of May, and young broods are fledged about the middle of the succeeding month.
Three young Flycatchers were brought us, which had been taken from a nest in an adjoining garden.
We placed them in a large cage in which were several other little birds of different species.
Their entrance was immediately hailed with great delight by a Robin, who, with many lively attitudes and gestures, uttered frequently his note of surprise, crackrrrack!
The little Flycatchers, which were still in the plumage of young nestlings, namely, mottled with grey, white, and brown and tailless, mounted themselves on one of the uppermost perches, where they sat quietly side by side.
After they had been some time in the cage, a sudden stir was observed among them, and a bird hastily entered the window near which the cage was placed, alighted upon it, and as hastily retreated.
In the course of a few minutes this was repeated, and it proved to be one of the parent birds whose affection had traced the little ones to their place of imprisonment and who was now supplying them with food.
We were highly delighted at this circumstance as it promised a supply of proper food for the nestlings such as we could not ourselves have provided.
We had now only to take the precaution of having the window constantly open during the day to admit the visits of this interesting little creature who continued, day after day, to supply the young ones with food, notwithstanding the interruptions that might be supposed to be caused by a large family passing continually in and out, as the cage stood in the drawing-room.
Apparently, the task of feeding the nestlings was performed by one alone, probably the female, as only one bird entered the room, while her mate, who accompanied her constantly in her flight, always waited for her outside the window, either upon the roof of the house or on a neighbouring tree.
The young ones usually appeared aware of the approach of the parent, and were on the alert, and eager to receive the expected food, some seconds before the appearance of the bird, although we could perceive no sound that acquainted us of her approach.
As before mentioned, the little nestlings sat upon an upper perch, but were not always near enough to the wires of the cage to be within reach of the parent when she appeared with food, which circumstance afforded an opportunity for a display of sagacity on the part of the Robin before mentioned, which we could not have credited if we had not seen it.
This little creature, who had for some time been an inhabitant of the cage, where he lived in perfect harmony with all his associates, had from the first shown great interest in the little Flycatchers, and now, perceiving that the nestlings could not reach the offered food, but sat with their wings fluttering, and their mouths open, anxious to obtain it, flew to the wires, received the insects from the mother bird, and put them into the open mouths of the nestlings.
This curious action was witnessed by ourselves and several friends, and occurred not once only, but was repeated every succeeding day as often as his services were required.
He seemed as watchful for the return of the parent Flycatcher as the little ones themselves, and always ready to act the part of carrier when necessary, but, when he saw that his assistance was not wanted, he quietly looked on.
The food brought by the Flycatcher consisted generally, as far as we could judge, of honey-bees, living, struggling bees.
Sometimes two or three were brought at once and transferred, still alive and struggling, to the mouths of the little ones by whom they were eagerly swallowed.
On two or three occasions, the Robin was observed, on receiving the bee from the Flycatcher, to pause with it in his beak, as if in a fit of absence, and then to swallow it himself, but, to his honour be it spoken, this was not observed to take place more than two or three times, whereas his transfer of the insect from the parent to the little ones was witnessed hundreds of times.
The young Flycatchers were never seen to make any attempt at feeding themselves, nor did the Robin give them any of his own food, namely, the German paste or worms with which the cage was constantly supplied.
Neither do we remember that the little birds were ever seen to drink from the water fountain.
They usually remained upon a perch, side by side, and at night nestled close together, with the Robin beside them. |
For more than six weeks, the parent Flycatchers continued to attend the little ones, from four or five o’clock in the morning, at which time the window was purposely opened until nearly dark in the evening.
The redbreast also remained unremitting in his attention to them, until the accidental death of one of the little brood induced us to give the two others their liberty, fearing that, if we kept them longer, they would not become sufficiently able to provide for themselves before the period of their migration, and so be left to perish.
It is a question of some curiosity whether the bees with which this little family was fed were really honey-bees, as they appeared to be, and we afterwards regretted that we had not ascertained the fact by intercepting one of them and examining it.
That they were alive and entire there is no doubt, and that they were swallowed also in that state is certain.
Our belief that they were really honey-bees is strengthened by the animosity of cottagers towards this little bird which has universally the credit of visiting their bee stalls and purloining the bees from the door of the hive.
Another corroborating circumstance in favour of their being honey-bees is that Flycatchers abound in places where lime trees are numerous which trees are much visited by those insects as we have observed, in some of the most wooded parts of Surrey where the lime and the Flycatcher are equally abundant.
In Surrey, also, the name of 'Bee-bird' is commonly applied to this species.
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| Above and below, it seems this Flycatcher, photographed in September, has caught not a bee but a wasp |
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| The new book - full of insights about a remarkable birder, artist and writer |
THERE is a very good reason why the paintings of Donald Watson are appreciated by birders - invariably with a sense of wonder and delight.
In his work, the habitat is almost always as important as the bird itself, so you feel you are actually with the artist on the moors or wherever the setting.
Some of the studies represented in Donald Watson - Bird Artist and Writer, compiled and edited by Roger Crofts, illustrate this point.
The views of, for instance, Hen Harriers, Curlew and Dotterel are not close-up, but the birds are vibrant because they are depicted in a landscape - often windswept - which is ever changing according to the levels of light and vagaries of the weather.
In this overview of his life and art, Crofts quotes Watson (1918-2005) thus: "I try to capture the effects of colour and wildlife and landscape.
"Season, weather, a sense of place and atmosphere mean a lot to me
"In my kind of painting, I am happiest relating birds to their environment."
Although born in Cranleigh, Surrey, Watson spent most of his life in Scotland, specifically Galloway, which provided the inspiration for many of his studies, many of them painted while he was high in the hills (and sometimes near the tops of mountains).
Two of the chapters in this enchanting book are by Crofts, but there are others by, for example, Watson's daughter-in-law, Vanessa, and a couple of his birding buddies, Des Thompson and Colin Galbraith.
Between them they provide not so much a celebration of Watson's life but a gentle deeply-felt appreciation of a dedicated family man who also happened to be a brilliant artist, a diligent author of several important books and an effective campaigner for birdlife, especially in places where it has been (and remains) most under threat.
Donald Watson - Bird Artist and Writer is published, with support from the Scottish Ornithologists' Club, by Whittles Publishing at £17.99 in softback.
https://www.whittlespublishing.com/
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| The bird charity has asked a recruitment agency to help fill new appointmenmts |
THE RSPB has pulled its recruitment ads for a highly-paid new position but it is still taking applications.
The vacancy is for a work-from-home Chief People Officer on an annual salary of between £86,059 - £109,346.
But rather than sift through applications itself, the society has engaged the services of an agency, the London-based Diversifying Group.
This describes itself as a "black-owned, female-led diversity and inclusion services business employing a talented intersectional team."
It was previously known as BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) Recruitment.
Despite vigorous attempts to recruit more non-white staff, the RSPB has only achieved 3.7 per cent - partly, perhaps, because those of black, Asian and ethnic minority groups resent the patronising attitude of the bird charity's predominantly white hierarchy.
However, the society aims to turn the corner with this new appointment.
The job description states: "The role requires someone who can lead in implementing equity, diversity and inclusion principles, serve as a positive role model for staff, manage workplace and societal changes and offer fresh ideas for the organisation's people strategy.
"The RSPB is looking for someone with substantive leadership skills, a solid background in HR, and a genuine interest in the charitable sector and environmental causes.
"The ideal candidate will have an understanding of organisational change, be aware of emerging employment legislation and be comfortable navigating workplace challenges.
"The Chief People Officer will act as an innovative, solution-focused leader, capable of motivating the People Team to achieve the best possible outcomes for the organisation.
"The appointee will proactively engage with colleagues across all directorates of the organisation so that they work collaboratively to determine and address current and future people needs.
"The Chief People Officer will ensure that the organisation is working at its optimum structurally with the right people in the right place at the right time with the right skills through a process of workforce planning.
"Diversifying Group is acting an as employment agency advisor to the RSPB on this appointment."
RSPB chief executive Beccy Speight is known to be keen on bolstering the organisation's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives.
She says: "We are implementing the interventions needed to widen opportunities for people of colour to access and have a meaningful say in the future of conservation."
The deadline for applications is Sunday May 25 at 23:59. all comprehension, especially when it is cutting back on its reserves. The RSPB’ members, its volunteers and probably most of its frontline staff will be flummoxed (and possibly dismayed) by such an appointment - understandably so.
The Wryneck says: Time was when the RSPB’s only focus was on protecting birds, but those days are long gone. Now the greater intent seems to be on creating a lumbering bureaucracy of work-from-home executives, many of them doing jobs which are unlikely to protect a single bird. The society already has a highly paid chief operating officer and an even more highly paid chief executive, plus umpteen other lucratively-remunerated managers. Why the charity feels it necessary to splash out a further £100,000 per annum on a 'Chief People Officer' - plus fees to a recruitment agency - is beyond all comprehension, especially when it is cutting back on its reserves. The RSPB’ members, its volunteers and probably most of its frontline staff will be flummoxed (and possibly dismayed) by such an appointment - understandably so.
Such is the current strength of silver as a hedge against inflation that the pair of Woodcock and the pair of Red Grouse are expected to sell for upwards of £250 when they go under the hammer in two separate lots at an auction to be conducted by John Taylors at their saleroom in Louth, Lincolnshire, this Tuesday May 20.
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| Boston and Skegness MP Richard Tice |
THE deputy leader of Reform UK, Richard Tice, is one of 35 MPs who have signed a petition calling for Swift bricks to be installed in new domestic buildings.
The petition states: This House notes with concern the dramatic decline in the breeding population of swifts whose numbers have dropped by 60 per cent since 1995; recognises that the loss of natural nesting habitat for swifts and other cavity nesting birds has meant that four species of these birds are now on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species; welcomes the fact that Barratt Homes, Vistry and other members of the Home Builders Federation have stated they have no objection to legislation that would require the incorporation into all new domestic buildings of swift bricks, which are universal bricks that would provide nesting habitat for eight species of small bird, and that these would not delay or increase the costs of the Government's house-building plans; and therefore urges the Government to introduce such regulations at the earliest opportunity so as to prevent the extinction of one of our most loved species.
The petition is being sponsored by the following Members:
* Barry Gardiner (Labour)
* Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour)
* Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party)
* Shokat Adam (Independent)
* Simon Opher (Labour)
* Jon Trickett (Labour)
Other signatories to date are:
* Rachel Maskell (Labour)
* Ian Lavery (Labour)
* Ellie Chowns (Green)
* Brian Mathew (Liberal Democrat)
* Tonia Antoniazzi (Labour)
* Cat Smith (Labour)
* Robin Swann (Ulster Unionist)
* Martin Rhodes (Labour)
* Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat)
* Chris Hinchliff (Labour)
* Mary Kelly Foy (Labour)
* Sir Bernard Jenkin (Conservative)
* Richard Tice (Reform UK)
* Graham Stringer (Labour)
* Catherine Fookes (Labour)
* Ben Lake (Plaid Cymru)
* Claire Hannan (Social Democratic & Labour)
* Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat)
* Olivia Blake (Labour)
* Chris Kane (Labour)
* Tom Gordon (Liberal Democrat)
* Martin Wrigley (Liberal Democrat)
* Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat)
* Siân Berry (Green)
* Adrian Ramsay (Green)
* John Whitby (Labour)
*Liz Saville Roberts (Plaid Cymru)
* Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru)
* Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru)
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| Saintly - Chris Packham, Richard Ansett and the portrait |
THERE is a new opportunity to see an unusual portrait depicting celebrity naturalist Chris Packham as a modern-day St Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals.
In photographer-artist Richard Ansett's study, the BBC broadcaster is kneeling in prayer surrounded by such endangered British bird species as Lapwing, Housemartin, Yellow Wagtail, Hawfinch, Turtle Dove, Bittern, Ring Ouzel, Stone Curlew, Yellowhammer and Wood Warbler.
The image was originally commissioned by the Radio Times magazine last year, but now - in illuminated form - is on public display until May 21 in the Fitzrovia Chapel in London.
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| The washing-up liquid is widely used in UK kitchens |
THE new book by Swift campaigner Hannah Bourne-Taylor will not best please multinational consumer goods group Procter and Gamble
In her reflections on the threat to insects and other biodiversity from chemical products, she highlights the wording on the packaging of one of the company's best-known products, Fairy Liquid.
Writes Ms Bourne-Taylor: "In plain sight, it tells anyone who cares out of the 13 million British households who buy 150 million bottles of it a year to stop using it.
"Its own label states that it is 'harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects'."
Continues the author: "Does our government challenge the product-makers?
"Have I been alone in thinking the that politicians will do everything they can do to keep us all fundamentally safe and healthy?
"I felt like I had been sleepwalking through my whole life. I had been naive to the existence of lobby groups."
Nature Needs You - The Fight To Save Our Swifts is published by Elliott and Thompson at £16.99 in hardback.
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| 'Harmful to aquatic life' says the small print |
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| Nature in peril - the controversial new book |
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| Should we be concerned? Foaming water gushes into a canal from a sewage treatment works in Lincolnshire |
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| Spot the Housemartins - The Lady of Shalott (1888) |
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| John Waterhouse (1849-1917) |
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| Above and below: the Housemartins reappear in his study of Ophelia (1889) |
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| The remote cottage with view to Skye (pic: cottagescom) |
FORMER prime minister Boris Johnson came close to losing his life during what should have been a stress-free holiday in a remote location on the north-west coast of Scotland.
Leaving wife Carrie, five-month-old son Wilfred and pet Jack Russell terrier Dilyn on land, he took to a borrowed inflatable kayak and paddled out to sea in a quest to catch sight of seals, White tailed Eagles and Red-throated Divers.
But the offshore wind and outgoing tide took him further and further away from land.
After 500 yards of unsuccessful paddling to get back to shore, he decided to quit the kayak and swim.
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| Boris Johnson is believed to have been paddling in a Kayak loaned to him by a Downing Street staffer who had purchased it for just over £100 from Argos |
It was later reported that he had to be rescued by a security officer, but this was denied by Mr Johnson who insisted that no assistance had been required.
The alarming incident brought an end to a mid-August holiday at Lonbain-by-Applecross that proved less enjoyable than the family had wanted.
One of the reasons the former PM took to the kayak was to get away from the famed Scottish midges - millions of them - that had been nibbling away at him remorselessly from the moment the family arrived.
In addition, their getaway from Downing Street location had been leaked to the media, prompting concerns about safety and security.
The episode is recounted by Mr Johnson in Unleashed, his memoirs about his time at Number 10.
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| The former PM describes the incident in his latest book |
What happened to the kayak?
Possibly it was washed up on the island of Skye, but it was never recovered and may have ended up deep out in the Atlantic.
Did the family ever get a close-up encounter with a White-tailed Eagle? Alas no.
But maybe that was just as well. Given their luck on that holiday, maybe a eagle might snatched their pet dog as prey!
Unleashed is published by HarperCollins.
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| Bedroom at the Scottish hideaway (pic: cottagescom) |
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| Sitting room in the cottage - with a bird book on the coffee table |
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| Carrie Johnson posted this snap, believed to have been taken by one of the security team, on her Instagram account |
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| The Johnsons did not even get a distant glimpse of a White-tailed Eagle |
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| Fingers crossed Pennines Black Grouse fare better this year than last |
RESULTS from an exercise to monitor the breeding outcome of Black Grouse in the North Pennines have proved disappointing.
In spring last year, a team netted and fitted solar-powered tags to seven females, known as Greyhens.
One bird lost her tag and another was found dead by the roadside.
The other five all nested, but only three hatched chicks.
All the broods were lost, two within the first week, and the third at 27 days.
In a press release for the Game &Wildlife Conservation Trust, species recovery officer Holly Appleby writes:
"We think that chick losses were linked to low numbers of insects during the chicks’ first two to three weeks."
She continues: "Over the past winter, a further 17 Greyhens were tagged, and these birds will be monitored through the 2025 breeding season to investigate how brood survival rates relate to insect abundance, plus the height, structure and composition of their sward habitat.
"This information can then be used to help inform grazing regimes to create the desired brood-rearing habitats in rough grasslands on the moorland fringe."
Concludes Holly: "Deployment of these tags and subsequent monitoring would not have been possible without funding from Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme, Farming in Protected Landscapes, and BASC Wildlife Fund.
"And gamekeepers have been fantastic at helping us to locate Greyhens for this study."
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| The small town of Kingussie - as seen from the viewing platform at the RSPB's Insh Marshes reserve |
THE Golden Eagle is extinct in mainland Scotland - and that’s 'official'.
At least it is 'official' based on the latest research from a 27-strong team of frontline Lincolnshire birders who spent the best part of five days scanning every peak and crag in the Cairngorms, the Trossachs, the Grampians and pretty well every other mountain range north of the border - without a single sighting.
Not to fret! Members of the party managed, between them, to connect with White-tailed Eagles, Snow Buntings, Mountain Hare , Red Squirrel, Otters, Crossbills, Redpolls and more.
These species all found their way on to the list for a five-day birding
'safari' set up by the Lincolnshire Bird Club in partnership with Yorkshire-based holiday company Cairngorm Travel.
After an hour-long lunchtime break at Moffat in Dumfries and Galloway on the outward journey, it was destination the Duke of Gordon hotel in Kingussie a few miles from Loch Garten and Aviemore.
This is an excellent hotel which is enjoys a super-deserved reputation for providing comfort and hospitality in the finest Scottish traditions.
The best of the birding was within three miles of the DoG where, early on, there were close-up sightings of Dippers, some singing from the rocks in the fast-flowing Gynack burn that runs alongside the hotel, plus a distant view of a one or possibly two ringtail hen harriers in flight.
Heading on by foot past the ruins of Ruthven Barracks, it was just over two miles to the RSPB's expansive flood plain reserve, Insh Marshes, where the viewing platform provided long views of 16 Whooper Swans and other wetland birds, mostly duck species, plus, occasionally, in the copse below us, parties of Redpolls and Siskins joining with Blue and Coal Tits, plus one or two Robins, Pheasants and Dunnocks.
Red Squirrels were not as conspicuous as on our previous May trips to Kingussie - maybe because most were in hibernation.
But at least one was seen scampering between gardens behind the park at the back of the hotel. Once in the safety of the treetops, it was only too happy to pose.
In subsequent days, there were intermittent sightings of Treecreepers and Goldcrests, and one of the party, who ventured out pre-breakfast when it was still dark, was rewarded with two owl species - Barn and Tawny.
It was not far from the hotel, too, that a couple of White-tailed Eagles were see from afar, while other diurnal raptors included Buzzard (fairly plentiful) and a single Sparrowhawk but, as far as is known, not a single Kestrel, Peregrine nor Red Kite.
A scan-the-skies-quest-for-Golden Eagles also took the party, this time by coach, to Glenmore Forest (where there was no joy in seeing Crested Tits, but at least one was heard a couple times), thence to Loch Morlich where Tufted Ducks, Goosander and Goldeneye all showed well.
Next it was on to Cairngorm Mountain where the birders were treated, at the edge of the car park, to a delightfully obliging group of Snow Buntings - a sighting which eased some of the regret at missing out on another of the target species, Ptarmigan which were all probably laughing to themselves as they hid behind rocks on the highest peaks.
A day later found us in the heart of the Monadhliath mountains at Creag Meagaidh national nature reserve, where, soon after arrival, some of the party were delighted to be greeted by a mixed 30-strong flock of Fieldfares and Redwings feeding not far from the car park in a field.
Accommodated, meanwhile, in an adjacent field were a dozen or so Grey Lag Geese plus a covey of briefly-showing Partridges - thought to be Greys rather than their less timid Red-legged cousins which were seen elsewhere on several other occasions.
Throughout the five-day trip, the weather was warm, often sunny and remarkably spring-like, a happy reminder, perhaps, that days are not far off when Black Grouse will be lekking, Dotterel will be looking for somewhere high up in the mountains to nest and Ospreys will be swooping the lochs for Salmon.
A word, here, for the group, many of whom were meeting for the first time.
There could not have been a friendlier and more engaging party of individuals with a remarkably diverse range of backgrounds - including a former Royal Marine, a retired fire officer, two cereal crop experts, a multi-talented musician/vocalist with the up-and-coming Lincoln folk band Salt of The Earth plus the world's foremost authority on rockabilly music who also happens to be owner of what is believed to be Lincolnshire's largest collection of vintage gramophones.
Also in the party was Heike, from Jutland in Denmark, who, noting the desperation to find Golden Eagles, even valiantly (and wackily) offered to buy a dead rabbit from the local butchers, then strap it to her head as experimental bait.
An important word, too, for Steve - not only a super-skilful and careful coach driver but a wonderfully cheerful companion whose extensive local knowledge enabled him to enrich the holiday through with colourful and amusing commentary across a spectrum of Highland-related subjects.
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| Steve - super-skilful driver and entertaining commentator on local life and customs |
Plaudits in particular for his brilliant evasive action when a seemingly out-of-control low loader trailer hurtled diagonally around a bend on the wrong side of the scenic but narrow A86 road at 60mph or more
Somehow, even at 30pmh. Steve managed to pirouette the coach 180 degrees to avoid the collision. Incredible! Even the great ballet dancer, Dame Margot Fonteyn, would have been in awe.
But back to the birds and the habitats - not least of the latter being the Witch's Hill just outside the edge of Kingussie and a mile way from the hotel.
A few members of the group made a first-day visit here to admire the sunrise and the views over the River Spey to the mountain range beyond. Not only that but to scan for any wildfowl or raptors on or over the marshes.
The hill is reputed either to be where the last ‘witch' in the Badenoch region, including Kingussie, was burned and buried.
It was only online research later that revealed something worrying that we should have known in advance. According to legend, anyone who treads the top of the hill becomes . . . cursed!
Oh dear! That surely explains why Golden Eagles nor Ptarmigan were nowhere to be seen . . .
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| Moffat, stop-off point for lunch on the coach journey up from Lincolnshire, is one of Britain's 'dark sky' towns and attracts stargazers from all over the world |
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| This riverside path on the edge of Moffatt is home to Goldcrests, Treecreepers, Nuthatches and more |
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The Glebe in Moffat is a park and beauty spot with a large population of Mallard, Moorhens and sometimes other waterfowl
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| The Duke of Gordon Hotel - always a warm, friendly and generous welcome |
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| Ruthven Barracks - built by George I's government in the early 1700s as base for quelling Jacobite uprisings |
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| First birds of the morning - Dippers were often conspicuous (and vocal) in the burn running past the hotel |
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| The team study Redpolls and Coal Tits below the viewing platform at RSPB Insh Marshes |
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| Expansive - the huge Insh Marshes floodplain beloved of wetland birds |
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| The Snow Buntings on the edge of the Cairngorm Mountain could not have been more confiding |
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| By contrast, a mountain hare in all its gorgeous white finery presented just a blur as it scampered into the distance |
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Cute - this red squirrel is one of those that live in the gardens of houses behind the Duke of Gordon hotel
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| The Coal Tit is a very common bird in the Highlands - but is it out-competing the far scarcer Crested Tit? |
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| Signpost to the mysterious witch's hill - but what fate awaits those who climb to its summit? |
