A few new bird photos of general interest are shown here - all taken in the Speyside region this Spring. The Ospreys are all well into the rearing of offspring, with the Loch Garten Ospreys having two small chicks which are rapidly getting larger. The birds shown here are Green Sandpiper, Crossbill, Osprey and Long Tailed Duck (male).

Snow Buntings at the Cairngorm funicular base (car park) mid March - very approachable in heavy snow conditions. Note the ringed bird.

The latest photos of interest here in Strathspey (all 2011) are shown in the accompanying photo group.

Winter has arrived early for everyone in the UK, and with a vengeance for most. Here in Speyside, just north of the Cairngorms, we have have had a heavy fall of snow at the end of November, and numerous additions since. Temperatures have been below freezing for some weeks, with lows in the region of -16C, and -5 to -10 C the most common during the days.
The adjacent photos show something of the scenes in my village of Boat of Garten, although there is now more snow lying everywhere, with massive piles around the roads due to the snow plough efforts. The roads are largely navigable with extreme care.

Winter has arrived early in Strathspey – 15 inches or more snow having fallen over the weekend. Movement is heavily reduced with thick rutted snow still on the main roads. The birds are struggling and have become very tame in the garden. The photo shows a few more interesting sightings from my kitchen window. There are up to 50 Chaffinches, 10 Greenfinches, 6 Coal Tits, 5 Blackbirds, 4 Great Tits, 2 Robins and Goldfinches on view most of the time. In addition there are occasional Jackdaws, Rooks, Collared Doves, House Sparrows, Siskins, Great Spotted Woodpeckers (3), Yellow Hammers, Starlings visiting, and one brief Goldcrest visitor. The Fieldfares and Redwings have been and gone.

More Autumn colours

Autumn in the Strathspey Forests