CHANGABLE WEATHER & WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY

Ptarmigan, Cairngorms

 We're into a very changeable, mixed bag of weather just now in the Cairngorms. Most of the Highlands in the same boat. Cool, showery with just the odd few hours of decent weather tends to be the situation just now. Snow showers still falling on the high Cairngorms and looking to stay that way until next week! By now I am usually writing up my 'end of Winter' blog. Well that will have to wait until we get warmer weather and the snow has melted off the high tops. Winter 2020/2021 is still with us! After last weeks stint of work in Torridon I am back home and out with the big lens capturing our wonderful wildlife.

SATURDAY  15 MAY

MONADHLIATH

A fine morning out with the Mountain Hares. Cloud building up by the afternoon.  It was warmer than usual so made a nice change. Great cloud formations above the beautiful Mountain Hares. 

Looking across to the Cairngorms 

Nice sunny morning 

The hares were running about and fairly active.

Ready to pounce

The Cairngorms a nice backdrop

Wheatear

Plenty of beautiful Wheatear around but the Golden Plover seemed to have moved away with the recent cold conditions.

Dark clouds over Ben Macdui

The Meadow Pipit, often dismissed, always beautiful

Devils Matchstick

Nice to see the leaves out on the trees. Just a week ago it was mainly leafless on the birches. 

Trees in leaf, must be Spring?

SUNDAY 16 MAY

MONADHLIATH 

A similar day to yesterday! But warmer! Hardly any wind and a definite Spring like day. I was only wearing a couple of light fleeces. First time this year I was crawling on the ground in the dry mosses and grasses with the hares and no need for waterproofs! I spent over half an hour getting close up with this wonderful guy. By early afternoon the shower clouds moved in and there was hail falling to 600m.

Lovely light on this wee fella

Sunny Morning 

Cairngorms 

Good to capture the hares wile the sun shone.

Heavy showers of hail in the afternoon 

TUESDAY 18 MAY

CAIRNGORMS 

Wildlife photography day, in particular we were out wanting to capture Ptarmigan. Jake was keen to see and photograph our wonderful Ptarmigan. Going with a small company like myself I aim to be flexible with weather. Today looked like the best weather day of the week, despite a very changeable outlook. The morning turned out to be brilliant. We had some excellent sunny spells and just the odd, brief snow/hail showers.

Bynack Mor & Strath Nethy

Beinn Mheadhoin 

I've been observing a couple of pairs of Ptarmigan in a lovely spot away from crowded paths and corries since last year. So we headed there and quickly spotted a couple of male Ptarmigan who were having a right old ding-dong with each other. No doubt all territorial related.

2 male Ptarmigan having a bit of a doo

Snow shower

Sitting in the sun

Peaceful 

In the afternoon we wandered up higher and over toward Cairn Gorm summit. I was hoping to see the Dotterel but none seen today. I think the huge snowfields, snowfalls and cold weather may well be deterring these delightful wader birds from settling down on the high tops just now. No doubt they'll be here soon as it warms up a bit and more bare ground for these migratory ground nesting birds.

Big snowfields around near Cairn Gorm 

Skiers above Ciste Mhearad 

Another snow shower 

More showers and frequent into mid afternoon. A great day out. It was nice not to have any breeze on the tops too. You can hear a lot more going on. We also spotted Skylark, Meadow Pipit and down near the Coire Cas carpark the Ring Ouzel were singing beautifully above the racket of the building work going on. The Cairngorm Funicular repair work as begun.

The 'path' up Cairn Gorm 

Beautiful Trailing Azaelia 

Northern Corries