MORAY COASTAL TRAIL

 

Gannet Portrait 

It was a beautiful sunny weekend in the East of Scotland. Warm temperatures and a nice breeze to stop things getting too hot. We decided to do some easy walking ( very easy) combined with some fantastic wildlife photography on the Moray coastline. A vastly underrated bit of Scotland. One of the highlights being a visit to Troup Head to see the beautiful Gannets. Here on the cliffs is the Scottish mainland largest Gannet colony. What a glorious sight.

Troup Head 

Troup Head 

What a terrific place to be.

The photos do it no justice. A marvellous sight and sound.

There are also Razorbill, Guillemot and Puffins at Troup head. We didn't see any of the latter though.

Guillemot high rise 

Full house

Snooze time on the cliff

On Sunday we walked along the Moray Coastal Trail, the highlight being Bow Fiddle Rock.

Bow Fiddle Rock

Bow Fiddle Rock 

Plenty of places to find peace and solitude too.

Oystercatchers

Seen it all before

Sea Pinks or Thrift

No Gannets here but lots of other fabulous birds including Oystercatcher, Cormorant, Kittiwake, Guillemots, Razorbill.

Cormorant

Youngsters at the nest

Cormorant & Guillemot

Marsh Orchid

Spey Bay

We finished off our wonderful weekend with a visit to Spey Bay. Dolphins and Osprey!

Common Sandpiper, Spey Bay

Osprey eyeing up his fish

Caught!

Home with supper

The winds have been fairly strong last few days. This morning was a tad better until midday. I headed out to see the Mountain hare at my usual area in the Monadhliath. The cloud rolled in and the winds increased again. It was very hazy, rubbish for photography. July and August are my least favourite months for this reason. Hopefully the Southerly winds will cease. The hares are a bit jumpy ad fidgety at the moment.

Cloudberry

Hazy light

Fidgety

Red Grouse in morning light

Pulling tongues from afar