January 2008 saw the cold, wintry weather continue, with plenty of snow and low temperatures, and the snowsports centres having their busiest winter for a long time.
Wildlife highlights included:
Great close-up views of Snow Buntings at the Cairngorms Ski car park (see pic) their confiding nature making it quite easy to get some decent pics
Good, extended views of an Otter fishing amongst the kelp at a local coastline, always a wonderful wildlife experience!
A small flock of Waxwings taking advantage of the berry crop in the gardens of a nearby village, their wonderfully colourful plumage lighting up the dull Winter days!
A Ring-Necked Duck & a Wood Duck, both rare birds in these parts, visiting a local loch
A flock of very rare Common Cranes (presumably stopping off for a pit-stop on migration between Africa and Scandinavia?) paying a visit to the nearby Moray Coast, these huge, almost Ostrich-like birds, not surprisingly, drawing a lot of interest from local birders!
One huge mixed finch/bunting flock on local farmland included Reed Buntings, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Bramblings, Yellowhammers and Twites
