August 2009 was very changeable weather-wise, with a noticeably autumnal feel towards the end of the month as the days grew shorter and dawn & dusk temperatures began to drop down into single figures.
With most of the migratory birds now departing the area, bird day-lists dropped down into the 50's or 40's but mammal day-lists remained steady at 6-9.
Wildlife highlights included:
Most of the local speciality birds (Red-Throated & Black-Throated Divers, Slavonian Grebe, Osprey, Dipper, Red Grouse, Crested Tit, Crossbill etc) continued to show in the first half of the month, though some of the Summer visitors had vacated the area by the end of the month.
An amazing (& incredibly rare!) close encounter with a female Capercaillie, which, to the delight of my guests!, walked slowly across the road in front of my safari vehicle, stood & posed on the verge for a few seconds, before melting away into the forest - a truly magic moment!
A brief glimpse of a beautiful Kingfisher on the River Spey - a very rare bird in this area.
Watching the young Ospreys coping with being left to fend for themselves after both parent birds departed mid-month.
More sightings of Stoats (sometimes whole families) chasing Rabbits.
Regular sightings of a real local speciality butterfly - the Scotch Argus.
Large numbers of Hirundines (Martins & Swallows) - seen gathering on wires ready for migration South, see pic.
