Ardersier in February

My folks moved to Ardersier many moons ago, I had no idea what an Ardersier was until I visited way back in 1989!!!!! I took a trip on my m’bike, from Lee-on-the-Solent and what a trip that was, loved it. Anyway, Ardersier is a coastal village not far from Inverness with a shoreline walk of just over a mile to Fort George out on the headland; that headland is across the water from Chanonry Point, where visitors flock to for the dolphin watching however there is much more wildlife to be seen on both sides of the water.

There’s only my mum up there now so we try to visit more regularly these days and by more staid vehicular means, I don’t think my old brain could cope with a fast bike these days, that and the driving skills out there!

Anyway, if you’re ever up that way, take a day over there, it can be fabulous for walking, birds and wildlife in general.

We were up over the last few days and I’ve now discovered how long it can take to catch up here if you’ve been offline for a few days!

I must also add that Ardersier and the area seems to have its own micro-climate, my mum is usually out gardening in shorts when “the weather” says it’s pishin’ down in Scotland, these last few days were bright and bonnie but freezing! I got my walks in but was well wrapped up!

I often park up near the Fort to allow a good walk around it, red flags permitting (it’s an MoD firing range!) Then walk the shore and onto the ranges if possible.

These were all February 13th.

I’d spotted a mixed flock of waders along the shoreline from way back but, as I got closer, I started grabbing shots and trying to ID them all.

Mixed waders – **Oystercatcher**, **Godwit**, **Knot** and **Turnstone**, I think.

There’s always a pair of Hooded x Carrion Crows here, I’ve been seeing them for a few years now and I did see a pair of Hoodies last year but not since.

There are also always lots of Curlew on the shore.

There are usually lots of sea ducks around as well although many stay well clear of the shoreline.

I use the Bird Track app as I walk and record everything I ID and often enter unidentified sightings as well. I shared a photo here of a Diver I captured last visit.

(Isn’t Oystercatcher a pain to type correctly?)

I walk along a grass bank just above the shoreline and try to be inconspicuous so as not to scare the waders away

**Oystercatcher**, **Godwit** & **Knot**

Of course, they’re always twitchy and gone in a flash, Curlews are one of the worst!

The only one left when they took off, was a wee Turnstone, I find them quite steady and often great to photograph.

I made it round to the point without losing any extremities, the sun was out and starting to warm me up, a fraction.

There were small groups of Long-tailed Ducks just offshore, near enough to get some reasonable shots of.

I could see a few rafts of them way out in the main channel but too far to be worth trying to get shots of.

There are also lots of Eider up here and sometimes a LOT!

There weren’t quite as many Eider around today but this is a great place to catch them flying by, in the right conditions of course.

I spotted a cute female Long-tail looking like she was just about to have a doze.

I went round the back of the fort but the tide was coming in so I wouldn’t be going right round, just checking for anything along the back shore.

I spotted four birds skimming the water heading towards me but three veered away …

Oystercatchers, I think they make for fabulous in-flight shots I’m just never that great at tracking birds flying by but I keep practicing

Then I got lucky!

A male Red-breasted Merganser shot by and I managed to get a decent shot.

I was making my way back towards the car park when I spotted a gull, not sure which, floating on the pond. I’d love to find out what this pond was originally for?