Day 2 ctd - Dipped on SLAV GREBES but succeeded with DIVERS

As afternoon came around the emphasis turned to GREBES and DIVERS. This part of the country is the centre of the SLAVONIAN GREBE breeding population, however today we had to accept disappointment.
The first place we tried was Avielochan, a lowland loch surrounded by grassland, and exploding with water lilies. There was a brood of GOLDENEYES, the young looked just like winter SLAV GREBES, with red heads and white cheeks. Excitement broke out with a flyover RED-THROATED DIVER, but there was little else around.
Loch Vaa, which was the first nesting site in the area also proved to be fairly barren. There were just around 10 LITTLE GREBES present, with a few juvs.

Loch Vaa

 

There was a RED SQUIRREL on the rocky beach, its blonde tail a feature of the Caledonian race.

Failing on that quest, we went to find some other species. We headed to Dava Moor to look for RED GROUSE. This entailed driving across a vast area of moorland that seemed barren, but were in fact intensively managed for grouse shooting. As a result we saw a few GROUSE, but not as much as was probably present, their crytic camouflage and stillness as a bird kept them hidden.

 

 

Last bird of the day, and undoubtedly the best were a pair of BLACK-THROATED DIVER at Lochnadorb, a large loch in an area of moorland, famous for its castle. The DIVERS spent their time drifting around the loch, and provided some good viewings. This pair were about the most south-easterly pair in the country, the species likes to nest in more remote lochs than this. Alas there were no chicks with them so it looks like a failed nesting attempt by the birds. A downbeat note to a day that got progressivly better as it went on.

One day down, and though things were picking up, I couldn't wait for Mull, and maybe some SEA EAGLES.