Long tailed tits.

This year we have had regular visits by a swarm of long tailed tits at the nut feeders. Although we are used to watching the other varieties of tits, great tit, blue tit and coal tit, enjoying the menu on the bird table and feeders, we have not had the pleasure of seeing these small creatures before. They fly about in gangs and in winter they roost in these groups in the woods nearby, huddling together on the branches for warmth. They are about 13cms long which includes a tail of 8cms long which is distinctively black and white. Their plumage is black and white and dappled with a delicate shade of pink on their chest, top of the wings and at the base of their body where their long tail begins. Somewhere in the surrounding Farigaig Forest are their intricate oval shaped domed nests waiting for the eggs to be laid in late March to early May. Maybe this year we will be fortunate enough to see their young for the first time ever.

Frosty view down Loch Ness.

On the way back from Inverness we never tire of the first sighting of Loch Ness from Dores end. Snow covers the tops of the mountains and a sprinkling of frost lies on the grass but the sheep just keep munching away. Cold at night with odd flurries of snow during the day but nothing too harsh at the moment.

Overnight snow

After a wet and windy week the temperature dropped below zero at night and the rain turned to snow. Woke up to a beautiful picture postcard of the mountains opposite covered in pure white snow. Had a slight flurry of snow at lower levels but it did not lay. Went for a walk breathing in the lovely crisp clean air and crunching on the frosty path. Great.

Pine martens in the Loch Ness area

It is not unusual to see Pine martens in the area around Loch Ness and they are often seen during the day, especially in the Spring and Summer months when the daylight hours are longest. We have been lucky enough to see them in Farigaig Forest and near to the cottage.

White water on Loch Ness

Strong but warm westerly winds blew up the Great Glen producing lots of white water on the surface of Loch Ness.
Not the day to go out in a boat but still wonderful to watch and enjoy the waves crashing onto the beach.

Somewhere over the rainbow.......

A mixed selection of weather patterns this week. We did not have the high winds here on New Years Eve which caused Hogmanay festivities to be cancelled further south in Glasgow and Edinburgh and the borders due to safety factors. The temperature has been very mild for this time of the year and nearly in double figures with warm westerly winds blowing up the Great Glen towards Inverness. Today it is quite calm and, even though it was not actually raining, the moisture in the air was enough to produce this beautiful rainbow.

Great spotted woodpecker

Put up some new larger and sturdier nut feeders under the bird table which attracted a variety of birdlife during the day. Always exciting to have the Great spotted woodpecker pay us a visit and he stayed for quite a while. See him in action.