12-19th October 2013, Heights of Brae, Dingwall, Scotland.

The north east of Scotland would not be everyone's choice for a holiday destination at this time of year, but we love it and with a car packed with clothing for all weathers it was northwards that we set the steering wheel on Friday afternoon.

We chose to break the journey at the wonderful http://www.ewich.co.uk/wp/ Ewich House a wonderful bed and breakfast stop but booking is essential.

My early morning walk in the grounds brought me a lovely look at one at one of the resident alpacas nibbling the dewy grass of early morn...

With a hearty breakfast enjoyed we had time in hand for the remaining 150 miles, enough time for stop by the commando memorial for a long distance look at the Nevis range...

The summit of Ben Nevis is central at the top of the photograph.

The journey continued up the Great Glen and by Loch Ness...no monsters visible, and eventually a shopping stop at Inverness for provisions for the week.

A little further north and west through the Muir of Ord and Beauly and then Dingwall, time to get the detailed instructions out now to find the necessary route up to the cottage on the slopes of Ben Wyvis.

Unpacked, dined and outside enjoying the scenery something in the sky made me dash inside for the camera...a beautiful sunset.

The cottage came complete with a knowledgeable owner and when he greeted us by the croft on which the cottage is sited he passed on some local places he could recommend.

Setting out the next morning we were greeted by the wonderful sight of a red kite perched on a post...

We made our way to Rogie Falls, a beautiful place on any day I would think...

A walk in the woods produced a few bird sightings, a notable one being crossbills unfortunately the photographs up into the tops of tall trees were not good!

Weather forecasts disclosed better weather slightly westwards on Monday and we drove the 30 miles or so to Loch Maree. A walk in the Beinn Eighe nature reserve was non too difficult and the sun shone brightly, despite plenty of birdsong all around us the only worthwhile photograph I managed was a robin....

On a leisurely drive back we ventured down Glen Strathconon, three lochs and quiet if narrow road, highly recommended if you are in the area...several stag sightings, just poor light.

The next day was strange...many of our days on holiday we intend to be in one place and end up somewhere else...and not always by misread maps, instinct can be a funny thing!

We started at a bay recommended for bird watching locally, when we got there the paths were invisible in long thorn ridden grass and a check through the binocs disclosed few birds. Back in the car we ventured a little further...

A great buzzard sighting, first on a post then in flight...

A succession of unsigned junctions on quiet back roads later and several more buzzard sightings and we found ourselves in the port of Avoch.

Boat trips were available and a chat with one of the owners disclosed dolphins were still in the area, we booked on a later trip and enjoyed a short sunny walk and some lunch.

Boarding soon later we got sightings of a small group straight away, the difficulties of photographing swiftly moving creatures from a moving and pitching craft were all too evident in my early shots.

I persevered and searched my allotted deck area for bits where I could wedge myself to help holding camera and lens still.

A huge incoming group of geese distracted us momentarily, try counting them if you are short of something to do!

Resuming with the dolphins..

Returning to port a curlew posed nicely, a grand day.

The trip was not dedicated to photography, binoculars and spotting scope got some heavy use as we were treated to sights of dunlin, knott, shelduck, wigeon and many others including a rare slavonian grebe.

Grey dull light became the expected fare, rain thankfully stayed well away!

These common seals were taking a break in the Moray Firth as we passed one day...

Another robin shot...

And another as we drove out to Cromarty...

Some interesting fungi...

Chanonry Point is well known for dolphin sightings close to shore, we had no luck but the starlings and sparrows came close...

Our last day was spent in Glen Strathfarrar, a place of stunning beauty but take care to check opening availability if you wish to visit...car numbers are limited and days of opening are limited too!

This is Loch Monar at the "dead end" of the valley, with time in hand we could now reverse the journey and savour the sights and sounds.

The stags were roaring on the hills and a party of wildlife watchers on tour were fortunate to join us just as I spotted a pair of golden eagles soaring off a mist clad mountain.

Fieldfares had been numerous throughout the valley but nervy and impossible to get near enough, I found a sheltered spot and waited...

A newly arrived whooper swan was less nervous...

And as we neared the exit from the glen....

Truly a glen of tranquillity, magical and more great memories.

Many thanks to all who read and don't forget if you do wish to comment...they come to me first for approval :-))

5/6th October 2013, A couple of local walks

Jobs at home limited the opportunities for walks this week, when time is short I find it best to stick with what I know and with that in mind I got dropped off for a walk back to Silsden from Rombald's Moor. The moor sits neatly between Wharfedale and Airedale and offers good views over both on a good day, plus long distance views of many other areas.

Red grouse must have been the first moorland birds I became aware of, living next to the moor in my early childhood and not too far away nowadays I have grown to love their quirky nature. I can do nothing about the ritual slaughter which begins on the 12th August every year, though I do tend to take a walk just before then to "encourage" as many as possible away from shooting areas!

Being close to them all my life has taught me how to approach quite closely, on days when my fieldcraft is up to scratch, here a female just breaks cover in the heather...

My chosen route included a stretch of dark woodland, not much grows here but this year fungi are very evident...

Out on the open moorland again I managed to stalk quite near to a male red grouse..

The light was quite dull for photography but the walk was enjoyable, I descended towards Ilkley to pick up a good path back towards Silsden. A good decision as it turned out, another male with the winter moult on the lower stomach and legs was standing on top of a prominent rock...

I was just manouvering a little closer when some unwanted intrusion from a couple of crows had the inevitable result...

Resuming my wander I passed through some pasture land, the fungi here were somewhat different...

And to end the days photographs a grand view over Silsden towards Pendle Hill as I descended from the tops...

Sunday saw us with a couple of hours to spare for a walk, with this time frame the wander through Strid Woods at Barden is a firm favourite.

An awareness of life all around us and not just in the sky meant this little fella at least escaped from our footfall!

More fungi, another different sort and this time a tree is their home...

I was on the lookout for dippers, as usual, some mid to long distance sightings but into the sun and not good for photographs. As luck would have it in the darkest and most poorly lit part of the walk we had a really close sighting, I adjusted the camera quickly and tried to keep as still as I could, hand held shots are quite tough with a heavy lens...

Not pin sharp but in the circumstances I was quite pleased with the set, hope you like them too.

In equally murky light we saw some mandarin ducks, the shots of those were not so successful but to show that I do not take myself too seriously...

The walk was as enjoyable as ever...

The coming weekend will see us up in North East Scotland for a week, a wifi connection at our chosen cottage may enable regular updates, fingers crossed.

Many thanks to all who take a look, it is much appreciated...

21-30th September 2013, Still trying but not much to see!

Another difficult spell for my wildlife watching, but lessons learned in the past serve as reminders in difficult times. If you want quick and easy almost guaranteed sightings visit wildlife centres or zoos, if you decide you want to see animals in natural settings be prepared for barren spells and develop an impervious and indefatigable sense of optimism!

A busy time with other things has not helped but I cannot pretend I have not ventured out, walks both in my home valley of Airedale and also nearby Wharfedale have been undertaken and the weather has not been too bad.

Wandering through the fields and by the canal near home I found a lovely chirpy robin...

Taking a break for a coffee in a field edge I saw this rabbit approach quite close to me............

It seems to have been a good year for fungi, I have no idea of the name of this one but I wasn't taking it home as a supper accompaniment!

Mallards are always plentiful around here, most revert to water when I stroll along the canal towpath this one proved to be braver!

It has been a great summer for butterflies, now the main one I see is the speckled wood...

The trees are bearing good fruits, horse chestnuts ripening in the sunshine of the day...

Another day and an outing to Wharfedale for a walk in Strid Woods by the river.

The futility of trying to capture photographs of birds in low murky light as only the feet of this great tit remained motionless for the 1/30th of a second the shutter release took.

Down by the river we settled in at a good place to see dippers, we were not disappointed as one came gradually closer...

A favourite bird but hopes of really close up shots were dashed as two young lads decided to throw stones in the water, not at the birds I hasten to add and they were only enjoying themselves.

I resorted to a new smaller lens for a couple of shots, firstly the gushing Wharfe surging through the Strid...

...and a view up Wharfedale as the trees begin to gain their autumnal hues...

Back to the zoom lens for a grey wagtail and then a pied wagtail...

Another weekend and a similar story, lots to do including being interviewed for some voluntary fund raising for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, RSPB, a charity very close to our hearts...all went well, more on this subject in the future.

Time for a walk on a sunny afternoon and I am by the canal again, the local herons continue to amuse me with their antics...this one had taken to a walltop for a better view of the valley..

The canalside bushes have definitely become autumnal...

And the herons continue to pop up!

A trusting cygnet came in really close to see if I was offering food...I wasn't!

The grouse shooting season has passed its height now and a short walk on a local moor was pleasant enough, finding a sheltered spot in a cool wind I scanned around for grouse...

And then to show its versatility the grouse too took to a walltop for a look round its newly found peaceful habitat...splendid!

Soon the foliage on the trees and bushes will turn the glorious colours of autumn, a special season, as indeed they all are!