Loch Garten Osprey and Feeders Webcam

[jen]

That's fascinating to know Audrey , the pulley system certainly works ... climbing the tree would be out of the question ! for me anyway
Lots of work for Volunteers and other to do at all times of the year . The Goose Roost sounds interesting .

I like the sculpture very much , Scotland is very good at those wooden sculptures around the whole of the country . 
There are a lot at the beach cafe at Rosemarkie , which i'm sure you've seen . There's now one at least down next to the Kessock Village Hall . Those at the Funicular railway check in are fun as well . Lots of wood , lots of trees

Thanks for all the info and the photos , it's good to see the area 
 

[davebutterflyman]

Thanks for all the info Audrey and love that sculpture.

[AnnB]

I love the wooden sculpture, Audrey.

Jen, did you not manage to visit Loch Garten when you were living in Scotland?

[jen]

I didn't manage it Ann , embarrassing to admit . Each time i borrowed the car and made a trip to Aviemore and around , i lost myself whilst trying to find the Loch . I followed road signs but i found the area around there difficult to figure out , there are a few side roads and i kept following the wrong one 

[AnnB]

That's a shame, Jen.

Thank goodness for sat nav, there's no way I could have made it to half the places I've been to otherwise. Not easy to be driving and following a map at the same time.

[earthdragon64]

That's a shame Jen, it can be quite confusing though if you don't know where you are going.  I don't have a sat nav, I don't like the idea of them.  If I'm going anywhere different I tend to look at online maps beforehand and either memorise my route, or print it out point by point and get Bob to navigate from that.  If I'm on my own and haven't memorised the route I'll pull over a couple of times to check my print out if needed.

I always have the appropriate map in the car, as well as a UK road atlas.  I suppose I prefer maps because I use them a lot for planning Ramblers walks etc, but I find if I drive, or walk, a route once then I can remember it and do it again, sometimes years later.

[Pam]

That drainpipe explains a lot! Thanks Audrey

[davebutterflyman]

I love all the areas around Loch Garten, stunning place.

[jen]

Audrey , i followed the signs to Loch Garten but for some reason i found myself , what i'm sure , was way past it because there were no more signs . I can't remember turning back again to check , not sure why .

I'll be up there again , Ann , before too long i'm sure

There was a chance of flying up on the 23rd to the 27th but sadly i've a programme at the Hospital gym ... get these hips and back moving now that i can breath again   then i'll be up the mountains again .. unless the cold air triggered it   

[AnnB]

Audrey, I think I'd rather go without a television/radio than sat nav. At work I cover several counties and there isn't enough time to plan routes in advance before driving to addresses but you do have a point, I'm far less likely to remember the route again if I've relied on sat nav (although over the years I've got to know my way around all the local towns anyway).

Dave, yes it's a wonderful place (how lucky is Audrey to live there).

It makes a lot of sense to do the gym first before heading to the mountains, Jen. I hope you'll get another opportunity to visit soon.

[earthdragon64]

I can see why satnav would be a useful tool then Ann, I've lived here for 25 years and know my way round pretty well and only venture far enough away to need a map now and then. I know the best routes to the ferry terminals having used them a lot over the years. I suppose driving somewhere in Inverness and some of the larger towns is where I'm most likely to get lost as I avoid them as much as possible.

Dave, it is a lovely area, I'm lucky to live here in the middle of some outstanding scenery with a range of all sorts of great wildlife. Aviemore itself is not the prettiest village, but the surrounding are more than makes up for it.

[davebutterflyman]

Busy this afternoon.

[AnnB]

Great capture Dave, a Coal Tit fest!

[jen]

Dave , it seems they're quite common up there , ... wonderful to see

[earthdragon64]

It's been a good year locally for Coal Tits, we saw quite a few at the Osprey Centre the other day.  We counted 13 by the feeders around the camera and 5 on a fallen tree trunk in the car park at the Centre.  

Back towards the main road from the Osprey Centre we stopped off at a pond that's good for Dragonflies (no luck) and in the forest just beside where we parked, someone had put some bird seed out and there were at least 20 Coal Tits feeding there.  There were also Blue, Great, Long-tailed and Crested Tits feeding there as well and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers in a dead tree nearby.

[jen]

A rich area for a wealth of tit's , Audrey ... what a wonderful sight 

[davebutterflyman]

Busy this morning with at least eight Coal Tits about.

Webcam Link

[jen]

Dave 

Great , coal and blue and a chaffinch  at the moment . 6 coal tit's a moment ago . They're certainly enjoying a feast

[davebutterflyman]

Red Squirrel there now.

[jen]

what a super screen shot , Dave ...... it's beautiful coat