Photographing Nethy regions

Natural Highs and Lows is on holiday.

I know!

All vaccined up and laterally flow tested; masked and maintaining as much social distancing as possible; excited at the thought of two weeks of wildlife watching, but nervous about being amongst other folk once more.

Despite umpteen announcements over the tannoy, the ferry trip to mainland Scotland was a nightmare, stuck on a ship midst unmasked covidiots with little concept of personal space. Ugh.

However, several hours later, calm was restored upon checking in to a small self catering cottage in the Nethybridge area of the Cairngorms, complete with a garden which was really just an extension of the surrounding countryside. Bliss.

And breathe.

Four-spotted Chaser, at a pond in Nethybridge 

Cardinal Beetle, in garden of cottage

Goosander on the River Nethy

Northern Damselflies mating, at a pond in Nethybridge

Longhorn Beetle on window of cottage

Treecreeper in garden of cottage

Red Squirrel in garden of cottage

Long-tailed Tit fledglings near Nethybridge

All knees and elbows, a beetle near Nethybridge

A view of the Cairngorms

Emerging White-faced Darter on a pool near Garten

Large Red Damselfly at a pool near Garten

White-faced Darter ready to make his maiden flight

Bogbean at Uath Lochans

Uath Lochans

Four-spotted Chaser at Uath Lochans

Northern Emerald dragonfly at Uath Lochans

Northern Emerald dragonfly at Uath Lochans

Siskin at Insh Marshes

River Tromie

Ospreys near Aviemore

Badger in garden of cottage

Red Squirrel in garden of cottage

The Badger turned up several nights in a row at around 1am. So, on the following night, this naturally necessitated staying up late to see it in person, rather than just relying on a trail camera.

Toad at Craigellachie

A male Redstart at Rothiemurchus

Loch Gamhna

Next week is a different cottage in a different part of the Highlands with, apparently, very different weather.