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 fledgling...