Snow in September

Yes it's true, we did enjoy a bit of un-seasonal snow in Scotland during September.

During our two week stay in Aviemore we experienced snow during quite a few walks, although admittedly only on the higher peaks. On one particular day I decided to spice things up with some steep climbs. Sam and I set off to climb Pinnacle Gully via the Goat Path and Coire Domhain. The Goat Path climbs up the back wall of Coire an t-Sneachda and as the name implies, it requires four points of contact at times - It also gets your blood pumping. 

Sam just After Climbing up the Goat Path

One I'd Saved For Later

The reason the blog has been a bit quiet of late is that I've recently had a couple of weeks in Scotland.

Over the years I have walked and climbed up to the top of most of the mountains that make up the Cairngorms, but one I hadn't was Beinn Mheadhoin (pronounced Ben Vane - don't ask me why). It always seemed too far due to the obvious obstruction of Loch Avon. Approaching from the north you have to climb up onto the Cairngorm plateau and then descend to the shores of Loch Avon before climbing back up the other side.

Beinn Mheadhoin from the Cairngorm Plateau

Redstart

As a change from gulls, for a few minutes, I headed to Croft Hill this morning hoping to find something good that had over shot the east coast. However, it was fairly quiet with the highlight being a Redstart, which was almost certainly the same bird that Dave Taylor found on Thursday.

Redstart, Croft Hill

In addition to the Redstart, there were a few Blackcaps and a Nuthatch (uncommon winter visitor to the hill) skulking about in the trees and hedges. Overhead there was a light passage of migrants including Meadow Pipits, Song Thrushes and a few Siskins plus I watched a Peregrine hunting in the distance. 

It was a splendid autumn morning with clear blue skies first thing. 

A Long Way From Home

I know that gulls are not everyone's cup of tea, but yesterday I managed to read the ring of one at Shawell A5 lagoons, Leicestershire and I was not expecting it to be quite as exciting as it turned out to be.