Posted by Chris Lloyd on November 30, 2007 at 11:45 AM
Hi All,
I am carrying out abit of research for uk species of various types (birds, mammals etc) and came across Findhorn Valley in Scotland for Mountain Hare in Mike Lane's book. Is this still a productive site for this species as the book was written in 2004?
Thanks for any help offered.
Chris.
Posted by Dave Sewell on November 30, 2007 at 12:05 PM
Chris,
Findhorn Valley is still good for Mountain hares. I've been going there for 20 years on birding trips to Scotland and it's a great place. It's also very good for Golden Eagle (you need to go all the way to the bottom but don't expect to photograph them!) and often Ospreys are fishing the river in late spring/summer. In winter look for Red Deer and Red Grouse as well as Hares on the mountainsides. Birds in winter include Brambling and sometimes Snow Bunting.
To be honest it's just a lovely place to be for wildlife and there will always be something to shoot (and if it's cold there's a Little Chef at Tomatin to retire to.
All best,
Dave
Posted by Chris Lloyd on November 30, 2007 at 12:32 PM
Hi Dave,
Many thanks for that. I expect I'll be heading there in the near future then!
Chris.
Posted by Elliott Neep on November 30, 2007 at 12:37 PM
Chris, fancy doing the trip together. Looking to do mountain hare Feb/Mar with some snow hopefully.
Posted by Colin Leslie on December 1, 2007 at 3:58 PM
A word of caution for all you folks who enjoy a vastly overpriced bacon roll, the little chef at Tomatin is alas no more. The findhorn valley is still good but the road over to Farr is nowhere near as good as it was. There is now a large windfarm on this hill and several access roads seem to have made hare control a lot easier, meaning very few hares about.
I was in Braemar at the weekend, and there were a lot of hare around. Most of them had turned already (maybe due to the snow being down to 500m) and some were obviously in the process of changing. Not sure about photographing them from the car, but most were located only 15 minutes walk uphill.
If you need more info, just give me a shout!
Posted by Elliott Neep on December 4, 2007 at 6:14 AM
Hi Pete. Will get in touch with you in Feb if that's okay?
Discussion
6 repliesI am carrying out abit of research for uk species of various types (birds, mammals etc) and came across Findhorn Valley in Scotland for Mountain Hare in Mike Lane's book. Is this still a productive site for this species as the book was written in 2004?
Thanks for any help offered.
Chris.
Findhorn Valley is still good for Mountain hares. I've been going there for 20 years on birding trips to Scotland and it's a great place. It's also very good for Golden Eagle (you need to go all the way to the bottom but don't expect to photograph them!) and often Ospreys are fishing the river in late spring/summer. In winter look for Red Deer and Red Grouse as well as Hares on the mountainsides. Birds in winter include Brambling and sometimes Snow Bunting.
To be honest it's just a lovely place to be for wildlife and there will always be something to shoot (and if it's cold there's a Little Chef at Tomatin to retire to.
All best,
Dave
Many thanks for that. I expect I'll be heading there in the near future then!
Chris.
Cheers
Colin
If you need more info, just give me a shout!