Walking in

The first day of the Cairngorms trip. Simon, Bill and Matt have stopped early in the walk up Glen Feshie to look at a bird, the first mistle thrush of the trip. At least I didn't have to get left behind to take this photo, it's generally the blipper's lot to be trailing in the wake of the rest of the party. It was about a 6 mile walk to the pinewood campsite that Simon had pinpointed on Google Earth before we set off. Matt and I did get left behind as we stopped for photo opportunites (carrying a heavy rucksack is not conducive to getting level horizons, I found). A Tarzan call when we arrived elicited a wolf whistle in return which enabled us to home in on where Simon and Bill were establishing themselves next to the river.

On the way up we stopped at the Hamilton services. The lake here is always good for water birds to add to the trip list. I saw my first great crested grebes of the year (109 on the year list). Later at the Ince Marshes, we saw a number of Whooper swans (110).

Northern England and south and central Scotland were hazy, but the air cleared as went further north. This was to be the beginning of an unparalleled spell of clear, warm weather - totally against geographic and seasonal trends.

This is the last of the four backblips.