Breakfast!!

Early start this morning to be first in the queue to the Highland Wildlife Park... again!! :-)

We had to do the main reserve guided tour so wanted to get there early to sign up as we missed out yesterday!

With 45 minutes to spare before our tour we took a walk over to the Northern Lynx enclosure.  Unlike yesterday they were much more active and I managed to snap this guy tackling an enrichment toy that he had found in his enclosure this morning.  It looks like some meat inside a tube that he needs to figure out how to get into.  The reasoning behind enrichment activities like these is to make the animals to work for their food, to use their brains to figure it and therefore decrease the chance of the animals showing bored or stressed behaviour.  this guy certainly spent a bit of time trying to figure out how to get the food out!!

We left Aviemore today and made our way towards Perth and Kirk's parents for a visit.  We stopped off at Pitlochry for our usual game of putting and a visit to Hetties Tearoom, home to the most amazing range of home blended teas!!  If you ever happen to find yourself in Pitlochry do take the time to go and have some tea here!! - and in case you wondered, I won the putting!! ;-)

My extras tonight are some additional pictures from the Wildlife Park.

First another picture of the Northern Lynx giving me his very best cat stare. 

Next we have a newly fledged Swallow, you can tell this by the bright yellow inside the beak, and the fact that the mouth is still very wide, this makes it easier for mum and dad to stuff more insects in there!! ;-) Despite having fledged, probably a couple of days ago (he was quite a confident flyer), he will still call to be fed, though the parents appeared to be ignoring him!!

Next is a picture of Eurasian Elk.  This female had 2 sets of twins! One set born last year and another this year.  They were well hidden in the long grass but was just able to snap this shot of mum having a look around.

Finally, a picture of the male Bukhara Deer at the park.  Not a word of a lie, this fella was lying down fast asleep when we first stopped, but as soon as he heard our cameras shooting he lifted his head and started posing for the camera!!!

It's been a great trip and we've had a wonderful time.  Sadly it's nearly over and we only have tomorrow before we head home to Glasgow on Saturday.  On our last day of adventure we're hoping to see the Weeping Poppies which are currently touring Scotland and in Perth at the moment and then driving to Dundee to participate in the Oor Wullie Trail!! :-)

Thanks for all the kind comments over the past few days I've enjoyed doing this!! I can't guarantee that I'll be a regular blipper unless I'm away like this but I'll try to post something every now and again!!  If not the next trip is back to Mull in September for the Mull Mod!