After a week of guest guiding and speaking, it was time for the real work to begin - School of Birding, Class Four! Another great group, and another wonderfully busy, bird-, learning- and fun-filled week, with a great many highlights along the way.
November is one of - if not the - best time to enjoy the cream of Highland birding - the raptors are busy looking for food, and - as with other local specialities (Crested Tit, Black Grouse, Crossbills, etc) are often easier to find outside of the breeding season, the winter visitors from further afield have arrived (seaducks, divers, grebes, waders, geese....), and the days are still long enough to cram in lots of quality birding time.
Varied weather is always a feature of birding in the Highlands, and this week was no different; we had the full range of conditions, but with our adaptable schedule, we always make the most of daylight hours, whether on the coast, in the forests, up in the hills or down the glens. We were blessed with (if you like that sort of thing, which we do!) a couple of proper snowfalls, resulting in spectacular scenes and memorable birding experiences.
For the first time on our Schools, we had a Snow Day (with all major and minor routes blocked), which resulted in us spending some quality time in Anagach woods, the lovely Caledonian Pine forest right behind the hotel; as it turned out, an absolutely wonderful session, with huge numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares roving through the snow-covered trees, Dippers on the river, and our best, prolonged views of Crested Tit of the week.
Redwing
Red-breasted Merganser and Kittiwakes on the coast
More Kittiwakes, and Eiders on the coast
Golden (above) and White-tailed (below) Eagles - the photos don't do the views justice, but group views always take priority over the camera!
Cresties in Anagach
Fieldfare (above) and Redwing (below) - many thousands enjoyed!
A beautiful, sunny, snowy day here in the #Highlands, with a focus on the forests for our School of Birding team - extended sessions with Crested Tits and Crossbills among the many highlights
— Mark the Birder (@markthebirder.bsky.social) November 20, 2024 at 4:32 PM
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A Robin hoping for Christmas Card stardom
Treecreeper
Redwing
Red-breasted Merganser and Kittiwakes on the coast
A few of the Greater Scaup close inshore off Jemimaville, Black Isle for our School of Birding group today - the last day of Class Four, and of last day guiding in 24 for me (of 81 days this year!)
— Mark the Birder (@markthebirder.bsky.social) November 23, 2024 at 5:28 PM
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More Kittiwakes, and Eiders on the coast
Golden (above) and White-tailed (below) Eagles - the photos don't do the views justice, but group views always take priority over the camera! 
Cresties in Anagach
Fieldfare (above) and Redwing (below) - many thousands enjoyed!
