Our friends from Roy Bridge near Fort William, came and stayed overnight with us at Nairn Lochloy Holiday Park in the caravan. They brought their bikes with them, so we decided to head for Buckie Loch, a beautiful spot towards the far end of the Culbin Forest.
The weather was overcast and cool, but ideal for a long cycle ride. As usual we headed off through the East Beach car park and past the Minister's Pool. Once on the Forest tracks we stuck close to the shore stopping off at point 20 for a look out over the tidal mudflats. There are lots of posts sticking out of the mud which apparently were to stop enemy gliders from landing during the Second World War!
We then stopped again at point 18 and looked out over the mudflats. There was a nice flock of Shelduck as well as about 20 Ringed Plovers. Overhead a gaggle of Pink Footed Geese flew over, and the babbling of the Curlews was another sign that Spring is on the way.
The track moves inland a bit for the next few kilometeres and the forest becomes much more open with lots of older Caledonian Pines. The forest floor is a carpet of lichens which almost looks artificial. The air must be very pure!! There is also more birdlife with Coal Tits, Siskins and Goldcrests all calling. However the highlight of the day was to be the Scottish Crossbills that were giving us great views sitting in the tops of the Pines. The males looked magnificent with their reddy/orange plumage and huge bills. They were in full song. There was even a female Scottish Crossbill sitting on her nest. A first for all of us!!
We arrived at Buckie Loch just as the sun started to poke through. It is a truly beautiful spot with views out towards the Black Isle and beyond to the Dornoch Firth. A huge oil rig was moored near Cromarty at the north end of the Black Isle and no doubt waiting to be serviced at Invergordon. There was a small flock of Common Scoter on the sea with a larger flock of Red Breasted Merganser. There were also a few Eider and six Red Throated Divers! Further out there was a solitary Fulmar, a few early Gannets and lots of Guillemots. A lone Cormorant flew over as we sat down in a sheltered hollow behind the Gorse bushes for a splendid picnic.
Lunch over and we decided to head back to the caravan. We retraced our steps and got back just after 3.00pm. It is probably a 20 mile round trip but well worth it. Take plenty of water and a picnic!
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