We went north......

Another great week with Heatherlea - this time a bit of wandering around Strathspey and three days up to Caithness.....  So Cresties, Ducks and Divers with the odd gull thrown in........

Red Grouse almost posed

Teal and Redshank did pose....... although the American Wigeon didn't put in an appearance

Could have spent all morning around Scrabster harbour - nine Great Northern Divers, Black Guillemot, Iceland Gull and a Red-breasted Merganser

Even a Buzzard sat obligingly....

Checking the gulls feeding along the shore line at low tide ....  possible Bonapartes Gull?????

and a brave surfer???

We headed back south across Forsinard, chased by snow showers, finding the original stag party......

Checked out a few more harbours along the way to Inverness

The Long-tailed Ducks at Burghead obviously thought spring was sprung...

and so back to the Cairngorms - looking gorgeous in the sun

Cresties, Coal Tits and a Goldcrest were amongst those enjoying the weather at Loch Garten

and ended the week in a favourite place - Strathdearn

A day up north (well Scarborough!!)

Still overcast and windy but no rain so headed 'up north' today with a visit to Carr Naze at Filey -no sign of the Surf Scoter but did have around 6 Skylarks singing their hearts out whilst watching the lifeboat be towed up the beach - and found a parking space specially for my car!!

Onwards to Scarborough and checked out the Med Gulls at Holbeck.

Next stop was Scalby Mills, plenty of Wigeon but no sign of one wearing a Stetson so headed for excellent fish and chips instead.  Feeling rather full another check but the wigeon had disappeared altogether!!  So a relocation to the harbour was undertaken.  Confiding Turnstones were being bullied by the gulls, but the Black-necked Grebe was found!!!

And to round the day off a distant Razorbill played hide and seek...

Puffins at Play....

The Puffins are not back on the cliffs but one Mrs P wanted to see snow so stayed for the winter - and has been seen wandering around Sewerby Hall near Bridlington helping to promote Bempton Reserve and the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch.    She has been making apple feeders and nature boxes as well as giving everyone big hugs.  Many thought she was a Penguin at first glance so Mrs P ventured into the zoo to show people the difference.  She even attempted to teach them to fly but when that failed settled to playing hide and seek  - and waving at her adoring public....