Lochnagar
26th February 2025
It was a nice day in the Southern Cairngorms, very light winds, almost calm with excellent visibility. A good day to get up onto the summits.
Cooler temperatures have resulted in firm snow, and a light dusting was evident from yesterday. There were also some trace snow flurries during the day. Some isolated patches of windslab persist on North and North-East aspects although these are shallow and avoidable. They are also moderately bonded to the underlying older snow.
Little change is expected tomorrow and this picture will persist with a cooling North-Westerly flow.
Lochnagar. In very different condition to a week ago, but the ground (and turf) was well frozen. There was plenty of ice around on footpaths and the Neve was a joy to climb in Black Spout.
These prints were present all the way up ‘The Black Spout’, a classic grade I gully. Fox maybe? Any suggestions? An unidentified species with mountaineering pedigree.
Looking north towards the main Cairngorms Massif.
At around 1000 metres there were plenty of icy patches.
Looking down the left fork of ‘The Black Spout’.
Not having a current Young Ornithologist Club membership I wasn’t quite sure of the identify of this raptor. My initial feeling was a White Tailed Eagle. My six year old daughter concurred, while my wife suggested a Golden Eagle… A joy to see regardless!
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Darren
27th February 2025 7:53 am
Sea eagle with depth of wing, tail shape. Thanks for the blogs.
scairngormsadmin
27th February 2025 1:50 pm
Thanks Darren.
Mike A
27th February 2025 8:18 am
Snow tracks: Looks more like a rabbit, based on the the over outline of the tracks.
Bird: Golden Eagle: Small head (think pin head), flat leading edge on a broad wide wing.
Probably searching for that rabbit. Easiest way to tell between Sea and Golden eagles is head size. Sea has a big head, Golden is small pin head.
scairngormsadmin
27th February 2025 1:49 pm
Thanks Mike. Looks like most people have said Sea Eagle. I will try and add a bigger image… Rabbit or Mountain Hare maybe? That would make more sense. In any case a very competent one when it comes to negotiating grade I gullies..!
Matthew Hay
27th February 2025 1:33 pm
Definitely a WTE!
scairngormsadmin
27th February 2025 1:47 pm
Thanks Matthew.
Stewart J
28th February 2025 9:25 am
Tracks: mountain hare from the configuration (or mountain Haggis!)