Cairngorms ridgeline in September

September 5, 2023 · Cairngorms National Park, Scotland · Cold drizzle early, clearing to haze, 48°F · Fujifilm X-T5, 150-600mm

Flew into Edinburgh and drove up the night before. Started from the Cairngorm base at 7 a.m. in a drizzle that turned into a steady clearing wind. Red Grouse were everywhere in the heather on the way up and I found a small family of Rock Ptarmigan on the plateau at about 3500 feet. Golden Eagles are in the area but I didn’t get lucky — one distant silhouette that was probably one, unconfirmable.

The light in Scotland in September is low and flat even at midday. I liked the feel of it against the heather. No complaints about the weather.

Red grouse in heather — Calling from the heather. Maybe two meters away. Red Grouse 450mm, 1/1000s, f/6.3, ISO 640

Another red grouse, head only — Same family group, different bird. Red Grouse 250mm, 1/1000s, f/6.3, ISO 200

Ptarmigan beginning the molt to white — Already some white on the belly. Good find. Rock Ptarmigan 400mm, 1/2000s, f/7.1, ISO 1000

Ptarmigan walking across moss — Held still long enough for two frames. Rock Ptarmigan 350mm, 1/1250s, f/8, ISO 800

Mountain hare browsing on heather — Summer coat, big ears. Mountain Hare 400mm, 1/2000s, f/8, ISO 800

Red deer stag on the skyline — Stag on the skyline at maybe 400 meters. Red Deer, distant 300mm, 1/800s, f/8, ISO 800

Meadow pipit on a fence post — The pipit of the plateau. Meadow Pipit 400mm, 1/1000s, f/8, ISO 1000

Close view of blooming heather — Some of it still in decent color. Heather in bloom 150mm, 1/800s, f/5.6, ISO 400

Wide plateau view under haze — On the way back down. Cairngorm plateau view 23mm, 1/125s, f/5.6, ISO 200

Raven calling from a rock — Raven pair harassing something I couldn't see. Raven 500mm, 1/1250s, f/6.3, ISO 400

Northern wheatear on exposed rock — Last of the year for me, probably. Wheatear 250mm, 1/1000s, f/6.3, ISO 640