Loch of Lintrathen - Halloween

The Great Grey Shrike at Backwater Dam was MIA on Thursday morning, I searched the hillsides and the areas around the picnic spot at the west end of the loch. Then it turned up again on Friday, another trip seems likely if the weather behaves.

All of these photos were taken at Lintrathen which didn't have the large numbers of Wigeon, Teal and Geese that hopefully will arrive soon.

Great Crested Grebe juvenile/1st winter on Lintrathen, from the elevated hide, you know, the one with tiny windows which make photography very difficult!

Canada Goose and Mute Swan

It came closer which made me wonder how wild it was

Whooper Swan and Mute Swan for comparison

Whooper Swan

Red Squirrel, the first and only one I've heard vocalising, it made a number of loud calls, either an alarm or warning?

Fortunately it stayed rooted and still as the darkness in the woods required a shutter speed as low as 1/125, not easy to hand hold to get a sharp photo