Up the Balintore road

The Balintore road is just a road, a U road these days, and it leads up to and past Balintore castle which you could only call a work in progress, see the link for more info. 

The road itself has just been repaired so it's a really nice drive but for the unwary, it's just about single track in many places but, you can follow it right along to Kirriemuir, a lovely wee town for a visit, with a couple of secrets too  (There's a wee cafe there does a fab cheese, bacon and chilli jam panini) 

Anyway, I drive up the road from time to time, weather dependant, there are a good few places great for birding and wildlife in general. I was sorting out RAW images this morning and came across a bundle I'd overlooked so I'll share them here. I really like going back to older shots and editing, don't know why  (no guy shrugs?) 

I was obviously up there in March ...

There's a field with a boggy area with rushes around it and the Lapwings seem to like to nest there.

There are certain birds I always see up there and Pied Wagtails is one of those.

Up in the area around the castle itself is great for birds of prey.

A distant Kestrel cruising by and a Red Kite overhead.

There are Buzzards and Red Kites galore up here sometimes, along with Ravens and the occasional eagle, both frequent the glens.

I often stop here and wander around this wee burn, the castle is along the road and up the steep hill on the right.

It looks like I didn't return until May.

I always stop in a lay-by next to a natural mound of earth in a field next to the road. The mound is covered in Rabbit burrows and the Wheatears nest here in season. 

I've seen and photographed the Wheatear here every year so far, long may it continue. 

This is on the road next to that lay-by, you can just see the castle on the hillside ahead.

Red Kite cruising over the fields, it can be hard work driving up here, it's narrow, windy and there's lots of wildlife activity, I often just stop and wind down a window, or pull into a gateway.

Good to see the Lapwing returning each year although I only saw a few this year 

Aren't they beautiful birds? I've always struggled to get good shots of them, partly because they can be so elusive.

I almost always stop by the bridge where there's a natural space at the junction of lanes / roads and a few cars can park there without causing any blockage, the walk up the hill from there is steep! but I'm never in a hurry anyway, there's woods all around full of bird life and I found Spotted Flycatcher up here last year but not this. 

Looking down the steep hill to the parked car and the glen beyond. 

Balintore castle, a work in progress. The owner is more than happy for us to walk up there for a look around and has been known to invite folk in for a cuppa and impromptu tour. 

I've also met the gamekeeper up here a few times and that can be really useful. These last shots are from June this year so I'm going to break this one up, again, as there are quite a few in June 

Hope you enjoy so far