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Summer Bunting

Summer Bunting


Postby weedavie » Fri Aug 02, 2019 11:09 am

Munros included on this walk: Beinn Bhrotain, Monadh Mòr

Date walked: 22/05/2019

Time taken: 6.5 hours

Distance: 19 km

Ascent: 1100m

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A bit late with this but I noticed someone had posted a snow bunting on Ben Nevis on the Wildlife forum. This was a frankly miserable walk and none the worse for that. I'd been in the area for three days. Before I left home, this day had the best forecast. I never checked again. First two days I was on Corbetts and looking from Culardoch at Ben Avon, I was getting a feeling I might have been better off up there and tomorrow might not be so good.

Came the day, it started raining as I left Mar Lodge. The only point it stopped was a while on Monadh Mor when it turned to hail. I have to say I was pleased with my Altberg boots - one held out for 5 hours and the other for 6. The cloud base was about 900 metres but everything was saturated.
pic 1 590.jpg

However I met a snow bunting on the summit of Monadh Mor. I've previously met one in summer on Braeriach, there's that one on Ben Nevis and a couple of weeks later I met this one on Ben Macdui.
pic 2 590.jpg

Now as far as I know, only 100 pairs are supposed to remain in Scotland over summer. What's with them and Munro bagging?

On the way down I visited Carn Cloich-mhuillin. I like this top and, as this site's introduction to the Munros points out, Sir Hugh was saving it for his last. This is one that should still be a Munro out of respect. The 1997 revision included some outrageous promotions, notably the nearby Sgor an Lochain Uaine. In terms of remoteness and historical significance this is more deserving.
pic 3 590.jpg

The cycle back to White Bridge depends on fine nerve and a steady hand to take the drainage ditches. I had neither so frankly it was a bit of a nightmare.

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weedavie
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Re: Summer Bunting

Postby Graeme D » Fri Aug 02, 2019 11:27 am

weedavie wrote:This was a frankly miserable walk and none the worse for that.


Wonderful sentiment when walking in Scotland in the months of summer! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Graeme D
 
Posts: 3995
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Location: Perth

Re: Summer Bunting

Postby Phil the Hill » Fri Aug 02, 2019 1:00 pm

I did pretty much the same route in reverse from Chest of Dee on 28 May, in a brief break in the wet weather. There were several snow buntings on the summit of Beinn Bhrotain, though I only managed one shot from distance. Yours is much better than I got.
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Phil the Hill
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Re: Summer Bunting

Postby Sunset tripper » Fri Aug 02, 2019 1:23 pm

I'm no expert but I'm convinced the number given (60 pairs I read somewhere) of resident snow buntings is way to low. I have seen them in the Cairngorms several times in summer. On Ben Nevis a couple of weeks ago there was a big amount close together around the horse trough - I reckon around 30. Last year on Ben Nevis they were plentiful flying around the summit at the edge of the north face.
Great to watch and really friendly. I have seen many on my last few visits to the ben.

You did well to get out in these conditions. All the best :D
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