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Wildlife Breaks in the Scottish Highlands

At least a quarter of the UK’s threatened species live in the Highlands and the North of Scotland.  Thankfully, protected by the modern attitude and awareness to conservation, Nature Reserves and National Parks and Sea-Life Centres, a great many of these animals – including birds and fish – are making a slow but steady recovery. They constitute a vital part of Scotland’s natural heritage.

In this unique part of Scotland, many of the species listed below can be seen in their natural habitat - the Garth Hotel offers the perfect base from which to enjoy the Wildlife in the Cairngorms National Park.

Ospreys

The Osprey was once a familiar and regular summer visitor to Scotland, but this situation changed drastically due to the harmful activities of man.  The Osprey being a fish eating bird, the fishermen became concerned about depleted stocks, both in rivers and lochs. Thankfully, modern conservationist attitudes have led to a healthy increase in breeding and there are now over 100 pairs of Osprey at the Loch Garten Osprey Centre and other sites.

For further information:
RSPB Abernethy Forest Nature Reserve (for The Loch Garten Osprey Centre), Boat of Garten: www.rspb.org.uk/lochgarten Tel: 01479 831476 – Warden Richard Thaxton
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Insh Marshes:
www.rspb.org.uk/inshmarshes Tel: 01540 661518

Ptarmigan

The Ptarmigan is an attractive, plump bird with grouse like brindled feathers. Not much bigger than a grey partridge, it creeps low to the ground, nesting in the heather that is both an important source of cover and food. The male has distinctive red eyebrows – with both male and female being the only British bird to turn white in the winter, only retaining a black tail and eye-patch. A true native of Scotland, the Ptarmigan survives in the wild and rugged mountain areas – mainly the Cairngorms.

For more information:
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds: www.rspb.org.uk
Cairngorms Moorland Project: www.cairngormsmoorlands.co.uk Tel: 01479 870524
Wildlife Scotland UK: http://wildlife.visitscotland.com
Visit Scotland: www.scotlandforvisitors.com/ptarmigan.php

Red Squirrels

The Cairngorms National Park is home to this exquisite creature with its bushy tail and wonderful coloured coat. The Red Squirrel is a native to Britain but is very rare, with over 75% inhabiting small areas of conifer and deciduous woodland in Scotland.  Fussy feeders their diet consists of shoots, buds and seeds of trees – occasionally nuts – and fungi. With the introduction of the grey squirrel and its increasing numbers, sharing the same foods and spreading disease, the red squirrel has become threatened with extinction.

For more information:
The Highland Wildlife Park, Kincraig: www.highlandwildlifepark.org Tel: 01540 651270
Glenlivet Estate Ranger Service, Tomintoul: www.glenlivetestate.co.uk Tel: 01479 870070
Cairngorms Moorland Project: www.cairngormsmoorlands.co.uk Tel: 01479 873535
Highland Red Squirrel Group: www.highlandredsquirrel.co.uk Tel: 01349 860916
Scottish Red Squirrel Survey: www.scottishsquirrelsurvey.co.uk or www.swt.org.uk Mel Tonkin – Co-ordinator: email mtonkin@swt.org.uk

Capercaillie

Extinct in Scotland in the 1700’s, re-introduced in the 1800’s, it is yet again under serious threat.  Of the grouse family, the Capercaillie cock can be as big as a turkey, using a similar fanning of the tail feathers and upward movement of the head when calling and displaying. However, the female is similar to a red grouse. It’s gait is deliberate and seemingly contrived whilst its’ habit is to creep along the ground (it also nests on the ground) or perch in the trees. It has an aggressive nature – attacking rather than defending – and feeds largely on the ample supply of pine needles found in the Caledonian Scots pine forest also juniper and bilberries growing on the ground cover. 

For more information:
The Highland Wildlife Park, Kincraig: www.highlandwildlifepark.org Tel: 01540 651270
Rothiemurchus Visitor Centre, Aviemore: www.rothiemurchus.net Tel: 01479 812345
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds: www.rspb.org.uk Tel: 01540 661518
Cairngorms Moorland Project: www.cairngormsmoorlands.co.uk Tel: 01479 873535

Dolphins in the Moray Firth

Larger than other populations worldwide due to its cold water, the Moray Firth is home to over 100 Bottlenose Dolphins - the most northerly population in the world. One of only two or three known resident populations in the UK these beautiful creatures attract thousands of wildlife tourists a year.

For more information on ‘ Dolphin ‘Watch’ and Sightseeing Trips ‘ contact:
The Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) www.wdcs.org
Friends of the Moray Firth Dolphins: www.loupers.com or tel 01542 833867
Puffin Cruises, Macduff: www.puffincruises.co.uk or tel. 01261 832425

Golden Eagles

The golden eagle is the largest bird of prey in the Scottish Highlands with few resident elsewhere in the UK. A wonderful, imposing ‘brown cloaked’ bird with striking gold toned feathers at the back of its head and neck (and fluffy trousers), it rides the thermals in the manner of a buzzard. Nesting high on rocky ledges but hunting low, the Golden Eagle’s powerful hooked beak and strong talons are more than a match for any prey.

For more information visit
The Royal Society for the Protection of Bird: swww.rspb.org.uk
The Forestry Commission: www.forestry.gov.uk
The Hawk Conservancy Trust: www.hawk-conservancy.org

Red Deer

Powerful and quietly majestic the Red Deer lives at one with nature, in it’s native habitat. A seemingly confident yet vulnerable animal, it carries with it an air of ‘things past’ – a mystery of knowledge that we will never share. It is good to know that, today, this superb animal is generally culled rather than hunted.

For more information:

Highland Wildlife Park, Kincraig: www.highlandwildlifepark.org or tel: 01540 651270
Rothiemurchus, Aviemore: www.rathiemurchus.net or tel: 01479 812345
The Forestry Commission: www.forestry.gov.uk

Pine Martens

The Pine Marten has an endearing pointed face, wearing an intelligent look but is a timid and retiring animal rarely seen. Its decrease in numbers is due largely to the loss of natural habitat, ‘traps’ and hunting for fur. A slim, agile creature, the Pine Marten resembles a cross between a weasel and the domestic cat.

For more information:
The Highland Wildlife Park, Kincraig: www.highlandwildlifepark.org Tel: 01540 651270
Scottish Natural Heritage: www.snh.org.uk
Anagach Woods, Grantown-on-Spey: www.anagachwoods.org.uk Tel: 01479 872273
Explore Abernethy Ranger Service: www.exploreabernethy.com Tel: 01479 821565

Mountain Hares

This magical animal, inhabiting the Scottish Highlands and islands, may be elusive but thankfully it is not an endangered species – only by predators – mainly the fox and golden eagle. Sometimes called the blue hare (brown through to bluish) it’s fur changes to white in the winter, as natural camouflage in the snowy conditions which are its’ natural habitat.

For more information:
Scottish Natural Heritage: www.snh.org.uk 
Cairngorms Moorland Project: www.cairngormsmoorlands.co.uk Tel: 01479 873535
BBC: www.bbc.co.uk/nature

Otters

Otters hunt under water, able to remain submerged for at least 4 minutes at a dive. They enjoy a diet of fish, eels, frogs and toads and some small birds, inhabiting inland marshes, waterways or lochs. Although having declined seriously in the 1900’s, numbers have always remained satisfactory in the Scottish Highlands and islands. Though still a rare sight, with today’s conservation awareness, their future is more secure and it seems that they may be the result of disappearing mink along the riverbanks.

For more information:
RSPB National Nature Reserve – Insh Marshes: www.rspb.org.uk Tel: 01540 661518
Glenlivet Estate Ranger Service: www.glenlivetestate.co.uk Tel: 01479 870070
The Highland Wildlife Park, Kincraig: www.highlandwildlifepark.org Tel: 01540 651270
Rothiemurchus Centre, Aviemore: www.rothiemurchus.net Tel: 01479 812345
BBC: www.bbc.co.uk/nature

 

 

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