Highland Wildlife and Birdwatch Safaris, Guided wildlife excursions, Aviemore, Scotland
Highland Wildlife and Birdwatch Safaris, Guided wildlife excursions, Aviemore, Scotland Highland Wildlife and Birdwatch Safaris, Guided wildlife excursions, Aviemore, Scotland

Wednesday, May 31, 2023



May 2023


May 2023  saw us enjoy some very decent spring, and occasionally summery weather in the Cairngorms National Park.    Overall, it was a generally calm, mainly dry month, with plenty of sunshine and no extreme conditions experienced, which was a bit of a relief, as it is always the best, and my busiest month for safaris....


With around 18 hours of usable daylight, and all of our summer visiting birds arrived by mid-month, our local full-day bird species day-lists climbed ever higher, with 50+ species a regular occurrence, and the early starts - when animals are more active - (now 4am or earlier) for the Black Grouse 'leks', also helped us to see up to 7 different mammals in a day too!!


With the 'dawn chorus' still in full swing, the wild flowers in full bloom, and butterflies,  bees and other insects on the wing, a day out in the wilds, visiting a huge variety of habitats, in May in this area really could honestly be described as a 'whirlwind of wildlife'


A few day-trips further afield to various favourite places, including Handa Island, and the Moray Coast,   gave me my annual 'fix' of seabirds ,  including Terns, Skuas, sea ducks and Auks including Puffins, and some decent raptor and sea mammal sightings.


Sunrise at a picturesque local loch


To give you an idea of what you may realistically hope to see if you are considering a future May visit, I hope the following more detailed information, illustrated with photos taken at sites in and around the Cairngorms National Park by myself, my friends or my safari clients this month and in previous May's will help....clicking on the picture enlarges it to full-screen. 




Local speciality/upland bird species seen regularly during the month included:


Black Grouse (at or soon after dawn only), Red Grouse, Osprey, Ring Ouzel, Slavonian Grebe, Red-Throated Diver, Black-Throated Diver,  Goldeneye and Dipper, with a chance of Wood Warbler and Pied Flycatcher...

We also had a couple of half-decent local sightings of Golden Eagle and White-Tailed Eagle - usually sub-adult birds,  though, as is normal for this time of year, they are definitely getting harder to see...

It should  be noted that, due to their very secretive and almost silent nature at nesting time , Crested Tits continue to be extremely difficult to see during their breeding season (April-May), and we usually struggle to see them  until they fledge their young late in the month....and Crossbill sightings, are usually largely restricted to brief fly-over glimpses...

With the snow largely restricted to the mountain tops by May, that's where you have to go to have a chance of seeing Snow BuntingPtarmigan (and from mid-month) Dotterel....please be aware that this would usually take a good part of a day, and a lot of strenuous hill walking to achieve, and would need to be a separate adventure from a 'normal' safari excursion.....

Summer migrant birds continued to flood in throughout the month, with Common Swift, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher , Wood Warbler, Common WhitethroatSedge Warbler, and Whinchat, joining WheatearCommon SandpiperSand MartinHouse Martin,  SwallowWillow WarblerChiffchaff,  Blackcap,  Redstart, and Tree Pipit, to name just a few....



Mammal species seen regularly included:


Rabbit, Brown Hare (mainly very early in the day) , Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Reindeer, and feral Mountain Goat, with just a couple of views of Mountain Hare (now a mottled blue-grey), and we also had one sighting of Sika Deer, and one brief glimpse each of Stoat and Bank Vole....Whilst trips to the coast usually provided both types of Seal.



All photographs of  wildlife, especially Schedule 1 and other protected species were taken at long range with powerful zoom lenses, well away from nest sites,  and no disturbance was caused to any wildlife....



May 2023 bird sightings in more detail:


On the lochs...



A picturesque local loch


A local pair of Ospreys


Osprey with a fish


Osprey making a fish delivery by Ron Mitchell


Our local Ospreys continued to entertain and excite my safari clients, often being voted as 'Bird of the day', though it should be noted that, with the female birds spending much of the month deep in their nests incubating eggs with just their heads visible, and later in the month, brooding young, sightings could be a bit frustrating, as we needed a bit of luck to coincide our visit with the male birds being 'at home' or delivering a fish or more nest-building materials.....though we did also see birds fishing local lochs and rivers on a few occasions, and sometimes we even witness a successful 'plunge-dive'!! always a treat....



Slavonian (Horned) Grebe


Slavonian (Horned) Grebe


Red-Throated Divers


Red-Throated Diver


Black-Throated Diver



Superb Black-Throated Diver close-up (taken from my vehicle!) by Ron Mitchell
 


Slavonian Grebe,  Red-Throated Diver and Black-Throated Diver UK-wise, are only usually found breeding, and in their dapper summer plumage, on suitable secluded lochs in northern Scotland and it's islands, and we are very fortunate to get a handful of nesting pairs locally. Though the Slavonian Grebes can be quite obliging, due to the Divers' general wariness of humans, most of the views we get of them are through a scope at a fair distance, and any decent ripple on the water makes finding them very difficult to find, but on a few occasions, and with a little persistence, we got lucky and obtained a slightly closer look, without risk of disturbing them, and even managed a few rare photo opportunities....



Male Goldeneye


Female Goldeneye with young (photo from May 2020)


The same could be said of our Goldeneye, with this attractive tree-nesting duck (yes, really!!) being a north of Scotland breeding speciality too, and late in the month we often get to see a few females with their ridiculously cute youngsters too... nice!


Goosanders

Goosanders too, are a bit of a northern/upland UK speciality, and we managed  a few decent sightings this month.



Up on the moors....



A local upland heather moorland



Lekking Black Grouse



Lekking Black Grouse (photo taken from a hide in 2015)



An opportunistic shot of a male Black Grouse taken from my vehicle


Black Grouse 'lekking' is surely one of British wildlife's top 10 sights (and sounds), and our local birds  continued to 'perform' throughout the month, with up to 8 cock birds seen fighting it out, though usually not quite as vigorously as in April, except for when female birds were seen 'checking out' the lek,  though with dawn at around 4 am, and the performance only lasting for around 90 minutes on average, it should be noted that a very early start is needed if you want to see them...and please be aware that we have to view from a respectful distance to avoid disturbance........but with a quality spotting scope, this is still a highly recommended and memorable experience, especially as on a few occasions whilst watching the lek, we can have a supporting cast of hunting raptors, displaying Curlew and Snipe and calling Cuckoo, and up to 5 different mammal species including Mountain Hare , all in the first hour and a half of daylight!!


Please note though, that by the end of May the Black Grouse lekking season is usually over, with the birds seemingly losing interest, numbers at the lek decreasing, and them then generally 'disappearing' until the winter....



Male Red Grouse


Male Red Grouse with chick - Photo by Malcolm Fincham from May 2015


Also on our local upland heather moorlands, the much more common and 'birder-friendly' Red Grouse continued to show well, with some cock birds even still displaying and calling whilst defending their territory and nesting female, their guttural 'go bak go bak' calls echoing across the moor, and from mid-month we began to see the hen birds with their newly fledged families of very cute fluffy youngsters...



Still on the moorlands, we occasionally see birds of prey taking advantage of the abundant prey items to be found there, with Kestrel, Buzzard, Red Kite and Golden Eagle all sighted....




In the Caledonian forests...


Ancient Caledonian Forest




Crested Tit by Steve Nicklin - Photo from May 2018


Crested Tit sightings are usually very difficult to obtain in May, with the birds nesting very secretively, rarely visiting feeders, and only occasionally heard singing or calling. To give you an example, one May we spoke to a party of birders who had spent 10 hours one day, walking round several local pine forests without a hint of a sighting...though with a lot of persistence, we can sometimes manage a glimpse, though you really do need to be familiar with their distinctive calls and song...


As I have mentioned previously, it is well worth noting that the colder winter months (October-Feb), when they regularly visit feeding stations,  are actually the best time of year for seeing the 'wee Cresties', as these characterful little birds can be frustratingly secretive, unobtrusive and almost silent during the breeding season, with sightings being much more difficult to obtain between March and September....





Male (top) and female Crossbills




Young Crossbill

Continuing the forest theme,  Crossbills are all too often the cause of much frustration on my safaris, with me regularly hearing their distinctive 'jip' jip' jip' calls overhead, and my safari clients getting just a brief glimpse of the birds flying away, usually never to be seen again! But occasionally they can actually be more obliging, with us getting some good views, sometimes even through the scope, of family parties feeding together on pine cone seeds, giving us the chance to admire the brick-red males, greeny-yellow females and streaky youngsters, Photographic opportunities are usually a rare occurrence though...


As is usual, sadly, we failed to manage  any sightings of Capercaillie this month......


Please note: In order to help protect them and keep sensitive sites 'off the radar', I no longer take clients on specific Capercaillie-hunting missions, and although we do visit suitable areas of forest, I would only rate our chances of seeing one on my safaris as "very slim" at best, and during 'lekking' season, I will be 'responsible'  by staying out of 'sensitive' areas at dawn through April and May to allow this now very rare and elusive bird to (hopefully) lek and breed in peace....


In the birch woods:


A local birch woodland


Male Redstart



Wood Warbler


Male Pied Flycatcher



Although Wood Warbler and Pied Flycatcher are more usually found in the ancient Atlantic oak woods on the west coast of the UK, we are usually fortunate to get a few in our local birch woods from May-August, and with a bit of persistence, and by using our ears to follow their distinctive calls and songs, we managed to get some decent views and even a few photos this month. We also get decent numbers of the slightly more common, but still very attractive Spotted Flycatcher , Tree Pipit, and Common Redstart too...



On the rivers...




The River Spey




Dipper





Dipper


Dippers always prove to be popular with my safari clients, being absent from large parts of the central, eastern and southern UK, many struggle to see them, but we are fortunate to have healthy populations in this area. Most of our sightings recently, were of males collecting and delivering food for the females in the nest, but from mid-month, we got to see the first newly-fledged, pale looking youngsters being fed by both parents.





Up in the glens...



A local upland glen


A distant Peregrine Falcon


Common Buzzard


Golden Eagle  - Photo from May 2016


White-Tailed Eagle - Photo from May 2018


Bird of prey sightings usually become less frequent during the longer days of spring and early summer, with many of the adult female birds now nesting, often with the adult males in close attendance, and many more hours of daylight available for hunting, and that proved to be the case this month. However, we still managed reasonably regular sightings of Osprey , Common Buzzard , Red Kite, Peregrine, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk,  and there is always a chance of GoshawkGolden Eagle and White-Tailed Eagle, and maybe even a Merlin - though I have still yet to see one this year!



Up in the mountains....


Spring in the Cairngorm Mountains


Snow Bunting


Male Dotterel


Female Dotterel


With the Cairngorm Funicular railway up and running, and my Cairngorm Mountain Guide Permit renewed, I was not slow to take advantage of the privilege of being able to  'let the train take the strain' and then exit the 'closed system' and take a walk to the summit and back (sticking to the paths), and I am pleased to report that we managed sightings of 2 out of the 3 target species, with Snow Bunting and Dotterel both being seen well, though sadly, Ptarmigan remained elusive.....

Please be aware though, that several miles of strenuous hill-walking is required, so a good level of physical fitness is needed, and some basic survival/navigation skills preferable, as well as suitably friendly weather, 



Male Ring Ouzel





Male Ring Ouzel


At slightly lower levels, but generally still above 1,500ft/450m,  Ring Ouzels can often be seen in their upland and mountainside habitat, especially early in the day, though when compared to April, they now become a little harder to find, as most will no longer be singing or calling, and sightings are mainly restricted to male birds collecting beakfuls of worms, as the females will presumably mostly be still on nests.....




On farmland....



Typical local farmland


Oystercatcher


Curlew


Lapwing

Lots of waders have now returned to their spring/summer breeding grounds on local farmland, with  OystercatcherLapwing and Curlew all being noted, and some had young by the end of the month...



Other good/scarce birds seen/reported locally this month included:


A couple of Ring-Necked Ducks, a late Brambling, a Long-Eared Owl, a Short-Eared Owl, and a Grasshopper Warbler...



A few photos of more common birds seen locally this month: 


Willow Warbler


Wheatear


Male Blackbird


Song Thrush


Red-Legged Partridge


Yellowhammer



Adventures 'out of area':



The impressive sea cliffs on Handa Island


May, June , July and the first half of August are the only months in which to visit a coastal seabird colony, and the 16th saw us take a very scenic drive up to Assynt on the north-west coast, then on a pre-arranged boat excursions to the SWT's wonderfully remote and beautiful  Handa Island.



Razorbills and Common Guillemots



Puffins



Arctic Skua



Great Skua



Black-Throated Divers were seen on lochans en route, and Twite, Ringed Plovers, Wheatears,  and Common Sandpipers  were seen feeding around Tarbet harbour car park, and even the short ferry crossing gave us super close-up views of Arctic TernsSeals, and Common Guillemot and Black Guillemot,  , and once on the island,  we went on to see more Red-Throated Divers,  SnipeRed Grouse,  WheatearsSkylarksArctic Skuas and Great Skuas nesting on the moors. 

Once at the impressively high (350ft+) cliffs and coastal stacks, we were treated to the unique sights, sounds (and smells!) of a seabird city, with good numbers of  FulmarsKittiwakesRazorbillsGuillemots  and yes, plenty of everybody's favourite - Puffins!


I only visited the Moray coast a couple of times in May,  and we had two really enjoyable and productive days , the highlights being Great Northern Diver, Red-Throated Diver, Black-Throated Diver, Black Guillemot, Common Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake, Fulmar, Gannets , Eider, Shag,  Common Terns, and one Scaup.


The Moray Coast


Dunlin


Ringed Plovers


Male Scaup


Herring Gull by Steve Nicklin


Shags by Steve Nicklin


Kittiwake by Steve Nicklin


Razorbill by Steve Nicklin


Whimbrel by Steve Nicklin



May 2023 mammal sightings in more detail:


Red Squirrel

Red Squirrels can be surprisingly elusive, but a walk or slow drive through Caledonian forest always give you a chance, and we did manage a few 'random' sightings this month, though perhaps unsurprisingly, feeding stations still tend to be a 'hotspot'....



Red Deer


Red Deer stag

Red Deer are most commonly encountered up in the hills and glens, but during late May it is not uncommon to see the hinds (females) assemble in rough fields with long grassy tussocks, in preparation for giving birth soon. Here, the new-born youngsters can be hidden, making them much less likely to fall prey to patrolling Eagles, who tend to stick to higher altitudes.

We also saw several large herds of stags, most 'in velvet', with their new antlers growing rapidly.



Feral Mountain Goats


Feral Mountain Goats too, can often be seen in my favourite upland glens, often in large extended family groups, and always prove to be popular with my safari clients, as, being largely a remnant of the 'crofting' communities, they are not found in many places in the UK...




Mountain Hare by James Ball - Photo from May 2019


Mountain Hare sightings tend to be few and far between in the spring and summer months, and true to form, we only managed a couple of brief glimpses on local upland moorlands.....



Roe Deer

Roe Deer can be encountered just about anywhere, except for the high tops, but being very wary, nervous animals, they are usually quite 'crepuscular' in their behaviour, but we saw plenty whilst out on our early morning adventures...



Brown Hare

Brown Hares too can be a bit elusive away from dawn and dusk, and tend to 'spook' easily, so, as usual,  most of our sightings this month, were during the first couple of hours of daylight..



Carrot time for Murdo

Hairy Highland Coo's always prove to be popular with my safari clients, especially those who do not have them close to home, so don't be afraid to ask me if you fancy going to see them, and maybe even get to feed and 'pat' them,  as I have a couple of great sites....




Rare/nocturnal mammals:


I get a few enquiries about the possibility of seeing  Badgers and  Pine Marten from my safari clients, many of whom I suspect are unaware that they are actually a largely nocturnal creature, and although we do get the occasional (maybe one or two a year) dawn glimpse of one, you would definitely have a much higher chance of seeing them at a specific dusk Badger/Pine Marten watching hide - Please contact me for more information.


Similarly, our inland Otters too are mainly active during the hours of darkness, and again, although we do get a few early-morning sightings on local lochs and rivers each year, looking for them feeding in a suitably quiet, kelp - filled bay on the coast on a rising tide, but at any time of day, would give you a much better chance.


Whilst we are still on the 'tricky to see stuff', the Scottish Wildcat too, as well as being incredibly rare now, is also generally nocturnal, and the fact that I have had a mere handful of  (dawn or dusk) sightings in 17 years of providing wildlife safaris should give you an idea of how difficult they are to see.





Other wildlife:

The sunnier, warmer days saw more species of butterfly join the early flyers, with Red Admiral , Orange Tip, Small White,  and Speckled Wood all noted...there are also lots more Bees around now, taking advantage of the abundance of wild flowers coming into bloom....we also see lots of Bats feasting on insects at dawn/dusk, and in the forests the Wood Ants nests are now becoming more active..... 



Wood Ants nest


Of interest, we also witnessed a large Bat (probably a Noctule) feeding over the River Spey in the middle of the day on the 6th , but before I could grab a photo, it was taken by a male Sparrowhawk!


News:

All tourism/hospitality/activities in Scotland are open , are free of restrictions  and I have now completed well over a year and a half of (thankfully!) increasingly busy and extremely enjoyable safaris with clients with no major issues arising.

With all national travel restrictions lifted too, Scotland is officially 'open for business' for visitors from all over the UK, and from abroad.


For those considering a visit, these wildlife/outdoor tourism websites may prove useful:


https://www.gov.scot/collections/coronavirus-covid


NatureScot (outdooraccess-scotland.scot)


Can Nature Help Health? | Nature Prescriptions - YouTube


Scotland, Yours to Enjoy. Responsibly. - YouTube


Cairngorms National Park Authority


Highland Wildlife Park



Positive prescriptions | The RSPB




The view south from Cairngorm summit


COVID-19

The Scottish Highlands, being very sparsely populated, has had very few COVID-19 cases in comparison to most of the UK, and on my safaris we tend to visit remote , wild habitats well away from the more popular tourist areas, and usually have very little interaction with other people, and this is something that I intend to continue.



Sunrise on a local upland moorland


Summary:

Wow! What a marvelous May that was! It feels like the saying "tired but happy" could have been invented especially for me this month, as it seems to have flashed by in a  whirlwind of pre-3am alarms, spectacular sunrises, picturesque backdrops and memorable wildlife sightings!

After all those early starts, epic adventures and long days, I think it is definitely fair to say that I am feeling a little mentally and physically tired... but also very happy that by being out almost every day,  I definitely feel that we managed to really make the most of my favourite month of the year!


As well as being a very busy month for safaris (a big thank you to all my clients!) in mostly decent weather,  now I have finally had time to sit back and reflect, whilst putting together this report, I reckon that it will definitely rate as one of my most memorable  too... for the sheer enjoyment of being in such a beautiful part of the world, at (in my opinion) the best time of year,  in majestic , incredibly varied, and largely unspoilt scenery, sharing special wildlife sightings with fellow wildlife enthusiasts from around the globe... as far as 'job - satisfaction' goes, I may never be a rich man, but this'll do very nicely for me, thank you!



Reviews:

I know a lot of visitors to this area very wisely check out reviews of attractions/experiences at TripAdvisor before 'taking the plunge' and booking - We now have over 280 reviews online, so if you wish, you can check out our clients comments at the link below....



https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186537-d3335134-Reviews-

Highland_Wildlife_Birdwatch_Safaris-Aviemore_Aviemore_and_the_Cairngorms_Scottish.html




Common Spotted Orchids



Gift Certificates:


Safari gift voucher

If you think you know someone who may enjoy a taste of what I do, why not treat them to a safari gift certificate? They make a thoughtful and imaginative present, are available for any amount and are valid for a whole year from date of purchase........





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