September 2022
September 2022 was a generally calm month weather-wise in this area. Early autumn can see our weather dominated by Atlantic lows and the accompanying wind and rain, but that was not the case this year, instead, we enjoyed generally light winds, lots of cloud and early-morning mist , the occasional bit of sun, and just the odd rainy or windy day early and late in the month , meaning it was pretty decent for wildlife-watching.
Temperatures ranged considerably, with 18c reached on a few of the sunnier days, but it is noticeably cooler at dawn and dusk now though, and it actually felt quite chilly on some of the windier days, and the first frosts are surely not too far away...
The days are shortening noticeably now though, with only around 12 hours (7am-7pm) of usable daylight , but by way of consolation, the heather is still a lovely purple in places, many trees are full of colourful berries, and some of the leaves and ferns are now morphing into their attractive autumnal hues.....
With just about all the summer visiting bird species gone by mid-month, and the first of the winter visiting bird species only just arriving in the second half of the month, full-day (6-7 hours) local safari bird lists dropped down to their lowest levels of the year (in the 30's), though this could be upped considerably by a trip to the nearby Moray coast, whilst mammal day lists varied between 3 and 7 species, depending on the time of our start and the number of different habitats visited, with early starts usually proving to be more fruitful...
After 5 busy months of 'peak-season' safaris, I took some time off to chill-out and 're-charge my batteries' this month, so my report will be a little shorter than usual .....
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| An atmospheric autumnal scene in the Cairngorms National Park |
To give you an idea of what you may realistically hope to see if you are considering a future September visit, I hope the following more detailed information, illustrated with photos taken at sites in and around the Cairngorms National Park, and sometimes further afield, by myself, my friends or my safari clients this month and in previous September's will help....clicking on the picture enlarges it to full-screen.
Local speciality/upland bird species seen regularly during the month included:
Sadly, but typically, Black Grouse or Capercaillie were not seen at all this month, though this is not unusual away from late winter/springtime....
Mammal species seen regularly included:
Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Reindeer, Roe Deer, Mountain Goat and Rabbit......with just a couple of glimpses of Brown Hare ..and one of Bank Vole.... it should be noted that Mountain Hares are still really tricky to see in September, but should become a little easier as they begin to morph into their white coats next month....
September 2022 bird sightings in more detail:
Up in the glens...
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| Autumn in a beautiful local upland glen |
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| Low-flying Golden Eagle - Photo from September 2020 |
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| White-Tailed Eagle by Rob Ellett - Photo from September 2020 |
Golden Eagles are more commonly seen on my safaris during the shorter days of late autumn and winter, when they have less hours of daylight in which to hunt, and all of the family are actively flying - it takes several months from hatching before the young can fly competently - but we actually had a reasonable 'strike-rate' on my safaris this month, with a favourite upland glen giving us decent sightings on several occasions, and more importantly lots of my clients a much sought-after 'life-tick' of an iconic Highland speciality....and although we didn't see any White-Tailed Eagles this month, I would expect some sightings of them next month as the Atlantic Salmon should start to spawn in the shallow upper reaches of our rivers soon..
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| Kestrel by Freddie Oxley - Photo from September 2020 |
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| Common Buzzard by Freddie Oxley - Photo from September 2020 |
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| Young Red Kite |
In fact, raptors in general were noticeably more active than in the spring and summer months, with us also regularly seeing Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Common Buzzard and Red Kite , often in family groups, and on the 20th of the month I finally got my long overdue 'year-tick' Merlin!
On the lochs...
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| Autumn at a picturesque local loch |
A few of our local juvenile Ospreys lingered around their now redundant nest sites and local lochs and rivers for the first week of the month, giving us our last chance to admire these attractive and impressive raptors and their fishing skills, though it should be noted that seeing them was a bit 'hit and miss'....and sadly, we won't see them any more now, until they return in the spring. It always amazes me to think that these young birds will attempt to undertake a 5,000 odd mile migration to west Africa alone and unassisted by their parents at the age of just 3 months!!
Goldeneyes were seen regularly though, occasionally in large family groups, .though it should be noted that the males are still in their brown-grey 'eclipse' plumage which is very similar to that of the females and youngsters...so you will have to wait a while to enjoy them in their dapper breeding plumage...
Up on the moors....
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| A local upland heather moorland |
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| Red Grouse family |
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| Female Red Grouse |
Red Grouse were seen regularly on our local upland moors, mostly still in family groups, and they continued to entertain my safari clients with their often very confiding nature (as long as you stay in your vehicle) and 'cackling' calls, and similarly to last year, with seemingly little or no shooting going on in this area this autumn, they were actually easier than usual to see... long may it continue.....
Most of the birds of prey that we see in the glens, can sometimes be seen hunting over the moors too, as well as the occasional more typical moorland raptor species like Merlin, Hen Harrier and Short-Eared Owl.
Although we failed to see any Black Grouse this month, my records for previous years suggest that we may have more chance at dawn in the months to come as the frosts often inspire them to appear...
On the rivers...
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| The River Spey |
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| Dipper |
As is usual at this time of year, Dipper sightings were still a little 'random' this month, as the birds seemed to range wide and far, but later in the month we witnessed some more 'territorial' behaviour (loud singing and aggressive posturing) near to some of their favourite nesting bridges....
We occasionally saw large families of Goosanders on local rivers too, though it should be noted that they are usually very nervous and often fly off when they notice us...
In the forests...
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| A local Caledonian forest |
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| Crested Tit by Freddie Oxley - Photo from September 2020 |
Crested Tit is always high on my safari clients 'wish-lists', with it being a UK rarity and Speyside speciality, and it should be noted that they can be a difficult bird to see in spring and summer, but although they are now mainly to be found in mixed flocks roaming around the Caledonian pine forests, and can be tricky to pick out, it can sometimes be possible to get a few decent views of them at feeding stations, especially soon after first light on the colder mornings in the latter part of the month...and they should become a little more reliable in the coming weeks...
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| Crossbill by Calais Brown |
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| Crossbill taking a drink by Calais Brown |
Still in the forests, despite my best efforts, Crossbills sightings were usually of the rather frustrating 'fly-over' variety, with them only being identified by their characteristic 'jip' 'jip' calls as they flew overhead between different parts of the forests...though on a couple of occasions we got lucky when birds actually perched atop a pine long enough for us to view them through my scope and actually grab a few photos...
Up in the mountains....
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| The Cairngorm Mountains |
Although I did not venture up into the Cairngorms myself this month, a few birders and photographers managed some decent local sightings of Ptarmigan, and a few Snow Buntings were also reported from the upper areas of local mountains too.
Other good/scarce birds seen/reported locally this month included:
A Marsh Harrier, a Mandarin Duck, a Redwing, 2 Ruff, a Nuthatch, a Guillemot 35 miles inland at Loch Garten!, and a few late Chiffchaffs and Whinchats....
A few photos of more common birds seen locally this month:
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| Greylag Geese |
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| Red-Legged Partridges |
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| Young Grey Wagtail |
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| Young Robin |
Adventures 'out of area':
I didn't manage any wildlife-watching trips away from my local patch this month....
September 2022mammal sightings in more detail:
As I mentioned last month, with the summer visiting local speciality birds departing this area, mammals become more of a focus on my safaris, and we were fortunate to see a good variety again this month.
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| Red Squirrel |
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| Red Squirrel by Calais Brown |
Despite stiff competition from 'Murdo', and the Red Deer, (see below), the 'mammal of the day' award was still often won by the cute and ever popular Red Squirrel - with many of my safari clients seeing these very characterful and attractive 'Highland speciality' animals for the first time, usually at feeding stations, but occasionally on walks/drives through forests too...
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| Red Deer hinds |
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| Red Deer stags... the calm before the coming storm.... |
Although there is often little indication of it approaching, the end of September , and the first frosts, usually sees the start of the Red Deer rut, with the previously quite sociable stags beginning to 'check-out' and assemble their 'harems' of 'in season' hinds, sharpen up the tips of their antlers on rocks and trees, and partake in a little light 'sparring' with likely rivals, often accompanied by a tremendous 'roaring', which echoes round the glens... a marvelously atmospheric spectacle, which is sure to increase in intensity next month...
Still up in the glens, our Mountain Hares, though still in their browny-grey summer coats, are about to turn whiter from their feet upwards as autumn progresses, in preparation for the snow to come, though actual sightings of them were not as frequent, or as good as I would have liked... but that is not unusual outside of the winter months..
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| Feral Mountain Goats |
Our local Feral Mountain Goats however, were a little more obliging...with plenty of decent views of large family groups being enjoyed, with many of my safari clients seeing them for the first time...
Brown Hares were seen occasionally, but as usual, most of our sightings were early in the morning, and in poor light, so I didn't manage any decent photos of them this month...
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| Roe Deer doe |
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| Carrot time for Murdo |
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 18 years of providing wildlife safaris should give you an idea of how difficult they are to see.
Other wildlife:
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| Speckled Wood by Kim Reddick |
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| Small Tortoiseshell |
The warmer and calmer days saw us enjoy a last blast of butterfly action for this year, with a nice selection of common species seen...
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| Fly Agaric |
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| September is fungus month |
News:
All tourism/hospitality/activities in Scotland are open , are now free of restrictions and I have now completed well over a year 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
Positive prescriptions | The RSPB
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| Early autumn at RSPB Insh Marshes |
Summary:
Being a bit of an 'in between month', with the summer birds mostly gone, and the winter birds yet to arrive, and a limited number of bird species possible, in all honesty it's probably not the best month for the hard-core birder, photographer or 'twitcher' to visit, but September in the Cairngorms National Park would still appear to have plenty to offer the more casual or beginner nature-watcher or those looking for a less intense or 'taster' Highland wildlife safari experience, with the chance of a migrating 'rarity' turning up, a better likelihood of seeing birds of prey and Crested Tit than in the spring and summer, less tourists around to cause disturbance, and no early starts needed, in arguably, one of the most colourfully scenic months of the year...and I will admit to being pleasantly surprised at how well we did for sightings.
Reviews:
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186537-d3335134-Reviews-
Buying my photos:
Prints of any of the photos (taken by myself) shown on this blog, going right back to 2015, reproduced on high quality photographic paper, with a choice of sizes up to A3, and satin pearl or glossy finishes available, can now be purchased from me at very reasonable prices. So if you see an image that might look nice in a frame (provided by yourself) on your wall, please make a note of the year and month of my blog in which it appeared, and email me for more information.
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| Safari gift voucher |
