February 2023
The first half of the month was strangely mild weather-wise in this area. With south-westerly winds from the Atlantic dominating, this meant that the weather was often breezy and showery with little in the way of sunshine. Storm Otto saw us battered by gales for a day on the 17th, meaning I had to cancel a safari booked for that day, we then had a brief snowy time, before the month ended with some colder but calmer and brighter weather , but overall, despite it's changeable nature, it was a pretty decent month for wildlife watching.
The days are lengthening noticeably now, with up to 9-10 hours of usable daylight, and dawn (for the Black Grouse) is still a relatively sociable 7am, with dusk at around 5pm.
Full-day local safari bird lists usually top-out in the 30's or 40's, though a trip to the nearby (one hour by car ) Moray Coast can boost this total considerably, whilst mammal day lists can vary between 3 and 8 species, depending on the time of our start and number of habitats visited, with early starts usually proving to be best.
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| The source of the River Spey |
To give you an idea of what you may realistically hope to see if you are considering a future February 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 February'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 (usually first hour of light only), Red Grouse, Snow Bunting, and Dipper, we also managed a few decent views of Crested Tits on our forest walks early in the month, and a few reasonable Golden Eagle and White-Tailed Eagle sightings up in the glens...sadly, Crossbills proved very elusive, with just a few brief glimpses, and despite many hours spent walking and driving around local Caledonian forests searching for Capercaillie, I failed dismally, and had to settle for seeing the odd Caper poo on forest tracks...
A good variety of seabirds, waders, wildfowl and Geese were seen at the Moray Coast and the nearby inland lochs...
Mammal species seen regularly included:
Red Deer, Roe Deer, Red Squirrel, Rabbit, Mountain Goat, with just a few sightings of Mountain Hare (still white), Brown Hare, and Bank Voles ...
February 2023 bird sightings in more detail:
Up on the moors....
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| A local upland heather moorland |
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| Lekking Black Grouse |
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| Lekking Black Grouse |
Dawn in February (still a pretty user-friendly 7 am) on my safaris is usually spent visiting one (or more if needed!) local Black Grouse lek sites, usually a flat, grassy area on an upland heather moorland with forest not too far away, and we often enjoyed the spectacle of up to 10 of these attractive, but sadly now increasingly rare, blue-black cock birds displaying, posturing aggressively and flutter-jumping in a bid to out-display and intimidate their opponents in a bid to secure their little patch of the 'arena' for the forthcoming breeding season, all accompanied by their distinctive bubbling and whooshing calls drifting across the moor... surely one of British wildlife's 'must-see' (and 'must hear') experiences? 'Performances' are usually noticeably better on cold, still mornings.... but please be aware that we have to view from a respectful (and legal) distance, and that sightings are not 'guaranteed' as the birds can fail to show for no apparent reason, as was the case on a few occasions this month...
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| The local Red Grouse are now 'pairing-up' |
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| Male Red Grouse |
Still on the moors, the cock Red Grouse too, are now becoming very territorial and full of aggression , as they defend their chosen 'territory' from rivals and try to attract a mate with much calling and posturing and their red eye wattles aglow, usually from one of the few higher vantage points, making them (usually) nice and easy for us to find!
Up in the glens...
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| A local upland glen |
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| Golden Eagle (photo from Feb 2017) |
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| Young Golden Eagle (photo from Feb 2020) |
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| White-Tailed Eagle |
Golden Eagle and White-Tailed Eagle are nearly always on my safari clents' "wish-lists", and as I have said before, the shorter days of the winter months , and no nesting distractions definitely give us the best chance of seeing them. That trend was continued this month, with several sightings of GE and a couple of WTE being achieved, though not as frequently as we had enjoyed in the 3-4 months before this...
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| Kestrel |
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| Common Buzzard |
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| Red Kite |
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| Goshawk (photo from Feb 2021) |
Should the Eagles fail to show, the regular 'raptor back-up cast' of Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard , Red Kite, and the chance of even the occasional Peregrine, Merlin, Hen Harrier or Goshawk often provide good entertainment by way of consolation though, and some of these species were seen performing courtship displays, another sign that breeding season will soon be upon us...
In the forests...
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| A local ancient Caledonian forest |
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| Crested Tit |
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| Crested Tit (photo from Feb 2020) |
Similarly to last February, Crested Tits proved to be a little elusive this month, with fewer sightings than normal achieved, though thankfully, it wasn't just me, as guides from other safaris experienced the same disappointment, with the favourite theory as to why, being that the strangely mild and spring-like weather may have made them less dependent on feeding stations and may have even prompted them to begin courtship and nesting season very early....
Generally though, it is well worth noting that the colder winter months (October-Feb) 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...
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| Singing Crossbill |
Still in the Caledonian forests, we actually did ok for Crossbill sightings again this month, with a few decent views...mainly because the period between December and March is breeding season for them, which means that this is your best chance to see a male perched on a treetop, often singing to defend a territory and attract a mate....whereas they can be pretty tricky to see (apart from flyovers) for the rest of the year...
Despite numerous dawn walks in my local Caledonian forests again this month, sadly, I failed to see a single Capercaillie , though I did spot a few Caper poos, so there is still hope of a sighting in the future...
Please note that Capercaillie numbers would still appear to be declining alarmingly, they are now very rare and elusive, and I would only rate our chances of seeing one on my safaris as "very slim" at best...
On the rivers...
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| A local river |
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| Dueling Dippers by Ron Mitchell |
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| Dipper |
Our Dippers are in full 'breeding season mode' now, and early morning visits to known favourite sites (keeping a respectful distance of course) usually give us great views of these characterful and hardy little birds singing their hearts out, with wings back and chests pushed out... and towards the end of the month we sometimes see one or two carrying nesting material....and it still makes me shiver every time I see these tough little birds submerge themselves when feeding in the freezing winter months...
We also occasionally see Goosander and Goldeneye on our local rivers too....
On the lochs...
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| An idyllic scene at a local loch |
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| Female Goldeneye |
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| Male Goosander |
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| Young Whooper Swan |
Star birds on the lochs during the winter are probably the Goldeneyes, with the males now in their dapper breeding plumage and some displaying, and the winter-visiting Whooper Swans, with a back up cast of Goosander, Teal, Wigeon and Tufted Ducks.
Up in the mountains....
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| A snowy scene at Cairngorm Mountain |
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| Snow Buntings |
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| Snow Bunting by Ron Mitchell |
Snow Buntings can often be seen in and around the Cairngorms Ski Centre car park in the winter months, if it can be accessed in the often heavy snow and high winds!!, and that was the case on a few occasions this month, with up to 12 of these attractive and characterful little birds being seen. Their confiding nature means that you can sometimes creep reasonably close for photos too, especially if you put some wild bird seed out to attract and distract them....
Although the Cairngorm Funicular Railway is now open again, with walking access restricted to the piste area, and a lot of snowsports activity , noise and disturbance on the mountain, and with the days still quite short , I didn't venture up into the tops myself this month, but for future reference, a few Ptarmigan, still totally white, can sometimes be seen, up around the 'snow-line', usually sheltering in corries or on the leeward sides of ridges, out of the cold wind...
On farmland....
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| Curlew |
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| Oystercatchers |
The first waders were seen returning to their spring/summer breeding grounds, with Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Golden Plover and Curlew all being noted.....
Winter-visiting birds seen in our area this month included:
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| Whooper Swans and Greylag Geese |
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| Fieldfare |
Other good/scarce birds seen/reported locally this month included:
A Marsh Harrier and Russian White-Fronted Geese at Insh Marshes, a Nuthatch, near Newton more, and a Ring-Necked Duck at Loch Vaa....
A few photos of more common birds seen locally this month:
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| Red-Legged Partridge |
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| Mute Swan |
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| Grey Heron |
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| Long-Tailed Tit |
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| Blue Tit |
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| Great Tit |
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| Coal Tit |
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| Robin |
Adventures 'out of area': The Moray Coast.
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| Lossiemouth East Beach and lagoon |
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| Grey Partridges |
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| Pink-Footed Geese |
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| Yellowhammer |
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| Tree Sparrow |
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| Redshanks and Turnstones |
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| Wigeon |
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| Male Long-Tailed Duck (photo from Feb 2020) |
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| Male Eider (photo from Feb 2020) |
The Moray coast is only about an hour drive north of Aviemore, and trips to favourite reserves, lochs, bays and harbours gave good views of wintering birds such as Greylag Geese, Pink-Footed Geese, Whooper Swan, Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Black-Tailed Godwit, Bar-Tailed Godwit, Knot, Golden Plover , Grey Plover , Ringed Plover, Purple Sandpiper, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Curlew, Common Scoter, Velvet Scoter, Long-Tailed Ducks, Eiders, Divers, and Slavonian Grebe, with the chance of scarce birds such as Tree Sparrow and Grey Partridge, and rare gulls.....
February 2023 mammal sightings in more detail:
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| Mountain Hare |
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| Mountain Hare |
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| Mountain Hare |
Star mammal for January is usually that much sought-after local speciality the Mountain Hare, and rightly so, as Britain's only native 'lagomorph' and with their UK distribution being restricted to just a few remote upland areas, seeing one is always a treat.
Seeing them was actually easier than usual for much of the month with the lack of snow meaning that their white coats..
It should be noted though, that most of our views are at range through my telescope, and that a closer view or photo opportunity usually involves some considerable rough uphill walking, often in deep snow....
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| Red Deer stags |
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| Red Deer stag by Ron Mitchell |
In the same upland glens, Red Deer, mainly in large same-sex herds, can usually be seen, although a number of factors such as the weather, in particular the wind strength and depth of the snow, and whether there is any local shooting activity , can dictate whether we get nice close-up views, or distant views through the telescope....
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| Feral Mountain Goats |
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| Feral Mountain Goat by Ron Mitchell |
Still up in the glens, another local speciality mammal, our Feral Mountain Goats can often seen on the same sheltered sides of the ridges as the Red Deer , and at this time of year it is not unusual to see them with the first , very cute, new-born youngsters ....
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| Red Squirrel |
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| Red Squirrel |
Red Squirrels are a true Highlands speciality, and we are usually fortunate enough to see at least one on most of my safaris, mainly chomping on peanuts at forest feeding stations, but with the occasional random sighting whilst walking or driving in suitable habitat.
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| Roe Deer by Steve Nicklin (photo from Feb 2019) |
Roe Deer are most commonly seen at dawn or dusk and generally at the quieter, more remote sites well away from human disturbance, their shy, nervous nature making them much harder to see than Red Deer, despite being considerably more numerous and widespread than their larger 'cousins'...
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| Brown Hare |
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| Brown Hare by Ron Mitchell |
We managed a few (mainly early morning) sightings of Brown Hare this month, usually on the quieter farmland areas, they were mainly very fleeting glimpses, except for one very obliging animal on the 20th, who allowed us a reasonably close approach...
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| Carrot time for Murdo means smiles all round! |
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:
Nothing to report in this category this month, I'm afraid....
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
Positive prescriptions | The RSPB
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| Insh Marshes |
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.
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| The Cairngorm Mountains viewed from Glenmore Forest |
Summary:
Although, with just one safari booked, I felt like a bit of a 'Norman No Mates' for the first half of the month, thankfully, much of the second half was spent showing off the spectacular scenery and special wildlife of the Cairngorms National Park to a nice mix of first-timers, returners and valued regulars, some of whom have become good friends, which was much more enjoyable, and although the weather was a little changeable, it wasn't bad for February, and looking back through my sightings notes and photos, I reckon we did ok, with a good selection of local specialities, winter visitors and common species seen and enjoyed, and some good times , a few laughs, and plenty of hot drinks and shortbread enjoyed along the way ....
Reviews:
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186537-d3335134-Reviews-
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| A snowy morning on a local moorland |
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.
Gift Certificates:
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| Safari gift voucher |
