May 2013 can probably best be described as 'changeable' weather-wise in this area, starting off mild but wet and windy, calming down mid-month, with an icy blast and hill snow around the 20th, then a warm spell to finish. The days are really lengthening now, with nearly 20 hours of daylight and a 4am start needed to catch the 'dawn' species such as Capercaillie and Black Grouse. The 'late' spring this year meant that many species of birds were actually still lekking, displaying and singing, making them easier for us to see, when in a 'normal' year they would already be on eggs or even already have fledged young. The winter visiting birds have pretty much all departed now, and by the end of the month the last of the summer visiting birds had arrived, swelling our bird species day-lists up towards 60, whilst mammal day-lists varied between 6 & 9 depending on our luck.

Wildlife highlights included:

Local speciality bird species seen regularly this month included: Dipper, Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Red Grouse, Osprey, Slavonian Grebe, Black-Throated Diver, Red-Throated Diver, Ring Ouzel and Crested Tit, with Capercaillie and Golden Eagle both seen frequently early month.

Dawn views of an Otter on the river Spey on May 1st - not bad for our first mammal seen this month! Especially when you consider that they are almost entirely nocturnal on inland waters.....

Capercaillie were seen well on several occasions at dawn at RSPB Loch Garten's Caper-watch early in the month, including two cock birds actually in combat for mating rights - a cracking reward for the early start! I left our local 'rogue' cock bird well alone throughout the month to ensure that his lekking and  possible mating was not disturbed.....

Our local Black Grouse too, continued lekking throughout May, with bright, frosty mornings being best, and the action only tailing off as the weather warmed up later in the month.

Red Grouse were seen very regularly on our local moors, noticeably though, only the cock birds for most of the month, whilst the females incubated eggs, with the last week of the month giving us our first views of the tiny and very cute newly fledged youngsters.

Our local Ospreys continued to entertain my safari clients, with us witnessing 'plunge-diving',fish deliveries and flights over our heads (see pic) on several occasions - superb entertainment!

Our local speciality water birds - namely Slavonian Grebe (see pic by Bob Smith), Red-Throated Diver and Black-Throated Diver were all seen , though they were not as reliable as usual as the very late spring has seen them delay pairing - up and breeding until the latter part of the month.

Crested Tits, unusually,  continued to visit forest feeding stations during the early part of the month, giving us some unexpected but very welcome photo opportunities (see superb pic by Bob Smith) though sightings noticeably tailed-off late month as they presumably, finally got around to breeding.

Ring Ouzels showed well early month, with the male birds often perching prominently (see pic), whilst uttering their high-pitched fluty call, making them fairly easy to home in on, though they too became harder to see as the month went on.

Golden Eagles were seen well , especially early in the month, with 2 young birds together being noted on a couple of occasions, giving several of my safari clients spectacular  'year-ticks' and some the much sought-after 'life-tick'!

Another raptor seen in our local upland glens during the month was a huge White-Tailed Eagle, which absolutely dwarfed the Common Buzzards that were mobbing it - not for nothing are they often called 'the flying barn door'! (see my very poor, but in my defence, very distant pic)

Other raptors noted included a dashing Hobby, a rare bird in these parts, seen hawking dragonflies over a local lochan on May 17, and a cracking cock Merlin, seen perched on a moorland deer fence, before flying swiftly off, low over the heather, on the 30th.

Unusually, Owls featured on our sightings list a few times this month, with Tawny being seen at dawn in our local forests at dawn on several occasions, and Short-Eared seen quartering moorlands and fields during daylight - always a bonus!

Other migrant birds seen for the first time this year included good numbers of Cuckoos, Swifts, Spotted Flycatchers, Redstarts, and a lovely male Whinchat.

Mammals were well represented this month, with Rabbit, Brown Hare, Mountain Hare, Bank Vole, Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Reindeer, Roe Deer and Mountain Goat all seen regularly, and solitary sightings of Otter, and rarer still , a Pine Marten, seen crossing a forest track at dawn!

So, although many people will have complained about the late spring , and unseasonably wintry weather this May, I actually feel that it delayed the breeding season for many bird species, giving us the opportunity to see many sought after local specialities - which would normally have quietened down by now - still displaying and showing well - giving us a superb month of sightings - so this cloud really did have a silver lining! May is probably THE best month for seeing a broad range of bird species, including the iconic Highland endemics, and a trip here then for a safari is highly recommended!

April 2013 started off very cold in this area , with the first week seeing severe frosts and temperatures down to minus 15c, the middle part of the month saw more spring-like temperatures, though it was often very windy, but winter returned towards the end of the month, with more snow and frosts. So a very changeable month, with all 4 seasons being experienced, sometimes within the same day!
The days are lengthening nicely now, with around 16 hours of daylight, though it should be noted that to see the dawn species such as Capercaillie and Black Grouse, we needed to be in position soon after 5am....The wintry weather and lack of southerly winds meant that our winter visiting bird species lingered, whilst the expected influx of summer bird species occurred much later than average. The 'crossover' of winter, resident and summer species saw bird day-lists creep up over the 50 mark, while mammal day-lists varied between 6 and 9 species depending on our luck...

Wildlife highlights included:

Local speciality bird species seen regularly throughout  this month included: Dipper, Goldeneye, Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Red Grouse, Crested Tit, Osprey, Golden Eagle, Snow Bunting, and from mid-month, Ring Ouzel, Slavonian Grebe,  Black-Throated Diver and Red-Throated Diver...though Crossbills continued to be elusive....

Several good sightings of Capercaillie displaying and lekking soon after dawn at the RSPB Caper Watch facility at their lovely Abernethy Forest reserve (Open 5:30am-8am April 1- May 19) - this initiative is highly recommended as it not only gives birders a decent chance of seeing Capercaillie, (and Osprey and Crested Tit) but it also stops people potentially disturbing other more sensitive sites....

Our  Black Grouse were seen lekking at dawn on local moors  throughout the month, with the cock birds performing their spectacular aggressive display dances whilst uttering their peculiar bubbling, whooshing calls in an attempt to become the 'alpha male', surely one of Britain's top wildlife spectacles?

Our local Red Grouse also performed well throughout the month, and although these birds do not actually lek , cock birds were certainly seen displaying and chasing off rivals, with their guttural cackling "go-bak go-bak" calls echoing across the moors. (see pic)

Most of our local Osprey nests now have a pair of birds in place, with much mating being noted, and some of the female birds seemingly sitting tight on eggs by the end of the month (see pic). We were also lucky to see 'plunge-diving' occur a couple of times, and a fish being brought to the nest on several occasions - great stuff!

Crested Tits could be seen coming to feeders throughout the month, giving us good photographic opportunities (see pic) whereas, in less wintry conditions they would usually be concentrating on nesting from mid-month, and would then be much more difficult to see.

The snow falling down to lower levels meant that we had the chance to see our local Snow Buntings at very close range in favoured areas, without the tricky hike up to the mountain tops that is usually required at this time of year - a very welcome by-product of the unseasonably wintry weather (see pic).

Golden Eagles were seen reasonably regularly during the month at suitable upland glens, with some of our best sightings being during sunny spells between the squalls and blizzards, though it should be noted that as the days get longer , our chances of Eagle sightings actually decrease, as the birds have more daylight hours during which to hunt...

A drive through a secluded upland moor gave us great views of a lovely ring-tailed Hen Harrier gliding low over the heather mid-month - sadly, a rare sight these days....

Ring Ouzels were seen in upland locations from mid-month, their fluty, high pitched single note call, repeated several times , often announcing their presence.

Our local lochs were frozen during the early part of the month, though within a few days of them thawing , we were pleased to note the arrival of three of the UK's rarest breeding water birds, namely Slavonian Grebe (see pic), Red-Throated Diver and Black-Throated Diver - all beautiful in their own right and much sought-after by keen UK birders.

Welcome additions to our day-lists from mid-month were migrant birds such as Common Sandpiper, Willow Warbler, Swallow, Sand Martin , House Martin and Wheatear....

So to summarise - April 2013 was, despite the changeable weather, a great month for wildlife watching in and around the Cairngorms National Park, and with winter, resident and summer species all possible, and many of them displaying, I would even go so far as to say that April is now probably my favourite month from a safari guide's point of view, and a visit here then is highly recommended!

March 2013 started cold but cloudy and dry in this area, then turned snowy mid-month, returning to very cold and sunny at the end of the month, with record low Easter temperatures , at minus 13c! With no real extremes of weather however, it was a very good month for safaris, and with a few early migrant birds arriving, these , added to our resident species, and lingering winter visitors, helped bird day-lists creep up into the 40's , with mammal lists steady at 6-9 species. The days are stretching out a bit now, and it needs an early (5 or 6 am) start to give you a decent chance of seeing the 'dawn' species such as Capercaillie and Black grouse.

Wildlife highlights included:

Local speciality bird  species seen regularly included: Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Red Grouse, Dipper, Crested Tit, Goldeneye and Golden Eagle, with Black-Throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe, and Osprey all being spotted for the first time this year as the month progressed....though Crossbills were hard to come by, with just a couple of views.

Mammals seen during the month included: Roe Deer, Red Deer, Reindeer, Rabbit, Brown Hare, Mountain Hare, Red Squirrel, Mountain Goat, Stoat and Bank Vole.

Though March should still really be considered winter this far north, a proper 'dawn chorus' can be enjoyed now - a very uplifting way to start the day....

Our local 'rogue' Capercaillie continued to show well, often displaying and calling, especially on cold, bright mornings - though it should be noted that as soon as evidence of 'lekking' with other birds was noted in late March - the site was declared 'out of bounds' to visitors until  the end of  May.....

Our local Black Grouse 'leks' saw the numbers of Blackcock increase, and a noticeable ramping-up of their displaying and aggression at first light , as peak 'lekking' season approaches....

...Whilst our local Red Grouse seemed to be continually calling, posturing and defending their territories all day long, making them nice and easy to see and photograph on the moors....(see pic)

Wader species continued to flood into Speyside, with Redshank, Curlew and Golden Plover joining the increasing numbers of Lapwings and Oystercatchers.

The cold weather, and lack of natural food, meant that Crested Tits continued to come to feeding stations in our local Caledonian Forests, giving good photo opportunities (see pic)

Golden Eagles were seen well quite regularly, with one amazing day giving us not one, not two, but three birds flying and displaying, sometimes  together, a fantastic sight! (see pic)

A Goshawk was a good 'year-tick' , in a local forest, this very powerful and agile bird seen hunting through the trees causing much panic amongst the smaller birds!

The Snowy Owl near the summit of Ben Macdui -  the Cairngorms highest peak - continued to attract 'twitchers' - though the very difficult to access location and wintry weather prevented all but the most experienced mountaineer birders from getting anywhere near this much sought-after 'tick'....

A Black-Throated Diver back on territory on March 14th was a very early record (see pic) - though he soon had to vacate the loch as it shortly froze over again....

Our 'winter-white' species ( Ptarmigan, Stoat, Mountain Hare) were all very popular sightings, though their previously pristine white outfits were beginning to change to their mottled spring colours.

Crossbills were generally elusive throughout the month, though we did manage a couple of decent sightings, and it should be noted that being able to identify their calls is very important in detecting these birds...

The last week of the month saw the return to nest sites of some of our Ospreys, including the much-loved 'EJ' at Loch Garten RSPB reserve - a pretty impressive 'first summer migrant' tick for many of my safari clients! (see pic)

We are now entering my favourite time of year as a safari guide, with the winter weather hopefully coming to an end, the days lengthening, and all our breeding species appearing - magic!

February 2013 started very snowy and cold - fairly typical for the time of year, but a large high pressure system soon settled over Scotland, giving us glorious cold but sunny weather for the remainder of the month - perfect safari conditions! The deep snow early in the month gave me the perfect opportunities to test out the off-road and snow abilities of my new 'safari-bus' - a Landrover Discovery - I am pleased (and relieved!) to report that it passed with flying colours (see pic).
The days are lengthening now, and we have almost 12 hours of daylight, and with first light at around 7am, you don't have to get up at 'silly o'clock' in order to see the 'dawn' species.
Bird day-lists are still around 30-40 species, and mammal day-lists varied between 5and 8 species.

Wildlife highlights included:

Our local 'rogue' male Capercaillie started to show at his favourite spot deep in a local Caledonian pine forest, with even the occasional short display! (see pic). I am always careful not to abuse the privilege of getting to see and photograph this magnificent, and sadly very rare creature, by acting responsibly in not visiting the site too often, or for too long, and only with small parties. Sadly, not all of the other people I have met there can say the same......

Male Black Grouse numbers were seen to increase at traditional 'lek' sites, with up to 7 being seen at dawn (see pic), a sure sign that the breeding season is fast approaching....

Although Red Grouse do not 'lek' as such, the cock birds were certainly displaying, calling, and acting very aggressively on our local moors, giving good photo opportunities. (see pic)

Crested Tits continued to show very well, sometimes at very close range,  at my favourite forest feeding sites, again, giving decent photo opportunities to those that are quick enough with their camera, as they can be a very 'flitty' species!

Our local Dippers displayed well early in the month, with much bobbing and singing,  then quietened down a little later on, presumably because they had been successful in securing a mate, and breeding had occurred...

Our 'winter-white' species proved very popular with my safari clients, especially the Mountain Hares (see pic), though as they follow the 'snow-line' as it retreats up the hills, it can be a bit of a trek to try and get a close-up!

Our local Mountain Goats usually give birth around this time of year, and we were lucky enough to see several new-born young with the parent animals, all together now- aaaahhh!

There were several reports of White-Tailed Eagles  being seen along the Spey Valley, especially over Insh Marshes RSPB reserve.

Amazingly, we also had several reports of a Snowy Owl on the highest peaks of the Cairngorm Mountain range for just a couple of days, though the deep snow and very icy paths would have made for a very treacherous adventure for that mega-rare 'tick'!

Our winter visiting bird species continued to show well, with Whooper Swans, (see pic) 'Grey' Geese  and various wildfowl species all being seen locally.

We also noted an increase in the number of waders such as Lapwing and Oystercatcher returning to their inland breeding grounds as the month progressed...

Birdsong is definitely increasing , especially at first light, though it would be exaggerating to call it a proper  'dawn chorus' just yet....

Feeding your 'garden birds' is really important in the cold winter months, especially this far north, though one of my Collared Doves obviously failed to notice an approaching Sparrowhawk and unwittingly ended up on the menu (see pic)

January 2013 started unseasonably mild, but soon reverted to the norm , with the remainder of the month much colder, and snow and ice a regular occurrence. However, the days are definitely lengthening now, and although winter is far from over this far north, an occasional, weak 'dawn chorus' and the 'drumming' of Great Spotted Woodpeckers helps us feel that spring is not too far away.....The poor weather conditions meant that there were very few decent safari opportunities, but we still managed a few good days out.

Bird day-lists were in the 30's whilst mammal day-lists ranged between 5 and 8 depending on our luck.

Wildlife highlights included:

Local speciality bird  species seen included: Dipper, Crested Tit, Crossbill, Red Grouse, Black Grouse, Snow Bunting, Ptarmigan, Golden eagle, Whooper Swan.

Mammals seen included: Otter, Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Roe Deer, Reindeer,  Mountain Hare, Mountain Goat, Brown Hare, Stoat (white), Rabbit, Bank Vole.

Great views of an Otter for nearly 20 minutes at dawn on a local loch, breaking the ice, diving to fish and eventually catching a good sized fish and eating it - a marvellous wildlife spectacle! (see pic)

Dippers singing and displaying on our local rivers and lochs soon after dawn. Many birders may have heard the sharp 'zit' call of these birds, delivered as the fly low along a river , but few will have enjoyed their scratchy, squeaky song performed as they bob and flap their wings in a courtship display. (see pic)

Also seen displaying on our local waters were Goldeneyes, the male birds throwing their heads violently backwards whilst uttering their croaking calls in an attempt to 'woo' the watching females.

Crested Tits continued to show well at my local forest feeding stations. These attractive and charismatic little birds really are a true 'local speciality' , being found in the UK only in Highland Scotland, with Speyside a major stronghold.

With the snow coming down to lower levels, Snow Buntings were seen regularly in and around the Cairngorms Ski Centre, and when natural food is in short supply, they are not slow to take advantage of any tit-bits supplied by humans.

Our 'winter-white' wildlife is always popular at this time of year. Ptarmigan and Mountain Hare (see pic) can usually be found (weather permitting!) in upland areas with a little persistence, whilst Stoat sightings tend to be chance happenings. These three creatures nearly always get an ''aaahhh'' response from my safari clients, but their 'cute' appearance disguises the fact that these are among the UK's hardiest wildlife, toughing out the worst that winter can throw at them.

Black Grouse males were seen at traditional 'lek' sites at dawn on several occasions, though it is not breeding season yet, they were seen displaying, especially on still , frosty mornings.

Red Grouse males too are very active this time of year, with much posturing and loud, guttural calling from the few higher spots in their moorland habitat.

Male Crossbills were seen calling and (unusually) singing from the tops of conifers, they too are early breeders, and the early part of the year can be one of the best times to see them.

Winter is arguably the best time of year for raptor-watching in this area with Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Merlin, Hen Harrier and Short-Eared Owl all being enjoyed, but the real stars of the show are our local Golden Eagles and occasional wandering White-tailed Eagle.

Unusual garden visitors: I was lucky enough to have two colourful Waxwings come into my garden one snowy morning , to pillage the few remaining berries on my Cotoneaster bush - a good garden 'tick'! I have also had a beautiful pale gold 'leucistic' Chaffinch visiting my feeders for several weeks. (see pic)

Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all our readers! I hope that you all have a wildlife-filled 2013. December 2012 started with very wintry weather, plenty of snow and temperatures as low as minus 10. However, it gradually became slightly milder mid-month and actually ended unseasonably mild for mid-winter. Although the days are at their shortest now, with only around 8 hours of daylight, the absence of any really extreme weather allowed us to enjoy some good safari sightings.
Bird day-lists averaged 30-40 species, whilst mammal day-lists varied between 6 and 9.

Wildlife highlights included:

The superb spectacle of 3 Golden Eagles seen soaring together, enjoying the last few  'thermals' in a secluded upland glen, just before the sun dropped over the horizon - a great way to end a safari!

Other raptors were seen regularly too, with Buzzard, Peregrine, Kestrel, Red Kite, Hen Harrier, Sparrowhawk and Merlin all seen at some point.

Good sized flocks of Waxwings  (see pic) were seen intermittently, giving reasonable photo opportunities, though the berries are now dwindling rapidly.....

Crested Tits continued to come to my Caledonian forest feeding areas quite regularly, especially on the colder days, when presumably natural food is harder to come by...

Cock Black Grouse were seen regularly at favourite sites at dawn, with up to 5 birds interacting and occasionally displaying, as 'lekking' season approaches...

Cock red Grouse also became easier to see , with much calling from prominent points on our local moorlands, as they began to establish territorial rights...

Snow Buntings were seen at lower than normal levels when the snow came, with up to 20 being spotted at various mountain-side sites.

Crossbills were also spotted on a few occasions , though, frustratingly, usually only as fly-overs, identified by their sharp 'glip-glip' calls.

The very cold snap also brought some interesting visitors to garden feeding stations,  with Bramblings, Yellowhammers and Redpolls (see pic) all being reported.

Whooper Swans (see pic) were seen in good numbers on local lochs and rivers, along with other winter wildfowl such as Wigeon and Teal.

Mammals spotted regularly included Roe Deer, Red Deer, Reindeer, Rabbit, Brown Hare, Mountain Hare and Mountain Goat, with the occasional Stoat putting in an appearance.

A few Salmon were still lingering in our local rivers, many of them showing 'battle-scars' from the rigours of their upstream journey and spawning.

So, to sum up, 2012 was a great year for wildlife-watching in the Cairngorms National Park, and will be a hard act to follow - but I am sure I will enjoy trying!

November 2012 was a generally cold month with regular frosts and light snowfall on the mountain tops and an occasional light dusting at lower levels, with, thankfully, no extreme weather meaning that all of my favourite remote safari sites remained accessible. The days are now shorter than the nights, but with more winter-visiting birds arriving throughout the month, and most of our 'local speciality' species still showing well, bird day lists were usually around the 40 mark, with mammal day-lists steady at 6-9 depending on our luck.

Wildlife highlights included:

Spawning Salmon. It was amazing to see these beautifully marked and often very large fish battling their way up through incredibly fast, shallow water to breed at the very spot that they themselves were spawned several years previously. They were so pre-occupied with the urge to reproduce that they seemed totally unaware of our presence, allowing us to get some superb photos and video. (thanks for the pic Garry! )

A White - Tailed Eagle was seen on several occasions in an upland glen , often near the river where we were viewing the spawning Salmon - not a coincidence methinks! Sightings of these huge raptors with their 8 foot wingspan are quite rare inland and as well as impressing myself and my safari clients, this 'flying barn door' attracted some aggressive responses from the 'local' raptors, with us witnessing it being harassed by everything from Kestrel up to Golden Eagle - super stuff! (see pic courtesy of Nigel Wedge)

Raptors in general were seen very well and  regularly this month , with one of my safari parties viewing 7 different species (Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Buzzard, Red Kite, Golden Eagle, White-Tailed Eagle)  in 1 hour in one memorable visit to a favourite site - cracking entertainment!

The Red Deer rut continued on into early November, though the roaring & chasing around was noticeably less aggressive than in  October, and was pretty much all over by around the 10th of the month, with territorial and mating rights seemingly all sorted by then...

Crested Tits became much less difficult to see than normal, with my Caledonian forest  feeding areas producing some superb close-up views and photo opportunities of these very rare 'local specialities' - though we sometimes had to be patient as they were hugely outnumbered by the much more common (and incredibly tame!)  Coal Tits (see pic courtesy of Nigel Wedge)

Black Grouse  were seen regularly at suitable sites at dawn, with up to 4 cock birds showing well and even occasionally displaying.

Waxwings flooded into our area early in the month, with flocks of up to a hundred of these beautiful   'viking invaders' adding a splash of colour to the wintry backdrop as they pillaged the berries from our trees and bushes, their confiding nature often  allowing decent photo opportunities (see pic)

Dippers were seen at both river and loch sites engaging in territorial disputes, with much chasing and sometimes actual fighting being witnessed, with  their pre-occupied behaviour allowing closer than normal views and photo opportunities (see pic courtesy of Nigel Wedge)

Winter visiting birds increased in number, with us getting good views of Whooper Swans, Greylag Geese, Redwings and Fieldfares in good numbers.

Other 'local speciality' birds seen regularly included Red Grouse and Crossbills, and the occasional Snow Bunting was seen around the Cairngorms Ski Centre.

Mammals were well represented, with 'local specialities' such as Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Mountain Goat and Mountain Hare all being sighted regularly, with one brief glimpse of an Otter at dawn on a local loch.

To sum up - November is rapidly becoming one of my favourite safari months, and is also proving popular with my wildlife photographer clients, as many iconic species are easiest to see and photograph at this time , and the low sun and cold air produce the opportunity for sharper and more interesting pictures, whilst the weather is usually not too wild and wintry to cope with.

October 2012 was a generally dry month, though it was noticeably colder than September, and with several frosts and regular snow showers turning the hilltops white, it is fair to say that winter has now hit the Highlands. Though the days are shortening , there is still plenty to see, with the hills and forests a blaze of beautiful autumnal colours, the  Red Deer rut in full swing and winter visiting birds flooding in from further north. Bird day-lists crept up into the high 30's or low 40's, and mammal day-lists ranged between 5 and 9 depending on our luck.

Wildlife highlights included:

The Red Deer rut is surely the highlight of every October in upland areas - with the magnificent fully-antlered Stags battling for domination over their rivals for the right to mate with the hinds as they come into season, with much roaring , chasing and often actual clashing surely making it one of British wildlife's must-see spectacles! (see pic)

Incoming winter-visiting birds: First the Redwings signalling their arrival with their thin 'seep-seep' calls overhead, then the Whooper Swans appeared on local lochs with much loud 'trumpeting', then the Fieldfares , with their harsh 'chack chack chacks', and many 'grey' Geese of several species.

Towards the end of the month some rarer winter visiting birds in the form of a Great Grey Shrike and a few small flocks of Waxwings were also reported in our area.

Golden Eagles were seen regularly in upland glens, and with shorter days allowing less hunting time, we actually have more and better sightings of these huge, magnificent raptors in winter than in summer, with dry days after a rainy spell particularly reliable.

Crested Tits began to come more regularly to forest feeding stations, making decent sightings a lot easier than trying to pick them out in amongst  the fast-moving mixed species flocks in the forests!

Salmon were spotted making their way up our local rivers towards the spawning grounds in the shallower upper reaches, with the odd flash of a dorsal or tail fin and occasional splash betraying their presence.

Black Grouse were seen at dawn, with up to 4 cock birds being seen, and occasionally even displaying!

Other 'local speciality' bird  species seen  regularly included Red Grouse, Dipper, Goldeneye and the occasional Crossbill.

Many mammal species were seen throughout the month, including 'local specialities' such as Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Reindeer,  Mountain Goat and Mountain Hare along with Rabbit, Brown Hare, Stoat, and Bank Vole.

September 2012 started unseasonably cold, with overnight frosts and even a light dusting of snow on the higher tops, but soon turned milder, and the rest of the month was again quite changeable. The days are getting noticeably shorter now, and the mornings and evenings cooler, and we are undoubtedly into Autumn. A few summer migrant birds lingered in the area until late in the month, but the vast majority had headed South by mid-month. With the Winter visiting birds yet to arrive, our bird day-lists are probably at their lowest in late September at around the 30's, though mammal day-lists remained strong at 6-9 depending on our luck. I took advantage of this slight lull in activity to take a trip South to visit my relatives and friends in South-East England, so my report may be a little shorter than usual.

Wildlife highlights included:

Regular dawn sightings of Capercaillie taking grit from secluded forest tracks, though a stealthy approach is required, as they seem to spook very easily.

Up to 4 male Black Grouse were seen at dawn at a  traditional upland 'lek' site on colder mornings, though they never lingered for more than an hour after first light.

Good views of a female  Hen Harrier hunting  over a managed Red Grouse moor - an enjoyable, but sadly very rare sight........

Crested Tits were seen regularly as part of mixed winter flocks in our local Caledonian forest, and we were also fortunate enough to see a couple coming to feeders at several favoured sites.

Golden Eagles were sighted regularly in suitable upland habitat, especially on the first sunnier day after a couple of rainy ones.

Red Grouse were seen reasonably frequently on the moors, though they are noticeably more wary of Humans since the 'shooting season' started.....

Dippers on our local rivers were seen to be getting very territorial, with much chasing and fighting occurring, especially at first light.

Red Deer stags started to show some preparations for the upcoming 'rut' with a few of the larger animals seen sharpening their antlers and pawing at the ground, and some 'roaring' aggressively.

Our local speciality mammals showed well throughout the month, with regular sightings of Red Deer, Red Squirrels, Mountain Goats and Mountain Hare.

Incoming wildfowl were also noted as the month wore on , with Wigeon & Teal being seen on local lochs.

My trip down south gave me the opportunity to see some species not found this far north - such as Dartford Warbler, Woodlark and Marsh Tit amongst others....

August 2012 started a bit changeable weather-wise but mid month we enjoyed some proper summer weather with a week of warm, sunny days (at last!), though by the end of the month there was a distinctly autumnal feel to the air, with temperatures dropping and the days becoming noticeably shorter.  With the heather now at it's vibrant , purple best and with the Rowan berries now bright red, the area is arguably at it's scenic best. With many of the summer visiting birds departing the area for warmer climes, bird species day-lists dropped down into the 40's or even 30's towards the end of the month, though mammal lists remained steady at 6-9.

Wildlife highlights included:

Ospreys plunge-diving for fish! Although the majority of adult birds depart for Africa by mid-month, we were still lucky enough to witness  juvenile birds  showing us this magnificent wildlife spectacle right up to the very end of the month.

Incredible views of a Golden Eagle chasing a herd of over 100 Red Deer Hinds along a steep ridge before (unsuccessfully) attempting to pursue it's selected victim into tumbling to it's death  - seeing the terrified Deer rear up to try and fend off the attacker, which had it's wings spread wide and talons outstretched, was a superb wildlife moment thoroughly enjoyed by myself and my lucky safari clients!

Decent views of our 'mountain' species - Ptarmigan in good numbers  and a few  Snow Bunting could be found reasonably easily up on the high tops (when the weather was decent enough!) , though the Dotterel appeared to have gone by early August...

One (and sometimes two) Hobbies were spotted hawking for dragonflies over one of our local lochans on a number of occasions, their dashing flight and long, pointed backswept wings giving them the appearance of giant Swifts, and causing panic amongst the remaining Hirundines - magic! - and a rare bird this far north!

Dawn trips to suitable forest and moorland areas produced a few 'bonus' sightings of Capercaillie and Black Grouse for my delighted safari clients , though it should be noted that these species are generally pretty difficult to see in late summer...

Purple poo! The late summer Blaeberry bonanza is taken advantage of by many birds and animals, and walks along quiet forest tracks gave us sightings of colourful droppings produced by Roe Deer, Red Squirrel, Capercaillie and Pine Marten among others.

Local speciality bird species seen included Slavonian Grebe, Red-Throated Diver, Black-Throated Diver (up to mid month only), with Osprey, Crested Tit , Crossbill, Red Grouse  and Golden Eagle seen fairly regularly throughout the month, though sightings of Capercaillie and Black Grouse were less frequent and usually at dawn only.

Our local speciality mammals proved pretty reliable, with regular good views of Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Reindeer and  Mountain Goat, though the Mountain Hares were less easy to find.... add these  to the more common species such as Rabbit, Brown hare and Roe Deer (see pic), with the occasional sighting of Stoats, Weasels, Bank Voles etc and it was not uncommon for our mammal 'day-list' to be approaching double-figures.

August is a big month for wader migration, and small flocks of various species were often heard (especially at night) and sometimes seen overhead, including one group of 4 Greenshanks over a local loch.

Mixed 'winter' flocks of various Tits, Finches, Goldcrests and Treecreepers were noticed to be growing as the month progressed, though picking out the much sought - after Crested Tits required a certain amount of fieldcraft and a lot of patience!

The Moray Firth Dolphins continued to delight - with the 'hot spot' at Chanonry Point on the Black Isle providing reliably regular sightings, sometimes distant, but occasionally amazingly close! - though only at certain states of the tide....

So, although August is often considered to be a bit of a 'quiet' month for wildlife-watching by some - I think that is far from the case, in this area at least!

July 2012 was, in tune with the rest of the UK, yet another very unsettled month weather-wise. However, with the days still long and with plenty of wildlife to see, this area is still well worth a visit.
Just about every locally breeding bird species has well grown young by now , and along with our regular mammals, we now have our best chance of also seeing a good selection of Butterflies.
Bird species day-lists dropped a little, into the 50's as our wader species left the area for their Autumn coastal territories, whilst mammal day-lists varied between 6 and 9 depending on our luck.

Wildlife highlights included:

A very rare,  and  very welcome, dawn (daylight!)  sighting of a normally very nocturnal Pine Marten on the edge of a local forest - and to make sure we were certain of what we had seen, it actually showed itself a second time a few minutes later - great stuff!

Dawn in a local Caledonian Forest also gave us super, if brief,  views of a female Capercaillie with 2 chicks - great to see, and very encouraging to see evidence of breeding success for what is one of our rarest and most threatened species.

Our local Ospreys continued to entertain us, with most nests now having hungry young able to fly and learning  to fish, July is one of the best months to witness the 'must-see' spectacle of Osprey 'plunge-diving' for fish on our local lochs and rivers, before carrying off their prize like a torpedo (see pic courtesy of Malcolm Fincham)

Local speciality species seen well this month included Dipper, Slavonian Grebe, Red-Throated Diver, Black-Throated Diver, Osprey, Crested Tit, Crossbill, Red Grouse,  Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Mountain Goat, Mountain Hare, with the occasional Golden Eagle sighting, though Black Grouse were very elusive.

July is the last month to offer a good chance of seeing the 'mountain bird' species, and a walk up to the quieter areas around the summits gave good views of Ptarmigan , Dotterel and a solitary Snow Bunting - though suitable days weather-wise were very few and far between....

The Moray Firth Dolphins are a fantastic wildlife spectacle, and a visit , on a rising tide, to Chanonry Point on the Black Isle gave us super views of these charismatic creatures feeding at quite close range, putting a smile on the faces of the watching crowds.

Our local Roe Deer were noted to be rutting this month, with much 'barking' from the Bucks as they chased the Does around, especially at first light.

Stoats were spotted on a number of occasions, often chasing young rabbits, and occasionally feeding on road-kill.

Butterflies are at their most abundant at this time, and most of the common species were seen, with a few sightings of our local speciality - the Scotch Argus (see pic)

June 2012 was another very changeable month weather-wise, with just about every type of weather (except for snow, thankfully!) experienced at some stage - sadly, not ideal for birds trying to feed newly hatched or recently fledged young.......though on a more positive note, with the days at their longest now,this far north there is almost 24 hours a day wildlife-watching available to those with the stamina to enjoy it! Bird day-lists are at their highest now , with mid-high 60's not uncommon, with mammal lists steady at 6-9.....It should be noted though, that to see the 'dawn' species now requires an extremely early start, and the nocturnal species (such as Pine Marten) become very tricky!

Wildlife highlights included:

Local speciality species frequently  seen well this month included Dipper, Osprey, Ring Ouzel, Slavonian Grebe, Red Grouse, Red-Throated Diver, Black-Throated Diver, Crossbill, and, unusually for June, Capercaillie & Black Grouse....

In fact,  Capercaillie & Black Grouse were still noted to be in 'lekking' mode - the first time I can recall it extending well into June, presumably, the fact that the weather felt more like it would in April/May was the reason...but, whatever the reason, they were a worthy reward for our early starts!

Red Grouse, mostly in large family parties,  were seen regularly, though they are much quieter and less obvious now, as  they creep stealthily through the deep heather...

Crested Tits finally became easier to see, with many family groups being spotted in our local Caledonian Forests. Learning to recognise  their distinctive chuckling trills being by far the best way of locating them...

Ospreys were frequently seen fishing, plunge-diving  into local lochs, and with most of the parents having hungry young to feed, and 8 or more fish per day being needed, mid-summer is the best time to witness this amazing spectacle!

Crossbills were seen frequently, and on several occasions we actually had prolonged views of them through the scope feeding on Pine cones  - instead of the usual brief  fly-over -  not a frequent occurrence - as any safari guide will tell you!

Ring Ouzels were seen collecting beakfuls of insects and worms in suitable upland habitat,  before flying into the thick undergrowth  - I suspect we may see youngsters soon....

Cuckoos were again seen (and heard calling)  frequently, including one female seen emerging from a Meadow Pipit nest at very close range!

Mountain-top birds: June is probably our best month for seeing  Ptarmigan and Dotterel (and the less reliable  Snow Bunting ), and so it proved, with decent views being achieved, though it should be stressed that this inhospitable and potentially dangerous environment should only be visited in very good weather conditions and with appropriate clothing and equipment....

Fledglings! Many more species now have young, including Dipper, Crested Tit, Curlew, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Redstarts and our local pair of Black-Throated Divers (see pic courtesy of Tim Neale) - though sadly,  our local Slavonian Grebes do not seem to have bred successfully... again, despite several attempts.....

Local speciality mammals: It is easy for someone like myself to take Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Mountain Hare and Mountain Goat for granted - but it is always brought home to me how relatively rare outside of upland areas these are, when I see the smiling faces of my safari clients as they get to see them for the first time.... especially on one occasion when we witnessed the Mountain Goats climb quite high into trees to get to the tasty higher leaves! (see pic)

Brown Hares were seen 'boxing' early this month! Again, much later than usual....

Pole-dancing Stoat! Mid-month we enjoyed an incredible close encounter with a Stoat that ran across a track in front of us, and then proceeded to wrap itself round a nearby sapling support stick in an attempt to hide from us, but it couldn't resist constantly changing it's position in order to peep round at us -  just like a pole-dancer (so I am told!) - great stuff!

Butterflies: Most of our common species are now (finally!) on the wing , and I don't know whether it is just me... but we seem to see a lot more Orange Tips than we used to....

Mull lured me over again! Please forgive me - for I am too weak to resist the temptation! A mid-month day-trip producing reasonable sightings of Golden Eagle & Sea Eagle, and some really nice views of a gorgeous male Hen Harrier, along with many more common coastal species....

May 2012 started with high pressure dominating, giving us a week of cold, frosty nights, and glorious sunny days, but soon became less settled, with the rest of the month seeing just about every weather imaginable, sometimes all within the same day! However, the lengthening days did at least give us the feeling that summer is approaching at last. By the end of the month all the summer visiting bird species had finally arrived and bird day-lists crept up into the high 50's or low 60's, whilst mammal day-lists fluctuated between 6 and; 9 depending on our luck.

Wildlife highlights included:

Local speciality species seen this month included Dipper, Black Grouse, Red Grouse (see pic), Capercaillie, Ring Ouzel, Osprey, Red -Throated Diver, Black-Throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Golden Eagle , Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Mountain Goat, Mountain Hare, with a couple of bonus dawn  sightings of Otter on local lochs, though it should be noted that Crested Tit was generally very elusive, with the females on eggs and the males spending all day quietly and secretively delivering food and rarely calling....

Osprey action! Our local Ospreys were viewed mating, plunging for fish, delivering fish to the nest, and towards the end of the month, youngsters were spotted for the first time - all great stuff and surely one of British Wildlife's 'must-see' experiences?!

Our local Capercaillies & Black Grouse were seen to be still lekking almost to the end of the month, a good fortnight longer than usual, probably due to the unseasonably wintry weather fooling them into thinking it wasn't yet Spring, making our dawn starts very rewarding!

Loads of Cuckoo sightings. Any habitat with Meadow Pipits seemed to have Cuckoos watching their nests from nearby treetops or overhead wires, giving us the opportunity of some great views of a bird that is far more often heard than seen....

Fledglings! More species seen with youngsters this month included Red Grouse, Golden Plover and most of the 'garden' species.

First migrant sightings of the year included Spotted Flycatcher & my favourites, the Swifts, especially when heard 'screaming' around the rooftops!

Crossbill sightings increased through the month, presumably as the local cone crop became a more important food source, with some groups numbering 30+, the birds often giving away their location with their 'glipping' calls, and by the sound of emptied cones being dropped from the trees.

Divers: We were lucky enough to have many good sightings of the Males of  both Black-Throated and Red-Throated, though the females would have spent most of the month on the nest....

Ring Ouzels were spotted on several occasions on mountainsides , they too, had presumably put back breeding for a while due to the wintry weather.

Slavonian Grebes were frequently  seen well, though they appeared to be struggling to breed successfully (again!), with the fluctuating water levels leaving their nests either flooded or dried out!
It is no surprise that their inability to adapt to building a floating nest is sadly causing their numbers to drop in the UK.....

Raptor-fest! A dry day after a run of wet days is often good for watching raptors hunt as they are less likely to have fed well during the preceding days - this was just the case at one of our local upland glens - where we were amazed to see Merlin, Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Red Kite, Buzzard and  Golden Eagle all within 30 minutes from one spot!

A late May day-trip to the SWT's superb Handa Island reserve on Scotland's ruggedly beautiful North-West coast gave great views of all the seabird colony favourites, including Guillemots, Razorbills, Fulmars, Kittiwakes and everybody's favourite, Puffins! We also saw Great and Arctic Skuas, Arctic Terns, Gannets, and on the water, many Seals and  even  a bonus view of a Minke Whale! A lovely venue, well worth a summer visit.

I also managed a mammoth (4.30am-7.30pm) day trip to Mull at the end of the month. For anyone wanting to see Otters, Golden Eagle and Sea Eagle in the UK -  this is the place to go! Within an hour of reaching the island we had seen 2 Sea Eagles and an Otter, and our luck continued throughout the day, with a final tally of 6 Sea Eagles, 3 Golden Eagles and 3 Otters,  along with numerous Cuckoos and assorted seabirds - a great day at a truly magnificent wildlife destination!

So that was May, Phew! What a month! I may have said it before, and I may well say it again, but with it's snow, frosts, sleet, hail, rain, sun, stunning dawns & dusks and fantastic scenery and wildlife, I honestly wouldn't rather be anywhere else in the world than Speyside in Springtime!

April 2012 showed us in no uncertain terms that Winter was not yet over! The month started cold and snowy, mid-month was rainy with floods, and ended with more frosts and hill snow! A rude awakening after the mild March! A fair number of winter visiting birds lingered, and the influx of summer migrants helped swell bird species on our day lists to 50+, whilst mammal day lists remained steady at 6-9 depending on our luck....

April is probably my favourite month for wildlife watching in this area. It is always an exciting time with many rare species returning to their local breeding grounds and many displaying, and therefore at their easiest to see...

Wildlife highlights included:

Local specialities that continued to show well regularly included Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Red Grouse, Dipper, Slavonian Grebe, Red-Throated Diver, Black-Throated Diver, Osprey, Red Squirrel, Red Deer, Mountain Goat, Mountain Hare etc with Crested Tit, Crossbill and Golden Eagle seen occasionally...

April is THE month for Grouse species in this area - Capercaillie (males and females) were seen     regularly at dawn at the RSPB reserve at Loch Garten (open April 1 - May 19). Black Grouse lekking peaked at the end of the month, with the odd female appearing to spur the males on! Cock Red Grouse continued to display & call throughout...

Secluded local lochs gave us super sightings of Slavonian Grebe, Red-Throated Diver and Black-Throated Diver, all in their stunning summer plumage.

Good views of an Otter fishing soon after dawn on a local loch - a great start to the day!

More summer migrants arrived, with Wheatear, Swallow, Common Sandpiper, Willow Warbler and Ring Ouzel all seen for the first time this year....

Our local Ospreys got down to business, with them being seen nest building and mating and we were even lucky enough to see a fish being brought to the nest on a couple of occasions!

Golden Eagles were seen on several occasions in upland glens, with us even witnessing 2 birds 'teaming-up' in an attempt to catch a group of Red Grouse - exciting stuff!

Merlin was noted for the first time this year , with good (if brief!) views of one hot on the tail of a fleeing Meadow pipit.

Fledglings! Mallard youngsters were noted mid-month - all together now - aaaahhhh!

Early risers were able to enjoy a 'proper' dawn chorus for the first time this year - a very enjoyable and under-rated experience!

One sad story to report.... One of our 2 local 'rogue' Capercaillies met an untimely and unnecessary death mid month when it was killed by a dog whose owner apparently ignored signs requesting leads to be used &control to be exercised...........