December saw the weather get colder still, with temperatures dropping as low as -11 in the middle part of the month, and snow remaining on the higher peaks throughout the month.

Wildlife highlights included:

A brief visit from a very rare Sabines Gull to a nearby wetland reserve

Snow Buntings regularly being seen in the Cairngorm Ski Centre car park

Crested Tits began coming to feeders in gardens close to forest edges

Mountain Hares now have their beautiful pure white Winter coats

The Male Black Grouse getting noticeably more frisky on the moors

November saw the first real snows fall on the Cairngorms, suggesting that Autumn has very swiftly turned to Winter! Wildlife highlights have included:

A further increase in the numbers of Whooper Swans appearing on our local lochs, along with
more Winter wildfowl such as Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler & Pochard

The appearance of Redpolls in the (ever-increasing!) mixed Winter flocks seen in the forests

Increasing numbers of reports of Hen Harriers seen over our local marshlands, especially towards dusk, as they gather to roost in the large reedbeds

Several sightings of the (usually!) elusive Woodcock, probing the leaf litter on the edges of the forests

The addition of good numbers of Bramblings to the mixed finch flocks feeding on the stubble fields

A rare (at this time of year) inland sighting, whilst fishing, of a winter-plumaged Red-Throated Diver on a local loch

A brief view of a splendid Male Merlin perched on a farmland fence post, then , in a flash it was gone, fast & low across a field.

October in the Cairngorms National Park sees the true arrival of Autumn. The days shorten, temperatures drop , the trees take on their glorious golds, coppers, russets and reds and the influx of Winter visitors gathers pace.

October highlights include:

The arrival of Whooper Swans on our local lochs, their large size, mainly yellow bills , straighter necks and bugling calls making them easy to identify.

The Red Deer rut reaching it's climax - the older, larger, stronger stags attempting to secure a harem of up to 20 hinds with aggressive displays of roaring, tree-thrashing and ground -raking and occasional actual antler to antler combat - an awesome wildlife experience! (see pic)

Our first sightings of incoming winter thrushes, the Redwings are first to arrive, their thin 'seep -seep' calls betraying their presence whilst flying, accompanied by 'continental' Mistle Thrushes & Blackbirds, the Fieldfares usually being the last to arrive.

The Male Red Grouse on the moors appear to be much more aggressive & vocal, perhaps already trying to establish territories in preparation for breeding season?

The 18th October gave me a great close-up view of a Barn Owl hunting over a local marsh. Using the car as a hide, I parked up and it actually landed on a roadside fence-post less than 20 feet away - a marvellous sight!

The Mountain Hares are beginning to get their White Winter coats, from their feet upwards.

September saw most of our remaining summer visiting birds depart the area, leaving us to concentrate on our resident species and the first of the Winter visitors. Recent highlights in the Cairngorms National Park area included:

The heather-clad hills looking at their beautiful deep purple best.

Mountain Ash or Rowan trees full of Autumn berries (see pic).

The Roe Deer rutting, their loud barking calls alerting us to their presence.

Large flocks of incoming Greylag Geese seen arriving from further North.

Mixed woodland flocks increasing in size and numbers of species - picking out the Cresties is quite a challenge - unless their chuckling trill gives them away!

Large flocks of Mistle Thrushes were noted - presumably Winter visitors from further North.

Dippers on the rivers were heard to sing again for the first time since Spring.

Mid- late August saw further evidence of the approaching Autumn - dawn is becoming later, and dusk earlier (and cooler!), Rowan berries became noticeably abundant and Swift numbers were seen to reduce. Most of the local specialities continued to be seen and enjoyed. Highlights included:

Good views of a Golden Eagle interacting with a pair of Buzzards in a beautiful upland glen, it's white wing patches and tail base identifying it as a juvenile.

An unusually long view of a Stoat exploring amongst riverside rocks, it's quick, jerky movements sadly making it impossible to grab a photo!

Good views of our local speciality butterfly - The Scotch Argus (see pic)

Male Black Grouse numbers increasing at their traditional lek sites

Decent views of a pair of Kingfishers - a rare bird in these parts!

Early August saw most of the local specialities continue to show well, highlights included:

An early morning encounter with an Otter on the River Spey - worth getting up at 4am for!

Our mammal day-list record of 11 being equalled (Otter, Rabbit, Bank Vole, Brown Hare, Mountain Hare, Roe Deer, Red Deer, Reindeer, Sika Deer, Red Squirrel and Mountain Goat)

Our local juvenile Ospreys being seen to fish successfully by themselves for the first time - just as well, as their parents will abandon them any day now and fly off to Africa, leaving them to find their own way!

Great views of Dolphins at the Moray Firth (see pic), so close that we could hear them 'snorting' in air between dives!

Late July saw us get a few sunnier days but daytime temperatures still rarely topped 18c and some nights saw temperatures as low as 5c! These big diurnal temperature ranges often create very atmospheric, misty mornings though, as compensation (see pic).

Safari highlights included:

Good views of Mountain Hare families on the boulder-strewn slopes of an upland glen - their mottled blue-grey/brown/white coats providing good camouflage.

Super overhead views of a Peregrine Falcon and Kestrel having a high-speed fracas, giving us a good chance to compare the the slim, lightweight build of the Kestrel with the altogether heavier more solid build of the Peregrine.

Watching an Osprey make several (sadly,unsuccessful!) plunges into a rather choppy upland loch - a fantastic sight to see!

Several sightings of Stoats chasing young Rabbits.

Our first sightings of Mountain Argus Butterflies, a local speciality.