Late July saw the weather remain changeable, though temperatures were generally quite high, with plenty of sunshine & 16hours+ daylight. Bird day-lists dropped a little into the low 50's due mainly to the exodus from our area by most of the wader species, though mammal day-lists still hit 6+ most days. Another sign of Autumn approaching was the early forming of 'winter flocks' by our resident small birds.

Wildlife highlights included:

Visits to our local Osprey nests gave us good views of the nearly full-grown youngsters furiously exercising their wings in readiness for their 'maiden flight', while their parents sat nearby screeching encouragement.

Super views of a Black-Throated Diver family all fishing together on a beautiful upland loch, their dapper black, white & grey plumage never failing to impress my safari clients (see pic).

Regular sightings of whole families of Spotted Flycatchers eagerly catching insects.

Great views of a Slavonian Grebe family, with the parents seen feeding the still stripy , but rapidly growing youngster.

Regular sightings of Crossbills, their loud 'glip -glip' calls betraying their presence as they fly from tree to tree in search of pine cone seeds.

The Roe Deer rut is now in progress, with the bucks frequently being seen chasing after the does, and their rasping, barking calls being heard from some distance.

Early July saw a slight improvement in our weather though it was still a bit changeable. Although we have now had the longest day, we still have 18 hours of daylight available for wildlife-watching, and bird day-lists still regularly hit 60+ and mammal day-list still average 7+.

Just about all bird species now have fledged young, making them easier to find as they feed in family groups.

Wildlife highlights included:

An amazing and rare close encounter one early morning with a female Capercaillie and her 2 chicks, seen taking grit from the edge of a track (see pic - courtesy of Alan Everest).

Good views of a Peregrine Falcon family on a craggy cliff, the fluffy grey chicks growing rapidly, with the adults often perched nearby.

Regular sightings of Scottish Crossbills in our local Caledonian Pine forests, their presence often being betrayed by their chunky 'glip - glip' calls and the sound of pine cones dropping.

Good views of a Golden eagle in a beautiful upland glen, first over a high ridge, and then the very rare opportunity to see it well through the scope when it landed on a rock in the heather - magic!

A new 2008 record mammal day-list of 11 species! namely: Rabbit, Roe Deer, Brown hare, Bank Vole, Red Squirrel, Reindeer, Brown rat, Red Deer, Mountain Goat, Sika Deer and Mountain Hare.

Regular sighting of Crested Tit families - these real 'local specialities' always proving popular with my clients.

A short, but very enjoyable trip to the Isle of Mull produced superb views of Sea Eagle & Golden Eagle (both adults & youngsters), and a very close loch-side encounter with an Otter - marvellous stuff!

Late June saw more changeable weather, with most days seeing us experience a little bit of everything, except snow, thankfully! Bird day lists continued to hit 60+ species most days, with one late June day also giving us 10 mammal species!

Wildlife highlights included:

An amazing dawn encounter with arguably 'Britain's rarest mammal' a magnificent Scottish Wildcat - the animal in question seen hunting wader chicks, our attention being drawn to it by the furious, and very vocal 'mobbing' of the parent waders. The Wildcat's key i.d. points of large size, heavy build, broad head, black spinal fur, white face & whiskers and thick black ringed tail leaving us with little doubt as to it's lineage.

Good views of Osprey parents feeding their chicks, and the fast-growing chicks being seen to stretch & exercise their wings for the first time.

Decent views of a Golden eagle duelling with a Buzzard in a beautiful upland glen, giving us the chance to see just how much bigger than a Buzzard an Eagle really is!

A very dapper pair of Black-Throated Divers, resplendent in their beautiful grey black & white plumage with a very young looking chick - good news for a very rare species.

A close encounter with a lovely Golden Plover on a local heather moorland (see pic) our attention being drawn to it by it's plaintive whistling call.

Early June saw changeable weather hit the area, with a light dusting of snow on the Cairngorms in the second week! The long days however, provide the opportunity for 20 hours of birding for those with the stamina to attempt it! With all the migratory bird species now back in the area we have seen bird day-lists approaching the 70 mark, many of them with recently fledged young, with mammal day-list usually between 6 & 9 depending on our luck.

Wildlife highlights included:

A couple of amazing track-side close-ups of Woodcock - giving us the chance to admire the wonderfully cryptic plumage of this usually very elusive bird.

Good views of Red Grouse families on the Heather moorland, some with as many as 8 well-grown youngsters.

A 'bonus' view of a splendid male Capercaillie up a silver birch tree, discovered by accident as we were observing an Osprey in an adjacent tree!

Nice close-ups of singing Wood Warblers - not a common bird in these parts - their whole bodies quivering with the effort.

Several sightings of Cuckoos being 'seen-off' by Meadow Pipits - the Pipits obviously very aware that they are a favourite species for the Cuckoo to parisitize!

Good views of Osprey in their nest, with the fluffy, grey youngsters seemingly growing bigger every day (see pic).

The second half of May saw the warm, dry weather continue and the last of the expected migrant bird species such as Dotterel and Whinchat appear in our area, and this combination of good weather and a near 'full-house' of Summer wildlife, of course, made for perfect safari conditions!

Wildlife highlights included:

Bird day-lists hitting the high 60's for the first time this year and mammal day-lists usually between 6 & 9 depending on our luck!

BBC Springwatch featuring the Cairngorms National Park as one of their featured locations, with Simon King 'spreading the word' about Speyside being a great place for watching wildlife and their wonderful footage backing up his claims.

Good dawn views of an Otter fishing on the River Spey - a great way to start the day!

Huge herds of Red Deer seen grazing on the fresh Spring grass on the floodplains of a beautiful upland glen - a magnificent sight.

A walk up to the summit of Cairngorm Mountain - the physical exertion being well rewarded by reasonable views of Ring Ouzels, Mountain Hares and Ptarmigan.

The first new-arrivals for some of our local speciality species - with the first Red Grouse and Osprey chicks being seen at the end of the month.

Unusually good views of a Crossbill family in one of our local forests -the birds, for a change, feeding part-way up a tree rather than at the top - giving me a better opportunity to get some decent photos (see pic).

A day-trip to the SWT's lovely Handa Island reserve off Scotland's spectacular North West coast producing super views of many nesting seabird species such as Arctic & Great Skuas, Razorbills, Guillemots, Fulmars and everbody's favourite, the Puffins. We also had bonus mammal encounters with Seals, Harbour Porpoises and a Minke Whale! A great day out in beautiful surroundings - highly recommended!

May started with a prolonged period of high pressure, Southerly winds and fine weather helping the late-arriving migrant birds such as Swifts, Spotted Flycatchers and Hobbies to make their journey here.

Wildlife highlights included:

A trip to the Moray Coast near Inverness gave us nice views of Dolphins, Porpoises and Seals, with a supporting cast of various Gulls,Terns & Waders, Gannets, Guillemots, Eiders, Long-Tailed Ducks etc.

Closer to home, we have had:

Regular dawn sightings of Capercaillie, mainly at the RSPB Loch Garten hide, though we also managed to see a few taking grit from forest tracks whilst driving between venues.

Good views of Black Grouse 'lekking' (see pic) , making the early starts and stealthy approaches worthwhile!

Most of our local Ospreys are now paired-up with the females on eggs and the males dutifully supplying them with regular fish deliveries.

Regular sightings of both Red-Throated Divers & Black-Throated Divers on local lochs, both species looking very dapper in their smart Summer plumage.

Slavonian Grebes being seen nest-building in sedge beds on secluded local lochans, their amazing golden 'ear-tufts' seemingly glowing in the Spring sunshine.

Occasional sightings of family parties of Crossbills, the pale, streaky youngsters being outshone by the bright brick-red & green-yellow parent birds.

Early April saw the wintry conditions continue, and with no helpful Southerly winds migrant birds remained a little thin on the ground, and most of the Winter visitors remained.

The end of the month however, saw warmer sunnier weather arrive, bringing with it more of the expected Summer visitors.

Bird day-lists started to beat the 50 mark for the first time this year and mammal day-lists were between 6 & 9 depending on our luck!

April highlights included:

Regular sightings of Capercaillie at the RSPB Loch Garten reserve after the 7th as the annual 'lek' got into full swing.

Ospreys being seen at traditional nesting sites, the females first, shortly followed by the males who earned their conjugal rights by providing regular fish deliveries!

Increasing numbers of the beautiful summer-plumaged Slavonian Grebe on shallow weed-fringed lochs, and we even got to see them perform their amazing mating dance .

Black Grouse in full 'lek' mode, with up to 11 males 'strutting their stuff' in an attempt to impress the attendant females.

The Red Grouse were seen to have 'paired-up' already , with the males, their bright red 'eyebrows' seemingly glowing, very protective of their partners (see pic).

Regular sightings of both Red-Throated & Black-Throated Divers on suitable local lochs

The end of the month saw many more Summer migrants arrive, such as Willow Warblers, Ring Ouzels, Wheatears, Swallows, House Martins & Sand Martins.