The standard of entries for this year's BWWC wildlife photography competition is already amazingly high, and the entries keep on coming...

Firstly, looking at Paul Withers' work it's difficult to imagine a better image of a Bottlenose Dolphin than this one taken at the world-famous cetacean watching spot, Chanonry Point.

And then there is Bill Saxton's stunning image of one of Britain's rarest mammals, the Pine Marten caught out hunting uncharacteristically early.

If you've stayed with us in 2009 and want to enter then we'd be delighted to see your images too, and if you think you can better Paul or Bill's efforts then you must have a stunner!

A blazing hot guided walk on Sunday saw our guests catch a suntan, as well as sightings of Scottish Crossbill, Red Squirrel and Roe Deer! Our usual stop-off on the old packhorse bridge found the River Spey teeming with life, with Grey Heron, Dipper, Common Sandpiper, Goldeneye and Grey Wagtail all seen from the bridge.

Meanwhile, the summery weather is producing all kinds of unusually early sightings - from Bumble Bees to Butterflies (Small Tortoiseshell, Comma and Red Admiral have all been seen) and, perhaps best all, a spate of Bottlenose Dolphin encounters at various sites on the Moray Firth.

Hail the hot weather!

I received a great e-mail with photos from Tim Wells which summarises perfectly the great diversity of wildlife which our guests can see even over a few days...

Red Grouse and Red Deer on the moors, rafts of Eider Duck and Bottlenose Dolphins on the Moray Firth, and Snow Bunting in the mountains. Just another day in the Highlands, really.

Thanks for those, Tim.

A truly inspiring Illustrated Talk by Osprey expert Roy Dennis at the hotel ensured that we ended 2008 on a high (not forgetting the traditional Hogmanay dinner-dance and ceilidh, of course!).



And the first guest wildlife sightings of the New Year gave a mouthwatering taste of what is to come over the next 12 months...4 Bottlenose Dolphins at Chanonry Point...Black Grouse at Lochindorb...and skeins of Pink-footed Geese landing on the frozen lochs and comically skidding and sliding away into the distance.




Lochindorb itself was a haunting place to be at dusk as the melting ice groaned and occasionally exploded as another 'berg' broke off. Even the River Spey has frozen and looks particularly picturesque as the image left shows...I wonder how the spawning Atlantic Salmon are managing in the headwaters of the Monadliath Mountains if one of the main rivers of the Highlands can freeze up?

Still, with a warm Hotel to return to and over 100 Speyside single malts to choose from, wildlife watching in winter at the Grant Arms has its own singular charms...

A very Happy New Year to everyone!

Did anyone read the Guardian on Saturday? (13th Dec)

The paper had a supplement featuring the world's 100 Best Wildlife Holidays, and I'm proud to report that the Birdwatching and Wildlife Club made it into the 10 Best Birdwatching Trips.
Despite his stay coinciding with the worst weather of 2008 (gosh, was it cold!) Guardian journalist Dominic Couzens described us as "the perfect place for birdwatchers to roost" and I hope those of you who have stayed with us in 2008 will agree. For the full article visit http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/dec/13/top-100-wildlife-holidays-wildlifeholidays


And so to the wildlife. Lots to report as ever - the Bittern is still at Loch of Strathbeg along with over 16,000 Pink-footed Geese as well as Greylag, Barnacle and White-fronted from Greenland. The Moray Firth is awash with rafts of Goldeneye and Red-breasted Mergansers, Common and Grey Seals are everywhere, whilst a pod of 4 Bottlenose Dolphins put on a great display at Chanonry Point at the weekend!