Loads of great guest sightings - where do I start? Findhorn Valley, the 'Valley of the Raptors', is hotting up with 2 Goshawks reported along with Red Kites, Ospreys and Buzzards.

A Ring Ouzel pair are being seen at the Cairngorm Mountain Visitor Centre car park, and Ospreys have been seen fishing at both Loch Ruthven and Loch Insh.

Both Short-eared and Barn Owls are turning up regularly at Lochindorb, and a first for our guided walks is a definite sighting of a Green Woodpecker which we first thought we heard yaffelling away last week. Right at the northern edge of its traditional range, this is an unusual and exciting encounter for the Cairngorms National Park as a whole.

Every species of bird that we see on our free Guided Walks in Anagach Wood are recorded in our sightings logbook so that our other guests may see them - but they are also sent to the BTO's Birdtrack webpage and contribute to their BirdAtlas.
We have just received the October 2008 newsletter and the main trends in Scotland are as follows:

1. The range of the Buzzard in east Scotland has expanded noticeably - a bird we see frequently on our walks.
2. Black Grouse numbers are believed to be benefitting from a range of conservation and habitat improvement measures.
3. Records of breeding Lapwing are down - yet this bird is a common breeder on the banks of the River Spey in the spring.

Notable sightings on our walks this week have included a flurry of Treecreeper sightings, Wigeon on the Spey and a wonderful, long view of a cracking male Scottish Crossbill!