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!

Spring has arrived! Over the past few days a raft of guest sightings have been coming in to confirm what we already suspected: the breeding season is upon us!

There have been numerous sightings of divers of various hues - Red-throated on Loch Morlich, Black-throated on Lochindorb and in the world of wildfowl, displaying Goldeneye on both Loch Garten and the River Spey.

To add to the excitement, the Slavonian Grebes are back at Loch Ruthven and it's a great time to see them, as some stubbornly retain full winter plumage whilst some have visibly started to make their costume change into their summer fright wigs and associated finery.

Finally, the action is starting to hot up at the Speyside Wildlife Hide, with both a male and female Pine Marten delighting our guests at a recent watch - thanks to Phil and Barbara Collins for the photo!

Amidst all the snow and ice our winter wildlife watching week has got off to the best possible start - despite it only being Day Two, guests have already seen an amazing array of the best of Cairngorms wildlife with just a few of the highlights being...

5 displaying Golden Eagles at Findhorn Valley...sea ducks and waterfowl galore on the Moray Firth and the River Spey from Eider, Wigeon and Long-tailed Duck to Mergansers, Goosanders and Slavonian Grebes...and of course Red Squirrels and Red Deer everywhere.

Excitement is building for our high altitude walk at Cairn Gorm on Tuesday and fingers are crossed for Pine Marten appearances at the evening hide later on this week!

Wow. Can a whole season have passed already?

After a fantastic first year for the Birdwatching and Wildlife Club, it seems an appropriate time to take stock and reflect on just how amazing, diverse and resilient the wildlife of the Cairngorms really is.
And with so many of our guests in 2008 reporting back to us on what they have seen, I am going to attempt the impossible and try to pick out a few highlights.
From the unusual and the inspiring, to the sublime and the plain ridiculous, here, in no particular order, are our Top Five Guests' Wildlife Encounters for 2008.....

1. A Rabbit chasing a Stoat in Anagach Wood!
2. 4-5 young Golden Eagles circling together over the Lecht.
3. Five different species of geese (Greylag, Pink-footed, Barnacle, Brent and White-fronted) seen together in a field next to Insh Marshes.
4. A lone and late, late Osprey seen flying along the River Spey...at the end of October.
5. A Pine Marten seen hunting in the treetops at Loch Garten in broad daylight...the same couple also saw a cock Capercaillie!

On behalf of everyone at the Birdwatching and Wildlife Club a big thanks to all the people who have stayed with us or made an enquiry in 2008.
We wish you a fantastic 2009 full of wonderful wildlife watching and look forward to seeing you soon!