Where can you see Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Slavonian Grebes, Mountain Hare, Osprey, Ptarmigan, Ring Ouzel and Red Deer in one day?

Right here in the Cairngorms with the Bird Watching and Wildlife Club and Wild Caledonia!

"The best day out ever," (according to guest David Donald) also included a lunch in a remote estate bothy and a nocturnal encounter with a Tawny Owl, on a long but unforgettable crusade for the 'Speyside Specialities'. Everyone involved said they wanted to come again - and you can come too!

We're offering this event again in on 19-20 June and 17-18 July, 2009. For more details and to join in the fun contact Wild Caledonia on 07887 883117.

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.

Winter has its distinct advantages: even the hardiest species are sometimes forced down from the mountain tops in search of food and shelter, and the Highlands of Scotland can seem like the tropics when you spend the rest of the year in the Arctic Circle.

As such we have a collection of photos which form a winter wildlife watcher's salute to old Jack Frost...Snow Bunting at Cairn Gorm, Greylag Geese at Moy, Red Deer on Alvie Estate, oh yes, and our faithful band of Waxwings in Grantown-on-Spey itself...

We can't wait to help our guests enjoy the best of Speyside's wildlife during our Winter Wildlife Watch week and are keeping our fingers crossed that the Waxwings will still be around...one thing is for certain, if they are you'll be the first to know!

Given the heavy snow most of Britain has been experiencing in the last week, I wonder what the weather is like in Siberian Russia?

Clearly, sunny Grantown-on-Spey seems positively balmy in comparison, and over the past few days we've been privileged to experience an influx of berry-hunting visitors.

Flocks of Waxwings have been delighting birdwatchers in the area with their delightful crests and bright yellow rumps and our local contact Frank McKay managed to capture this stunning image of one of these northern invaders.

The moors are well worth exploring for bands of Ravens at play and you might well find yourself treated to the aerial acrobatics of this Buzzard-sized member of the crow family as it practises a spot of dive bombing on an unwitting companion.

It is also one of the easiest times of year to see large herds of Red Deer on low ground, and in particular the fully antlered stags who in a matter of a few weeks' time won't be looking quite so regal after casting their antlers.

A fall of snow on Monday has transformed the Cairngorms into a winter wonderland! And the wildlife watching has been as good as ever.

Our guided walks this week have turned up the best sightings of the year of both Crested Tit and Scottish Crossbill - in fact the Cresties have been seen at a number of sites by guests; check out the very seasonal photo taken by 15 year old Charlie Rogers who stayed with us and caught this great image at Loch-an-Eilein!

In addition, guests are still seeing big herds of Red Deer, as well as seasonal favourites such as Whooper Swan and the first sightings of Snow Bunting at Cairngorm Mountain!

I doubt there's anywhere in Britain to rival the Cairngorms in the winter - to join in the fun why not have a look at our 'Winter Wildlife Watch' package as featured in November's Watcher available to download for free on our homepage...