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!

Temperatures of -8C and a liberal dusting of frost has transformed Anagach Wood and the River Spey into a winter fantasy land.
By the time we reached the Spey mid guided walk, the ice flows were starting to form - not that this put off the hardy pair of divers we spotted - a Dipper and a male Goldeneye - from putting on a great show of busily plunging into the waters in search of the next meal.
Other wildlife was equally forthcoming: Red Squirrels abounded, a Roe Doe was spotted grazing less than 10 metres away and refused to move on, and a supporting cast of Treecreepers, Long-tailed Tits and a Mistle Thrush delighted the party who were nonetheless thankful for the soup and sandwiches on offer back at the Hotel on their return!