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.