Bird Watching & Wildlife Club

The BWWC Team took the opportunity on Monday to head out to Creag Meagaidh that sits to the west  of Dalwhinnie on the A86. This National Nature Reserve has a three different well maintained walks of various lengths, or for the more adventurous there is the option to go on up into the hills. This area will be more familiar to many of you as the setting of ‘Monarch of the Glen’, so you will have an idea of how stunning it is. Not only this but rich in wildlife. We had Buzzards soaring, Tree Pipits and Warblers calling, Common Frogs and Slow Worms sunbathing!

Common Frog

On Friday Kirsty and I decided to get out to some sites that may be getting added to the new BWWC Map and of course enjoy some of the sunshine! We headed down to Newtonmore to do the Wildcat Trail. This can be done in sections, but we decided to do the 10km in one go, looping around Newtonmore and taking in the River Spey, moorland, marsh and grassland, and a beautiful waterfall that I was tempted to jump into (yes it was that warm!). The walk was stunning and we can highly recommend it. We saw a variety of wildlife there including Oystercatchers, Buzzards, Wheatear, Red Deer, Lapwings and Reed Buntings. Another option is to follow the trail and hunt for the 79 painted wildcats, part of the Wildcat Experience. We only found around 7, but this one could hardly be missed!

Surfing Wildcat

Sitting at my desk I have the pleasure of watching a variety of birds coming to the bird feeders in our garden and also a family of Blue Tits who have made their nest in one of the many holes in the wall. They have been a great distraction for me when trying to do paperwork but a real pleasure to watch! Throughout the area the same thing is happening, with youngsters filling the woods with their begging calls and taking their first flight. On the Golf Course here in Grantown we have an Oystercatcher pair with their two wee chicks – managing to survive the constant threat of being hit by golf balls! Down on the River Spey the Dipper and Goldeneye chicks are growing quickly and will soon be diving for their own food. With such long summer days to enjoy all of this what a great time of year June is!

Pair of Dippers ©Lynne Whitehead

The Cairngorms and Moray coast is now filling with summer migrants. Some late breeding birds are still singing and claiming their territories, whilst others are being followed through the treetops by begging youngsters. Capercaillie and Black Grouse are still putting on fantastic performances at the early morning leks, making the RSPB Caper-Watch a must-do for many visitors. EJ and Odin the Loch Garten Ospreys have got three eggs and Kirsty and I had the pleasure of watching them for a few hours this morning with guests. Well, with author (and part time quiz master) Gordon Hamlett coming tonight to host a wildlife quiz, and an Easter Egg Hunt to set up for tomorrow, I shall wish you all a very Happy Easter from the BWWC.

Osprey with a fish ©Noel Marry

Black Grouse Lek ©Margaret Breaks

We’ve been enjoying some fantastic weather in Grantown-on-Spey recently.  Blue sky and sunshine has been welcomed and enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.  There’s a real feel of spring in the air.  The birds must think so too as Anagach Woods and other nearby forests have come alive with the sound of birdsong.  Long-tailed Ducks and Red-breasted Mergansers have been seen displaying at Rosemarkie, whilst Black Grouse have started lekking at Tulloch Moor.  We’ve already had a sighting of a Slavonian Grebe inshore – one was seen at RSPB Loch Ruthven – so let’s hope the others aren’t too far behind.  Dippers have been seen collecting nesting material down by the River Spey and I have a very noisy House Sparrow looking for a mate to share my guttering with at home!  Fingers crossed that the good weather continues and the birds have a successful breeding season.

Mountain Hare ©Bob Moore

But for Grant Arms Hotel guests staying over our Valentine’s Break, what could be more romantic then spending the day in Findhorn Valley looking for the local residents in the freezing cold sleet?! The BWWC Team and guests braved the weather and were rewarded with fantastic views of Mountain Hares in the winter coats, Red Deer, Buzzards, Red Grouse and Raven, to name a few.

Crested Tit ©Greg Morgan

Crested Tits were making the most of the feeders during the cold few days over Valentines Day, showing up regularly at the Loch Garten and Anagach Woods feeders – some more entries for our Photography Competition I think. The cold certainly didn’t put guests off, with sightings of Crossbill, Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Dipper, Snow Bunting, Whooper Swan and Pine Marten recorded.

Due to some recent fantastic sightings on the Moray Firth coast from our Guests, Kirsty and I decided that we could not miss out and headed up ourselves, and what a day! We explored the Merkinch Reserve in Inverness, and a few steps from the car had already got twelve species just on the shoreline. Although the small pools there were frozen we managed 35+ Curlew, Little Grebe, Ringed Plover, Teal, Wigeon, Hooded Crows and many others. Sadly the resident Otter was nowhere to be seen, but with clear blue skies and calm water what a day to be out enjoying the local birdlife.

Trips further east along the coast have been equally productive. A male King Eider has once again been spotted in Burghead, with good number of waders including Bar-Tailed Godwits, Oystercatchers, Redshank, Curlew and Purple Sandpiper. Whilst Findhorn gave sightings of Slavonian and Little Grebe, Goldeneye, Eider, Merganser and of course a few Grey Seals!

View over Merkinch Nature Reserve

Guests visiting the Cairngorm Reindeer on Boxing Day

Happy New Year! We hope that 2011 is a very exciting year for you all; I think it certainly will be here at the Grant Arms Hotel. With plans already afoot for a variety of packages and events and with guest speakers coming through the year I am certainly looking forward to it.

Martin Mere Wetland Centre

Kirsty and Katy have just returned from the North West Bird Watching Festival at Martin Mere Wetland Centre (http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit-us/martin-mere).  Having been told about the centre by lots of Guests it was great to actually see it for ourselves and what a fantastic place it is.  The Festival was a success and it was lovely to see lots of familiar faces and catch up with what you’ve been doing.  We look forward to welcoming new Guests to the Grant Arms Hotel and BWWC that we met at the fair and getting you hooked on this beautiful area of Scotland!

We’re very pleased to announce that we are running a competition with the fantastic travel website thetraveleditor.com.  A five night wildlife break for two is up for grabs if you can name the bird pictured above and on the competition page: http://www.thetraveleditor.com/bwwc/ (full competition details available on the competition page).

The winner of this competition will not only visit an exceptional location, enjoying comfortable accommodation and wonderful food here at the Grant Arms Hotel, they will also have the advice and guidance of the Bird Watching & Wildlife Club.  The prize break can be taken any time before 30th March 2011 (subject to room availability and excluding Christmas, Hogmanay and Special Events).

So what are you waiting for?!  Register to receive great updates, news and reviews for thetraveleditor.com and win yourself a holiday in the Highlands!  Good luck.