Phil Knott's Wildlife Diary 2007
Aigas Wildlife Diary
Winter Update (15th January – March 23rd 2008)
The weather has been, as it always has been, mixed. It’s fair to say we have had more of a winter this year than last year, and as I write this there is still some snow on the ground. This hasn’t halted the irrepressible march towards spring, as the bird song is fantastic and the tree buds continue to burst.
Birds
What a way to kick start spring, a superb immature White-tailed Sea Eagle low over Aigas for 10 minutes! Whilst they have been recorded before, it is the first for many years. The bird was tagged, but alas we couldn’t make out the colours or marks in the poor light, so the bird could be from the thriving West Coast or newly established East Coast population.
The dawn chorus of resident birds is superb – so far we have no summer migrants adding their input. Of particular note are the thrushes, Blackbird, Song and Mistle Thrush, along with Robins, Dunnocks, Treecreepers, Tits, Finches and Crossbills. Great Spotted Woodpeckers drum incessantly, while our local summer migrants have announced their arrival with a spot of singing too. Every winter our House Sparrows, Starlings, Woodpigeon and Pied Wagtail “disappear” only to appear in March again. Where do they go?
Love is definitely in the air for our larger birds too. Our local Peregrines have been seen mating, our Ravens are on the nest and Red Kites, Kestrels and Buzzards have all been seen in pairs near known breeding sites. Hooray! Our resident Rooks are busy nest building too – almost exactly the same time as last year.
So what interesting birds have we seen on our travels you cry! Well there really are too many to list, but our favourites have included Velvet and Surf Scoter, Snow Buntings, displaying Dippers, Hen Harrier, Black-throated Divers back in the hills, Crested Tit at close quarters, Scottish, Parrot and Common Crossbills, plenty of Eagles, flocks of 25 Bullfinch, Iceland and Glaucous Gulls and a good number of Red Kites. Phew!
Mammals
Good news! The Badgers are back to regularity, and are feeding every night, usually before 10pm. From the setts that we know about there is good evidence of breeding, hopefully we shall see cubs this year after a poor 2007. There have been 3 Badger road-kills near us in the last few months, all males. That takes the total to 6 in our area in one year.
Our 3 Pine Martens are still on show, with the adult male and female still on good terms, and last years youngster still around. Dad doesn’t mind but Mum does is the very clear message they give out when young “Stoaty” arrives.
Red and Roe Deer continue to be seen around the estate, along with Brown Hare and Fox. One guest reported seeing a Wildcat!! Our first record in years, but sadly no trace since.
Otter sightings have been close, prolonged and regular over the last 3 months. Winter is the best time to see Otters, with shorter daylight, less disturbance and colder water concentrating their feeding. One family already has cubs that are over 4 months old. Hopefully they will visit us again soon, a few spraints here and there have proven they haven’t forgotten us! Both the east coast and west coast continue to deliver sightings for staff and guests alike – its just knowing where and when to look!
Other sightings
On the botany front Snowdrops and Crocuses have come and gone and our Daffodils and Lesser Celendine are just starting to emerge. A walk in the plantation also lets you know the Sitka Spruce and Douglas Fir have woken up, a lovely pine like smell is drifting through on the breeze, while the Larch buds have just broken, kick starting the trees.
The first Common Lizard was seen on March 16th out on the hill, while Frog spawn was first noted on 21st February – 2 weeks earlier than 2007. Most has succumbed to frost. None spotted on the loch yet, nor Toad spawn. Watch this space!
Very few insect sightings as yet. No butterflies, just a few Dotted Border and Common Rustic moths on the windows, though a Bumblebee sp was seen March 22nd, most likely a queen looking for nest sites.
Autumn 2007
The weather continued to be inconsistent, with October being extremely sunny, November wet and December cold! As I write this (January 2008) there is around 4 inches of snow on the ground outside, and plenty of ice. This is probably more snow than we had for the entirety of winter 2006/7!
Mammals
The Pine Martens continue to perform around the estate and in front of the hide. We have been seeing the male, female and one of the 2007 kits regularly. Whether this kit is welcome or not is questionable. Mum certainly didn’t appreciate its presence last visit, and a frantic fight and chase ensued. The cheeky youngster was soon back again though, but for how long it is not clear. There is no doubt that the long staying parents rule the roost here and intruders or over-stayers are not welcome!
The Badgers continue to come into food, and have been active despite the fair dumping of snow. However, it is the middle of the night when they emerge at the moment – how inconsiderate! Evidence around the estate is greatly reduced, with our renegade youngster no longer around. Right through August and September he could be easily found by torch, and he had little fear of humans. We certainly appreciate the time we had with him!
The snow has confirmed what we have suspected for a while – that it has been a good year for Brown Hare and Fox. Evidence throughout the autumn pointed to this, but the recent snow confirmed the density. Deer numbers, both Roe and Red, are reduced from last winter, following on from a very productive rut throughout the Highlands. We obtained wonderful views of roaring and rutting stags amid stunning scenery – complete with Golden Eagles overhead!
Otters continue to be seen locally. We have seen individuals on the River Beauly, the Beauly Firth and on the West Coast in the past few months, plus recent tracks in the snow around the Aigas loch! This is consistent with our frequent sightings from the rest of 2007.
Red Squirrels continue to be spotted around the grounds, skipping from tree to tree on the upper estate, and at close range on the Squirrel feeder right by the cabins! Following on from the summer, Red Squirrels are seen every day at Aigas, and thankfully they are now eating peanuts, as opposed to the expensive hazelnuts!
A Pipistrelle bat was also recorded December 12th – very late!
Birds
It has been a busy old year at Aigas. Before all the summer migrants had moved off, we had Pink-footed Geese, Redwing and Fieldfare all starting to return in September. This continued throughout October, and included a large influx of Goldcrest and Woodcock. Vagrants on the estate included 2 Jays, a Chiffchaff and a Reed Bunting. There have also been frequent sightings of Whooper Swan, Crossbills, Redpolls, Siskin, Yellowhammer, Sparrowhawk, and Buzzards.
Trips throughout the Highlands this winter have brought stunning views of Ptarmigan, Snow Bunting and Golden Eagles in the hills, Grey Partridge, Tree Sparrow and thousands of Geese and Swans in the fields and Grey Plover, Long-tailed Duck, Common Scoter, Velvet Scoter, White-tailed Eagle, Purple Sandpiper and Pintail to name but a few down on the coast. Particular birds of note include 150+ Twite, Iceland Gull, Glaucous Gull and the number of Woodcock throughout the Highlands this winter. It is the most we have known for a long while.
Birds on the estate throughout the year have included Crested Tit, Black Grouse, Bullfinch, Goldcrest and Common Crossbill.
Anyone living nearby with interesting records of birds or mammals are welcome to submit their records to us. Email phil@aigas.co.uk.
July 20th – September 13th: More Summer News!
Its been a busy old summer up here in the Highlands, and seemingly a good breediong season for just about everything. Wet and warm has been the weather, with only a few days of either consistent rain or sun. A real mixed bag from day to day and week to week.
Mammals
Its been a busy old time for the mammals in the local area. We have kept a very close eye on our family of Pine Martens, and can still confirm the presence of at least 5 individuals regularly visiting the hide. The two kits from this year are doing very well and in fact quite independent already. Both parents tend to ignore them if they are seen together. The last few weeks has seen an awful lot of chasing and screeching from the adult martens – the dog marten is also now back to scenting regularly, so the mating season is now upon us.
Those inconsistent Badgers have finally started to deliver again too. We now have 2 Badgers that we know well, typically with one coming before 10pm for a good old feed. We have a couple being seen regularly on the estate too, while there is a definite boundary between the Aigas estate and the Aigas Farm and road. Perhaps another sett we did not know about?
Also on the estate we have been seeing Fox and Red Squirrel, with the latter on the feeders most mornings. A Sika deer has been heard screaming of late too.
Our trips out of Aigas have produced lots of Otters, Stoats and another pesky Mink, sniffing one of our guests boots!
Birds
As the breeding season comes to a close we can report success on many fronts, especially with our local Ospreys that we keep a close eye on. 3 chicks is a great return, and we know of 2 other nests on our travels that also had 3 chicks. I have been out and about in the Inverness-shire area looking for raptors too, and can report several good sightings of Hen Harrier, Merlin and Goshawk to name a few. With a good year for Golden Eagles helping matters too, Aigas trips are incredibly fruitful for our most exciting birds, with eleven species of raptor possible on our trips.
For our smaller birds its been busy too. As I write this there is a flock of over 120 Siskin in the trees outside, while I have already had 2 flocks of Crossbill flying over today. They have become much more predictable of late, as have our resident Crested Tits. Other difficult species to see also show well at this time of year, such as Bullfinch, Redpoll and Treecreeper.
It’s a good time of year for passage seabirds, and we have had repeated views of Great and Arctic Skua, frequently chasing the resident Arctic, Common and Sandwich Terns. Also on the coast we see numerous Gannets, Kittiwakes, Razorbill, Guillemot and Black Guillemot. There are also lots of waders on the move, and on passage and at roosts we see good numbers of Bar and Black-tailed Godwits, Whimbrel, Greenshank, Knot, Dunlin, Sanderling, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Redshank, Oystercatcher and Curlew.
The feeders at Aigas are topped up twice a day at this time of year. Large numbers of Greenfinch, Siskin, Chaffinch and Coal Tit are doing most of the damage. With that many pairs of eyes no Sparrowhawk can be successful, though it doesn’t stop them making attacks!
May 19th – July 19th 2007 – The Summer news!
A lot can happen in 2 months, especially if you are interested in wildlife and live in the Highlands! The whole period has been dominated by rain, often heavy, sometimes incessant and with never more than a couple of days grace between bursts. At the time we thought it would be disastrous for our local wildlife, but I think the lack of wind and cold when it did rain meant the birds and mammals were ok. I am not so sure about dragonflies and butterflies though…it’s hardly been flying weather! The conditions have been ideal for plant growth though and the Highlands are cast in wonderful shades of green. The bracken behind the loch is over 7 feet high in places – literally a jungle!
Birds
At the last update the Swifts had arrived back, and that was the last arrival on the migrant front, save for a handful more Spotted Flycatchers and a rare visitor! That rare visitor was a Honey Buzzard, seen well on a couple of occasions less than 30 minutes drive from Aigas. Everything seems to be going along fine, and baby birds are to be found everywhere, most of the smaller birds on their second brood. Even in mid-summer the bird feeders are busy – a veritable feast of Chaffinches, Siskins and Tits. Exciting breeding birds include Barn, Tawny and Long-eared Owl, not forgetting Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and nearby Red Kites. Our nearby Peregrine nest had a whopping FOUR chicks this year. Good job. They have been seen over Aigas frequently, making lots of noise in the process. Ospreys are still a regular sight, both at the loch and on our day trips out. Nearby nests are faring well so far.
Our day trips out have provided some fantastic wildlife viewing. If birds of prey excite you, then you will surely be envious of the brilliant views we have had of Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl, Golden Eagle, Honey Buzzard, White-tailed Eagle and Merlin amongst the commoner Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel on our day trips. Other exciting birds include Tree Sparrow, Arctic Skua, Great Skua, Twite, Gannet, Puffin, Manx Shearwater, Storm Petrel, Corncrake, Raven, Crested Tit, Crossbill, Snipe as well as awesome views of Red-throated, Black-throated and Great Northern Divers, all in spanking summer plumage.
Mammals
Good news! Our secretive Pine Martens have provided us with 2 bouncing baby kits, seen several times in the last month. They are around 3/5 of the size of the female and are full of energy. So we now have 5 martens to look out for, and you can usually get 1-2 on full view in the hide before 10pm most evenings, all in strong natural light!
The Badgers have not been so obliging. They have clearly been frequenting the area but seem to be neglecting our lovely peanuts until 3am or so! How inconsiderate!
What else have we been seeing? Lots! Otters have been showing very well for us locally, even curling up and having a kip on the bank near us! We see them frequently from both the east and west coast too. Stoats have been seen out in the middle of the day, as have Foxes and Brown Hares. A selection box of Voles, Mice and Shrews have also be seen and heard, with a few Brown Rats and a single American Mink on the West Coast – about as popular as a Grey Squirrel in this neck of the woods! Thankfully none of those have been seen amongst the plentiful Red Squirrels seen at Aigas and in other wooded areas. We have at least 2 baby Squirrels that spend most of the day chasing each other from tree to tree. They have now started to come in to our feeders (at last!).
If you want Beaver news then check out Jenny’s Beaver Diary – they have been very busy indeed!
Sea Mammals
Our Bottle-nosed Dolphins in the Moray Firth are still providing us with quite a show, and are seen most days, often at very close range to the shore. Sharp eyes will also pick out Grey and Common Seals, Harbour Porpoises and single Minke Whales in the Pentland Firth and from Sumburgh Head in Shetland.
Insects
Summer is truly upon us when the Fritillary butterflies are out – so far we have seen Pearl-bordered and Dark Green Fritillary, both special sights. Speckled Wood, Small Heath and Meadow Brown are also very common. Moths are evident in even more variety and often colour! Highlights have included Garden Tiger, Elephant Hawkmoth, Poplar Hawkmoth, Gold Spangle, Burnished Brass, Swallow Prominent and Coxcomb Prominent, and we still have the rest of the summer to go!
Dragonflies have included Golden-ringed and Four-spotted Chasers too.
Reptiles
A lucky few have also seen an Adder or two out on the hills – not as common as they used to be!
April 16th – May 19th
Sorry for the delay in the latest update avids – it’s been worth the wait with lots of exciting news from the wild Highlands!
The end of April brought about the widespread tree burst throughout the Highlands, most noticeable being the Larch and Birch trees, transforming glens into a sea of green. The wildlife has responded accordingly, with a mass emergence of bugs and beasties, just as the main thrust of migrant birds arrived.
Birds
This week has seen the long awaited return of the Swifts to the Highlands, with 5 or 6 zooming around the House of Aigas. All of the other summer migrants appear to be in the Highlands or around at the coast and appeared in the following order: Whinchat, Blackcap, Cuckoo, Sandwich Tern, Common Sandpiper, Wood Warbler, Manx Shearwater, Sedge Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart, Arctic Skua, Common Tern and Whitethroat. It really is bustling with life everywhere you visit up here! I will keep you updated with news of any really late arrivals, like Dotterel or Honey Buzzard. I have yet to hear Garden Warbler or Grasshopper Warbler, so we shall have to see if these scarce migrants are present so far north, the same is true for Pied Flycatchers and Lesser Whitethroat. If any local residents happen to spot or hear any please email me! In fact we would appreciate any interesting local sightings, so don’t feel shy!
As for our resident birds, well, love is certainly in the air. Before we knew birds were properly nesting we had a brood of Blackbirds in a Holly bush, while we have seen several Robin nests, a Mistle Thrush nest and a Treecreeper nest! The Swallows that are back have built nests already and have started on their first clutch. You’ll be delighted to know that our local Ravens fledged three chicks! While our local raptors are still on eggs, or with very small chicks. We will let you know how it turns out, but obviously can’t reveal too much! The nyjer seed feeder is also crammed full of baby Siskins!
With regards to winter visitors, a few skeins of Pink-footed Geese were seen into May, but most other things have departed. No Redwings, Bramblings or Fieldfares have been seen or heard in over a month now. A flock of c.45 summer plumaged Knot was a nice bonus last week though, as are the remaining Long-tailed Duck in the Moray Firth. Any Great Northern Divers that remain are in spanking summer plumage too, quite a rare sight!
Some of the birds we have seen on our excursions from Aigas have been pretty special in the last month too. We have seen Goshawk, Hen Harrier, Merlin, lots of Golden and White-tailed Sea Eagles, numerous Red Kites and even a Long-eared Owl! If we throw in all the British grouse species, (Ptarmigan, Red Grouse, Capercaillie and Black Grouse) and exciting birds like Ring Ouzel, Crested Tit, Whooper Swan, Slavonian Grebe, Common Scoter, Whimbrel and Greenshank, you will build up quite a list!
Sea Mammals
It is that time of year again, and on cue, the Moray Firth Bottle-nosed Dolphins have returned, and we have enjoyed great views with several of our guests. We have also seen Harbour Porpoise off of the east and west coast, while the first Minke Whales of the year off of Skye.
Mammals
All is well here with our local mammals, though our Badgers have been a bit inconsistent of late. Hopefully the tasty earthworms have been keeping them away from our feeding station. We haven’t seen any cubs or kits of anything yet, but will let you know as soon as we do. Our Pine Martens are still showing well, including around the cabins and estate. We have at least 3 regular visitors, often in broad daylight. Foxes and Hares are well represented in the vicinity, with lots of Wood Mice. Red Squirrels are still seen regularly, especially on our day trips out in the local area. Red and Roe Deer are still being seen on a daily basis too. Our early morning Otter watches on both the east and west coast of Scotland are proving very successful, with a family of 3 Otters seen several times. They are usually seen feeding on eels and flatfish.
Other sightings
Butterflying and dragonflying season is now upon us, and so far we have recorded Large Red Damselfly and Four-spotted Chasers for Odonata, with Speckled Yellow moth, Small White and Green Hairstreak butterflies for Lepidoptera.
Interesting flowers include Butterwort, Common Sundew, Milkwort, Lousewort, Tormentil and Heath-spotted Orchid amongst the moorland and woody fringe of heather and bracken.
The first Long-eared Bat of the year was seen in a wendy house, while the number of Pipistrelles is outstanding, often upto 15-20 around the loch when the flies emerge! With a good number of Swallows zitting over the loch in the day it is a wonder there are any flies or midges left!
March 30th – April 16th
Boom! Spring has arrived with an explosion of life, noise and colour. Strathglass has turned a bright green in the space of a few days, while the undergrowth rustles with bugs and beasties. The weather has been dry and warm for the last two weeks with little exception. There are no complaints from the wildlife anyhow, while we are in shorts and t-shirts!
Birds
On cue, the first wave of migrants arrived. A Chiffchaff started things off at Aigas quarry on the 3rd, while since then Wheatears, Sand Martins, Swallows, Willow Warblers and Lesser Black-backed Gulls have all returned to the Highlands. It is also good to see and hear several Tree Pipits behind the Aigas loch. Oh I nearly forgot to mention the return of the OSPREYS too! Seen fishing and mating at a regular nesting sight, good show!
Elsewhere on the estate, there have been sightings of Black Grouse, Red Kites, Long-eared Owl, Sparrowhawk and countless Meadow Pipits and Skylarks. Above Aigas, Scottish Crossbills, Redpolls, Siskins and Crested Tits continue to be located, and are all thought to be breeding. The loch has sadly gone quiet. No Goldeneye, the Little Grebes are gone and only a single Cormorant. However, 3 Grey Wagtails were seen together recently, and a lone and rather lost Redshank flew around the loch. A rare bird at Aigas!
A local walk from Aigas in early April produced signs or sightings of Ptarmigan, Golden Plover, Red Grouse, Merlin, Goldeneye and several Woodcock. The hills around Aigas are really bustling with life.
Mammals
We still await the arrival of Badger cubs, and Pine Marten kits. Could be a while yet. The adults of both species continue to feed happily at our hide, while their signs elsewhere are still plentiful. Roe Deer have recently started to bark more vociferously, while the Red Deer are starting to wander higher and higher over the hills. Most notable behaviour for us has been that of the Brown Hares around the area and on the estate. They are showing no fear at all, even to dogs, and are often seen chasing through gardens and on roads! Mad April Hares up here at least anyway. No boxing witnessed yet. Another good sign is the number of Stoats seen locally. They have been seen throughout the day all around the Highlands. Some still had traces of ermine too. Red Squirrels are still active too, though not as abundant as in winter. Plenty of natural food for them in the woods now, so no need for our help!
Plants and Invertebrates
Several bugs have come out in this warmth, including Violet Ground Beetles, Rove Beetles and Green Tiger Beetles. Butterflies include Speckled Wood, Orange Tip, Peacock, Small Copper, Small Tortoiseshell and Red Admiral. We have also moth trapped on a few nights, getting lots of Common Quaker, Clouded Drab, Engrailed and Hebrew Characters amongst others. It really is bustling. Bumblebees are also out too. We will make efforts to identify them soon!
Plant wise, we look down at the Dog Violets, Lesser Celandines and Wood Anemones and up towards the burstling Silver and Downy Birch. Larch has also come out, turning the forest rides from a golden brown to a bright green. Several other trees like Hawthorn are in leaf, while Blackthorn and Gean have been in blossom for a while now.
March 14th – 29th
What a couple of weeks of contrast – blizzards the weekend before last and scorching sunshine this weekend. Activity is really picking up here, as plants, insects and mammals catch up with the busy birds. For me, it has been the best 2 weeks of wildlife since I arrived, and I have obtained some views of elusive wildlife that I know I will probably never top!
Mammals
Undoubted highlight was on the evening of the 21st. Jenny Grant and I had just enjoyed brief views of Willow the kit Beaver (see Jenny’s beaver diary!), and we started our walk back from the loch. When we came to the plantation I put my torch on full beam to scan the road ahead, and lo and behold a mammal was trotting along the road, towards us! As we stood mesmerised, this dark creature kept coming and coming and COMING, until it stopped around 8 feet away from us, sniffing the air! It was a soaking wet OTTER! Blinded by the light, and not smelling us, he happily bounded past us, leaving us in a state of shock. Since then, Toad remains have been found at the loch, the massacre has started again! One sprainting point contained over 15 toad bone pellets! The bottom of the loch is also full of bits and pieces of toads. Not quite so tasty then…
With the help of Mammal Expert Dr David Dixon, the rangers got a lesson in mammal tracking. David brought the snow with him, making mammal tracking incredibly easy. Amongst the tracks we clearly identified Red and Roe Deer, Fox, Badger, Hare, Woodcock and Stoat!
We have carried out several watches at the badger hide in the last week, where it is a hive of activity. The three Pine Martens continue to visit regularly, while the Badgers trickle through, seemingly busy with scent marking and house keeping! Feeding for them happens later at night, with territories and bedding dominating the early evening. One tatty old badger took a huge bundle of bedding down the sett, and looked very cute rolling the ball under its chin, whilst walking backwards up hill! At least 3 different badgers have been seen this week, with what looked like Dolly caught on tape. With suspicions that she has been underground with cubs, it was a good sight to see a tired and tatty big badger feeding away like there was no tomorrow! No peanut was safe in this monster feast. I suspect this animal has been underground for a long time with little food, and this was her first major feeding trip.
Other sightings of the week included a dog Fox seen over the hill to the north, screaming Roe Deer and several Wood Mice!
Birds
The Goldeneye saga continues, with the three birds still present. However, the dapper male has clearly chosen a favourite lady, leaving one girl all alone. Is it our faithful Goldeneye that has been here all winter? Has she seen this young couple cavorting in front of her very eyes? The sheer cheek of it.
However, she is not alone on the loch, and looks like some of the visitors are here to stay. Mallards are now seen most days, as are 2 Cormorants and a Grey Wagtail. Best news is undoubtedly the pair of calling Little Grebes that arrived last Saturday (24th). Will they set up home? It will be the first breeding attempt in at least 5 years, so we will all be watching very closely.
I had a really good walk last weekend around the hills and forestry behind Aigas, and was amazed at the diversity of what I saw. In nearly every patch of Scots Pine I discovered Crested Tits and Crossbills, while the forestry was well stocked with tits and finches. On the lochs and burns I found several Goldeneye and Mallard, with at least 3 pairs of Grey Wagtails on a short stretch of a local burn. Where have they been all winter?
On the open hills there was still plenty to be seen, with a displaying Golden Plover the best find amongst numerous Meadow Pipits and Skylarks. On the way back I was delighted to find 5 COMMON Redpolls in the woods and a fine male Reed Bunting.
Also notable was the sheer number of Great Spotted Woodpeckers. They were seen and heard everywhere. A good flock of 55+ Fieldfares ended the day nicely.
Elsewhere on the estate we have seen Tawny and Barn Owls, Bullfinches (stripping the buds of Lady Lucy’s ornamental trees!) and a pair of Peregrines.
Reptiles & Amphibians
It is a Toad frenzy at the loch. In the water and out of the water it is a scene of passion. Amongst the weed toad and frog spawn is already thick, and there is still more to come. A walk around the loch is quite hazardous, as toads have a nasty habit of sitting camouflaged on the path! Watch your step!
The warm weather has brought out several Common Lizards seen basking on rocks too.
March 5th – March 13th
Love is in the air! Another mild spell of weather has really kick started the birds and the bees here at Aigas. We still await the first summer migrant, but are suitably distracted by the antics of our amorous residents!
Birds
The male Goldeneye has been strutting his stuff on the loch, looking like Tony Manero in his dapper black and white suit. His neck flipping and calling are certainly getting noticed, the 2 girls are playing hard to get though. The 3 Cormorants and 2 Mallard swim on by quite bemused at his ostentatious behaviour!
Other birds have also turned it up a notch. Red Kites are back on territory and paired up, there are 2 pairs of Buzzards on the estate (one pair mated 12th March) and Sparrowhawks have become more obvious. The smaller birds are also starting to chase through the tree tops and spend the majority of the day singing their heads off. Blackbirds and Yellowhammers have now started to sing too, leaving only the summer migrants absent from the dawn chorus.
The wintering Redwing are less obvious now, though one decided to sing from the tree tops. No Fieldfares have been recorded this week and it can only be a short while before they leave for Scandinavia as well.
Rare bird alert! A male HOUSE SPARROW was seen outside the House of Aigas last week, calling away. It it the first we have seen in over 6 months. Unfortunately the nearest females may be some miles away. Why they arent present is a mystery. Food and nesting habitat is perfect and hasn’t changed at all from the time the birds were common.
Other birds noted on site included a Grey Wagtail and a Grey Partridge.
Mammals
As the days get longer we turn our attention to the Badger Hide, and recent watches have produced a male and female Pine Marten and a boar Badger. One Badger caught on tape last week looked extremely heavy – could this be Dolly, our matriach Badger preparing for yet another litter? She hasn’t been seen on a watch for a while and if she is pregnant then the cubs are due any day now, meaning she is likely to be underground.
Elsewhere on site we have found Otter spraints and seen several Roe Deer. Evidence of Pine Martens around the estate is still prevalent. We expect Otter sightings to go up, especially now that the Toads have arrived en masse at the loch and estate ponds. Last year it was an Otter inspired massacre…
Other News
We have our first wildflowers of the spring, as we have noted Lesser Celandines and Wood Anemone in bloom.Our Daffodils are just breaking out today while congratulations are due to Morag for finding the first Primrose in flower.
Have you had any interesting wildlife encounters recently? Email our Staff Naturalist Philip Knott with your latest sightings - he'd love to hear from you!
February 21st – March 4th
As Ranger Training starts the number of keen eyes on the estate increases, just as fresh signs of spring appear. The weather remains consistently inconsistent as warm patches are followed by cold blasts. The first proper settling of snow happened late on the 27th February, but it came early in the morning and was soon melted away, meaning no mammal tracking was possible.
Birds
Only one new species for the Aigas year, the first returning Song Thrush added himself to the growing dawn chorus. Other good news is the arrival of a male Goldeneye on the loch, the resident females seem quite pleased! Three Cormorants have also been recorded recently. Elsewhere on the estate there is little change, and the noise and bustle shows no sign of abating. There hasn’t been any more Black Grouse sightings, but Crossbills and Crested Tits are still in good supply. A good walk in the woods will usually flush 3-4 Woodcock too.
Down on the River Beauly there have been several sightings of Goldeneye, Goosander, Grey Heron and Little Grebe. Dippers are in full song upstream, while we still wait for the Grey Wagtails. It appears the local Ravens are on eggs too.
Locally the Red Kites have been pairing up and starting to display, while a Sparrowhawk also claimed its first confirmed kill from the bird tables, taking a dozy Chaffinch. A Kestrel also flew into the window of Sequoia Lodge, but thankfully recovered after a minutes rest.
Mammals
Very little to report this week, as everything returns to normal at the hide. Badgers have become reliable again, usually arriving before 9pm to feed, with several Pine Martens still present too. Aside from a few Roe and Red Deer, there has been little else seen.
February 27th – March 1st Ranger Training Trip to Skye!
In terrible weather the full minibus headed out west, bound for Flodigarry, right on the top of the Trotternish Peninsula on Skye. Through snow, sleet, hail and pouring rain we kept going, seeing very little until we got to Shieldaig. Before the bus had even stopped the shout of “Otter!”rung out, and only 40 metres away an Otter was porpoising its way through the harbour. We followed this wee chap down a few hundred metres when it met up with another one, only 20 metres away from us! They then both left, leaving us still in a state of shock. What a way to start the trip. The harbour also produced Great Northern Diver and Black Guillemot. In no time at all we were on Skye, for may of us it was our first ever trip over, though certainly not the last! With low cloud and driving rain we had given up all hope of wildlife sightings, but we couldn’t miss the giant White-tailed Sea Eagle that slowly flapped its way south along the Trotternish Peninsula! The views were brief, but the experience incredible. Very little compares to the majesty of one the worlds largest eagles strutting its stuff.
That wasn’t to be the only sighting though and at the start of the next day we soon had TWO Sea Eagles soaring over Loch Snizort, with one perching on a headland allowing us to view the splendid adult through the telescope. There were more gasps and cheering from the crowd than at a firework display as it fended off the mobbing of gulls and crows. In a split second the eagle could flip on its back and show two massive talons and a huge bill to the persistent pests – enough to put most of them off! Other nice birds included several Dipper on the rivers and numerous Buzzards.
Onto the final day and a sunny start meant that we were optimisitic about seeing Scotland’s enigmatic emblem, the Golden Eagle. Wet weather and low cloud had so far stopped us, but in no time at all we had two Golden Eagles using the wind above a ridge, and at the very next stop had two more! One even perched briefly on the top of a hill, allowing us to scope him, his golden neck beaming in the sun. All delighted, we took a scenic route home via south Skye, and a well chosen lunch spot meant we again had breathtaking Otter views as only 30 metres away an Otter caught a crab and chose to eat it on a rock in full view of us, in great light! Wow! If this is 3 days on Skye in winter – just imagine the summer. We all headed back delighted, spying some Red Deer and Wild Goats in Glen Shiel on the route home.
February 10th – 20th 2007
This week has been a real mixed bag of weather, with a tiny amount of snow, heavy rain and blazing sunshine! The wildlife on the estate seems more settled, and are now in the mindset that spring is just around the corner. We wish we shared their optimism as there has been a sharp cold snap at the end of February for the last 2 years!
Birds
Our feathered friends continue to have faith in the arrival of spring, and new additions to the dawn chorus include Crested Tit (including one singing from the top of a tree with a new Crested Tit box!) and Woodpigeon, which have been getting most amorous in their chases through the tree-tops. Several Rooks have also built nests on the drive and the rest will surely follow suit soon. Another sign of spring was the fact that Red Kites have been seen over the estate and the hill behind Aigas for the first time this year.
A walk to Bad a Chlamlain at the weekend was again productive. Great views were obtained of Crested Tit (5+), Crossbill, Redpoll, Siskin, Bullfinch and a single male Sparrowhawk. Fleeting glimpses were obtained of Woodcock and a male Black Grouse! Returning via the loch produced the resident Goldeneye and Cormorant too!
Mammals
The Badgers have become more predictable this week, arriving to feed from the hide at a more respectable hour! Even Dolly put in an appearance while I was away. Good news is that a boar badger has been coming to feed most nights, tucking into a few peanuts before scenting the whole area about three times over! I think they get the message! The Pine Martens continue to arrive in number, and there was some male and female interaction (just kiss-chase!) caught on camera. They would chase for 2-3 minutes then seemingly calm down before the female approaches the male to goad him for a little more chasing!
The only other mammals we have seen this week have been Red and Roe Deer and a Brown Rat.
There was some late night excitement on the roads as the Aigas team headed back from an excellent Wolfstone concert in Inverness. We all saw what looked like a Wildcat running along the side of the road. With just size and tail to go on is it a definite sighting?…probably not, just another maybe! We also recovered a female Pine Marten from the road last week, she must have been hit by a car. It was probably too far from Aigas to be one of ours.
And finally… Ieuan “The Otter Whisperer” Evans continued his excellent Otter spotting record with three together on the Beauly Firth. That’s probably 6 different otters seen on the Beauly in the last 3 weeks. Wow!
February 11th – 15th – Special Bulletin - Islay Trip Report!
From February 11th – 15th I was on Islay in the Southern Hebrides of Scotland. Why go to the windswept Western Isles in winter? Surely no wildlife there…
Aside from whisky, Islay is famous for its wintering geese, which was my main reason for a February trip. The whole trip was a great success; the weather was fantastic, the scenery was amazing, the people were friendly and the wildlife was breathtaking! In all I saw over 60 bird species in 4 days, but it was the sheer numbers of two of those species that will live long in the memory. These were the Barnacle Goose and the White-fronted Goose. It is estimated that over 30,000 Barnacle Geese winter on Islay, with over 10,000 White-fronts! For an island of that size it is quite impressive, and you couldn’t drive 500 metres without seeing a small flock feeding in the fields. In the evenings they come together to roost, and seeing and hearing thousands of these magnificent birds arrive together is awe inspiring. For one evening I went to Loch Indaal and another I was at the RSPB reserve at Loch Gruinart to see this spectacle and was blown away both times. At Loch Gruinart I was also fortunate to witness Peregrine Falcons attacking Lapwing, displaying Shoveler and great views of Brown Hare and Roe Deer, though I could have got the last two staying at Aigas of course!
Other highlights of the trip included large numbers of Great Northern Diver from the ferry, an adult Iceland Gull in Oban, a 2nd winter Glaucous Gull on Islay and nearly 50 Ravens displaying over the American Monument on the Oa, south Islay. It was also great to see my first Scottish Choughs on the coastal sand dunes, along with a male Hen Harrier flashing past.
Other lucky visitors I spoke to had seen Otters, Dolphins and Golden Eagles!
One thing for sure, Islay is THE place to be in mid February! The presence of Simon King and the BBC Springwatch film crew while I was there proves that!
February 1st – 9th 2007
We started February as we left January, calm and very mild. As the week ticked on it got progressively colder, though we only had the briefest flurry of snow on the 7th. In the last couple of days the night temperatures have seen the loch almost completely freeze.
Birds
Spring still continues to creep up on us, with the Chaffinch chorus being an almost continuous background noise here. Frequent breaks of sunshine have also produced other signs of spring, notably the talon grabbing of Buzzards spiralling from up high. A walk to Bad a Chlamlain on Saturday 3rd February was most productive, with Redpolls, Crossbills, Bullfinches and a Woodcock playing second fiddle to at least SIX Crested Tits! This week has also seen Crested Tit on the lower estate, around the old Beaver Hide. This is quite unusual and is probably due to the harsh dry frost up on the hill. The bird feeders continue to attract a huge number of birds, and the feeders and tables are emptied on almost a daily basis. The biggest numbers still come from Chaffinches, Siskin, Coal Tit and Blue Tit, but there is a good supporting cast of Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldfinches and Yellowhammers. Overhead and in the tree trops the familiar sounds of Redwing, Fieldfare and Mistle Thrush echo out, and they frequently drop down into the pasture at Aigas farm to feed from the ground. The combined thrush numbers easily top 50 birds.
Mammals
The Badger and Pine Marten viewing has been hit and miss again this week. The Pine Martens continue to visit but are most unpredictable. However, Johnny Kindgom and his film crew managed to get great footage of the splendid dog Marten, which we were all delighted with. The Badgers have been coming less frequently of late, and when they do come they arrive after 2am! Some food is left behind too, so numbers of Badgers are clearly reduced. We do hope they are ok! Dolly hasn’t been seen for a while, so we will have to put some time in at the hide to check she is still with us. Cocoa and slippers a must for the long night shift…
Elsewhere on the estate we have seen Roe Deer and lots of Red Deer from over the hill. The cold weather would have brought them down from the hill tops.
On separate days last week Otters were seen on the same sandbank in the River Beauly. The Staff Naturalist was quite jealous as first Ieuan and then Sir John obtained great views from an elevated position on the estate. With signs from the loch and with Ieuan’s views below the Aigas dam last week we seem to be well stocked with our riparian friends!
Analysis of owl pellets found on the estate have shown that we are overflowing in both Field Voles and Wood Mice. We will keep you upto date with what else we find throughout the season.
January 21st – 31st 2007
The mild weather continues, playing havoc with nature’s calendar. Bird song continues to echo around the estate from dawn to dusk and the sheer number of birds on site is also impressive. Aigas is bustling with life! The first Snowdrops appeared last week, again very early for us.
Birds
Highlights have been plentiful this week, both with common and more unusual birds. The personal highlight was having 5 Whooper Swans sat on the loch as we arrived to erect the new beaver hide! The 3 adults and 2 cygnets did several circuits of the loch before they left, and looked fabulous against the rich green of the spruce trees and deep blue of the sky. Their mournful calls really carry on a cold and quiet morning.
Elsewhere on the estate the dawn chorus continues to be enriched, with Treecreeper, Chaffinch and Great Spotted Woodpecker all contributing for the first time in 2007. Other sightings include peaks of 100+ Chaffinch, 12 Yellowhammer, 15 Greenfinch, 8 Goldfinch, 60 Siskin, 15 Crossbill, 2 Kestrel, 2 Sparrowhawk, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6+ Treecreeper, 40 Redwing, 16 Fieldfare and 2 Reed Bunting at the loch. Overhead we have been blessed with the first Red Kite of the year over Loch Cottage, with displaying Buzzards and Ravens make quite a sight and sound overhead too.
Mammals
Pipistrelle Bats have been seen several times this week, chasing after the many moths and insects the warm weather has brought out.The one day of snow that we did have (21st) meant that I was able to get out and track some mammals, with Badger and Fox tracks being most obvious. Other tracks noted were Red Deer, Roe Deer, Hare and of course Pine Marten!
This shows that mammals are still active, although the Badgers have become very unpredictable in their emergence times and behaviour, tending to arrive later and eating less. The warmth probably means there is a glut of earthworms and so our peanuts finish a poor second! We are delighted to report that we still have at least 3 Pine Martens coming regularly to our feeding station. We have also stepped up our efforts to individually identify the different martens we have, so will keep you updated, hopefully with some new pictures and footage! Footage from the hide also caught a Brown Hare and Roe Deer ambling through.
Red Squirrels are still being seen, though have not been seen near the new squirrel feeders. The good news is that they probably don’t need the hazelnuts and peanuts with natural food seemingly plentiful!
Perhaps the best news of all was lots of fresh evidence that an Otter or two have been on our loch! Spraints and fish remains have been found more than once this week, despite the fact we have been working at the loch everyday. An Otter was also seen at the Aigas dam.
Do you feed any mammals at home? We are very interested in finding out more from other wildlife enthusiasts throughout the country. Feel free to email our Staff Naturalist at phil@aigas.co.uk
January 9th – 20th 2007
The continuation of the wet and warm weather has heralded a false spring here at Aigas. Buds have started to break on the Forsythia, Crocuses are breaking through, and the estate echoes with bird song.
Bird News
The dawn chorus (8.30am!) has really picked up in the last week. For the first time the thrushes have broken into song, with Mistle Thrush, Blackbird and even Fieldfare giving us occasional snippets. The Tit species continue to sing all day long, as do the numerous Robins we have. Other species getting their practice in include Crossbill and Greenfinch, complete with slow display flight. The Rooks in the drive did look like they were setting up early, but have postponed their building plans for a wee while longer.
Sightings on the estate included the Goldeneye on the loch, a Cormorant (19th Jan) and a few small flocks of Redpolls overhead. There are at least 6 Bullfinches on the hill behind the loch too, along with 2 or more Crested Tits. Our bird feeders still attract well over 50 Chaffinches, while there are at least 6 Yellowhammers. We still await our first Brambling of 2007! A walk on the moor last Sunday (14th) resulted in a Jack Snipe and a Snipe being flushed, along with several Woodcock.
Mammal News
There are at least 2 Red Squirrels around the cabins, and we hope the new squirrel feeder will keep them their for the foreseeable future. However, tempting them down from the tree-tops (amid plentiful cones) could be tricky. Lets hope hazelnuts and peanuts can do it! There has also been a couple of lost looking deer on the estate, a Red Deer calf and a Roe Deer kid both wandering around in a confused state. Both were perfectly healthy and presumably couldn’t handle some of the higher fences that their mothers clear with ease. A Brown Hare was also seen at the Quarry again.
Do you feed any mammals at home? We are very interested in finding out more from other wildlife enthusiasts throughout the country. Feel free to email our Staff Naturalist at phil@aigas.co.uk
January 1st – 8th 2007
The new year has heralded little change here Aigas, as the wet and mild weather continues. The whole estate still bustles with life, and if anything there has been an increase in wildlife activity. Bird numbers are certainly up, while there has been the first breaks of birdsong, usually during the frequent breaks of sunshine!
Bird News
It has been a good week for bird watching here at Aigas. Male and female Sparrowhawks have been patrolling the gardens, Great Spotted Woodpeckers have begun to use the peanut feeder and there has been an irruption of Crossbills and Redpolls on site. They have been restless and are very hard to pin down and get the telescope onto them, but the Crossbills are certainly showing signs of being Scottish Crossbills, while there is a good chance of Common Redpolls being mixed in with the Lesser Redpolls.
Other sightings on site include a flock of 4 Bullfinches (3 male), 50+ Siskin, 10+ Goldfinch, 50+ Chaffinch, 5+ Greenfinch, 4+ yellowhammer, 25+ Redwing, 3+ Fieldfare, 6+ Mistle Thrush, 3+ Buzzard and at least 4 Tawny Owls. A female Goldeneye has also been ever-present on the loch.
Fantastic news from Sunday 7th January – Lady Lucy Lister-Kaye flushed FOUR Black Grouse, a Snipe and a Woodcock all in one afternoon stroll!
Mammal News
Red Squirrels continue to be seen around the estate and garden, with a mixture of light and dark Red Squirrels, allowing us to identify individuals. A beautiful light coloured individual has long ear tufts and a bright buff tip to his bushy tail. It is seen around the lodges and house most days, lets hope it stays around! Recent practical work on the estate has left patches of broken ground and smoothed mud, perfect for tracking. The most obvious tracks have been of Badger, Otter and Red and Roe Deer. A Brown Hare was also seen at the quarry.
The mild temperatures have seen no let off in mammal action at the badger and pine marten hide. Up to 3 Pine Martens are seen each night, with a distinct male, female and youngster. We assume them to be our family from last year, and the female and kit have fed together on more than one occasion which supports this idea. Since I have arrived (mid-November), the Pine Martens have only failed to show on a handful of occasions, often linked with extreme weather. Indeed the coldest nights, where the temperature dipped below -5 meant there were no sightings at all. However, there have been badgers recorded EVERY NIGHT whatever the weather. The most recorded at once was 4, but we believe more use the area, just at different times. It is very hard to identify individuals on the tape, while sexing them is also difficult. One thing for sure, Dolly and Hookie are fine and well and seen most nights!
Other sightings recorded included a Roe Deer, a Brown Hare and an active family of Wood Mice!
Do you feed Badgers or Pine Martens at home? We are very interested in finding out more from other wildlife enthusiasts throughout the country. Feel free to email our Staff Naturalist at phil@aigas.co.uk
Summer 2006
This update on the summer’s wildlife activities was written by Aigas Ranger Jenny Grant.
 What a summer it’s been so far – both in terms of weather and wildlife! I arrived at Aigas in April and in my first week had great views of golden eagles, otters, bottlenose dolphins, red kites, hares, badgers, hares, and beavers. I thought I’d landed in a wildlife dream ….I had!
 With the end of the cold May, spring seemed to start properly and everything burst into action. At the beginning of April, 15 pairs of rooks were nesting in the rookery on the drive and mating toads littered the lochs edge. The large quantity of toads brought a family of three otters. They were feasting on the toads and the massacre was evident all round the loch. They were there every night for about a fortnight.
 The Ospreys arrived back at the local eyrie on the 1st April and were seen mating there a week later. Since then they have made regular appearances at the loch. We’ve been keeping an eye on them at the eyrie too. The first report of chicks was during the first week of June. There were two little reptile-like creatures popping their heads above the nest in search of their first fish. Time has flown by and both osprey chicks have now successfully fledged.
 Also in the first week of April, long-tailed tits, redpoll, great-spotted woodpecker, chiff-chaff and red-throated diver were seen locally, as were peregrine falcon, buzzard and red kites too. There was, excitingly, a male hen harrier in the Aigas grounds. One of the local glens has produced excellent views of the rare black-throated diver all summer.
In mid-April we had new arrivals at the loch. The beavers were a spectacle for everyone. Fox, roe deer and otter all gave these creatures a second glance as if to say “what is that!?”. Even the BBC had to come and have a look! Read more in the beaver diary here http://www.aigas.co.uk/beavers-g.asp
 A pair of golden eagles were seen around a local eyrie in April and we saw fabulous courtship displays there later in the month. Unfortunately they don’t seem to have produced young at the eyrie but perhaps they found an alternative site elsewhere in the Glen. Another pair we’ve been watching produced a single chick which successfully fledged in the past month.
Scottish Crossbills have been putting in regular appearances around the Aigas loch, as have Crested tits in nearby woods.
But it’s not just outside that the wildlife sightings have been happening. Melanie and I went in search of swifts in the eves of the house for the Scottish swift survey and found one nesting pair. While we were up there we also counted 36 brown long-eared bats roosting. The pipistrelles have been abundant around the grounds and loch, chattering as they gorge on the moths there.
 Now, at the beginning of August, Scotch Argus butterflies are fluttering around in abundance, rosebay willowherb colours the verges and there was a recent spread of heath-spotted orchids around the loch. Many golden-ringed and Highland darter dragonflies have been skimming along the surface of the water among the water lilies and fledgling birds fill the sky. Some are producing a very blue bird dropping – presumably because of green cherry feasting! The number of adult toads and frogs has dramatically increased around the loch in recent nights so I think we may be getting a visit from our otter family again.
Jenny Grant
Spring 2006
Despite the recent cold weather there has been plenty of exciting animal activity at Aigas. We took advantage of the recent snow to explore the usually hidden activities of our local mammal population. We spent many hours tracking foxes, badgers, red and roe deer, pine martens and even otters.
Recent visits to the badger hide have revealed that Dolly the badger sow has made it through the winter and is in prime condition. She looks heavily pregnant and we expect her to give birth any day now. In addition to Dolly we have spotted a second badger sneaking in to steal the peanuts from under Dolly's nose! It will be interesting to see how interactions between these two badgers develop when Dolly has given birth.
We have also had great pine marten watching opportunities with our new feeding station at the hide. We currently have at least two resident pine martens in the area.
The Ospreys have finally reached us and on Satruday 1st April we got our first glimpse of one of the pairs which will hopefully stay to raise chicks in our area. Our local Peregrine Falcons are patrolling their nest site, guarding it against potential rivals. The Ravens are back, announcing their presence with that unmistakable bark. 
We recently got some spectacular views of Golden Eagles in the local area. These magnificent birds are busy displaying and nest building at the moment, allowing superb eagle-spotting opportunities.
Further afield, we have been rewarded with a fabulous fly-by by a pair of White-tailed Eagles in full adult breeding plumage. There are few more exhilarating wildlife spectacles in the Highlands than of Eagles soaring over the rugged mountainous scenery.
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