Wildlife of the Scottish Highlands
16th - 23rd June 2021
Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve
With restrictions still preventing the planned foreign trips, I decided instead to spend some time exploring the wildlife of the Scottish Highlands. I started with three sites to the west around around Fort William, the first of which was Allt Mhuic Nature Reserve where I hoped to find some late Checkered Skippers... unfortunately I failed and instead several thousand midges found me! I did however get good views of an otter feeding in the loch.
Next I tried trecking half-way up Ben Nevis... a great workout but despite some pleasant, sunny weather, again no skippers. Finally, I headed for Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve which was superb, teeming with birds and insect life including at last a quick glimpse of the rare and elusive Checkered Skipper (though no chance of a photo).
Otter in Loch Arkaig
Stonechat at Creag Meagaidh.
Camouflaged Small Argent and Sable moth (Epirrhoe tristata) and...
Violet Ground Beetle (Carabus violaceus) at Creag Meagaidh.
From Creag Meagaidh I headed further east to Perthshire where I had arranged for Bob Smith (https://nature-nuts.org/) to show me the introduced European Beavers on the River Ericht.
As you can see the Beaver was feasting on Japanese Knotweed, which seems like a great idea until you see how many half-chewed pieces are left to float downstream.
European Beaver (Castor fiber) eating Japanese Knotweed
Female Goosander (Mergus merganser) with chicks
I had also booked a couple of days in Bob's 'Pine Marten Hide'. I spent 22 hours in the hide including dawn to dusk on the longest day of the year but sadly with no sign of a Pine Marten.
I did however get good views of Red Squirrel and birds such as Siskin, Jay and Great-spotted Woodpecker.
Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
Male Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus)
Male Great-spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
Bob also gave me directions to a great site for Mountain Hare up above the Glenshee Ski Centre with superb views across the Cairngorms from the top as well as opportunities to photograph Red Deer, Red Grouse and Golden Plover.
It was disappointing not to see Pine Marten which were the main reason for visiting Scotland but none-the-less the trip served as an excellent reminder that you don't need to leave the UK to see great wildlife.
Mountain Hare (Lepus timidus)
Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus)
Golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria) in breeding plumage
Scottish Highlands Species Lists
Fort William area
European Otter (Lutra lutra)Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)
Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus)
European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Field Vole (Microtus agrestis)
Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus)
Black Grouse (Lyrurus tetrix)
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
Checkered Skipper (Carterocephalus palaemon)
Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene)
Small Argent and Sable moth (Epirrhoe tristata)
Blairgowrie and Glenshee area
Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus)
Mountain Hare (Lepus timidus)
European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Eurasian Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
Eurasian Beaver (Castor fiber)
Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus)
Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria)
Goosender (Mergus merganser)
Black Mountain Moth (Glacies coracina)
Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus)