Lisa G Saw • March 14, 2022

Wildlife In Scotland

Winter in the Highlands

2022

For quite a few years I’ve been wanting to visit the Highlands in Scotland in the hope of seeing some of its wonderful wildlife. One of my photography friends joined me on my adventure and we stayed in a beautiful cabin-like cottage in Boat of Garten, which boasted a wonderful garden that backed onto a pine forest. I loved our early morning walks exploring, listening to the birds twittering away as the first rays of light shone in between the pine trees. Plenty of bird food was put out in the garden during our week to attract the local wildlife. Whilst the Rooks dominated - I think at one time I counted 12 - we also saw Robins, Blackbirds, Coal Tits, Chaffinches, Blue Tits and Great Tits. However, it was the sight of Red Squirrels deftly running across the top of the garden fence early in the morning, or scrambling down a tall pine tree, that got me excited. After all, this mammal was at the top of my trip wildlife wish list.

But, before I go any further, I ought to backtrack. We had a little detour to WWT Caerlaverock on our drive northwards, which is worthy of a mention. It’s a fair old way from Sussex to Scotland and I was glad I’d had the foresight to break the journey with a two night stay in Carlisle. It was wonderful to explore the wetland centre for a whole day and be out in the fresh air. Previously, I’d only visited the Arundel and London sites, but this one was my favourite for the simple fact there were no netted enclosures and lots of hides to watch the wildlife from. At this time of year, the entire Svalbard population of Barnacle Geese (≈ 40,000) overwinter at Caerlaverock. We saw a large number of them suddenly take to the skies from a nearby field – the sound was quite deafening.

But, before I go any further, I ought to backtrack. We had a little detour to WWT Caerlaverock on our drive northwards, which is worthy of a mention. It’s a fair old way from Sussex to Scotland and I was glad we broke the journey with a two night stay in Carlisle. It was wonderful to explore the wetland centre for a whole day and be out in the fresh air. Previously, I’d only visited the Arundel and London sites, but this one was my favourite for the simple fact there were no netted enclosures and lots of hides to watch the wildlife from. At this time of year, the entire Svalbard population of Barnacle Geese (≈ 40,000) overwinter at Caerlaverock. We saw a large number of them suddenly take to the skies from a nearby field – the sound was quite deafening.

Notably, a large number of Whooper and Mute Swans gathered on a pond in anticipation of feeding, but it was actually the smaller birds I enjoyed observing the most. Aside from the usual suspects, I was glad to catch a glimpse of some Yellowhammers loitering in the hedgerows, Greenfinches squabbling at the feeders and a little Wren - one of my favourite birds - foraging around the water’s edge. The highlight though was seeing a little Bank Vole periodically appear from beneath a low wooden walkway. It never ventured far from cover and retreated extremely quickly. I’ve got several photos of its back end as it darted under cover.

Notably, a large number of Whooper and Mute Swans gathered on a pond in anticipation of feeding, but it was actually the smaller birds I enjoyed observing the most. Aside from the usual suspects, I was glad to catch a glimpse of some Yellowhammers loitering in the hedgerows, Greenfinches squabbling at the feeders and a little Wren foraging around the water’s edge. The highlight was seeing a little Bank Vole periodically appear from beneath a low wooden walkway. It never ventured far from cover and retreated extremely quickly.

At the end of the day we drove to the adjacent nature reserve edging the Solway Firth. The last pleasant surprise of the day was the sight of a Barn Owl flying past us, almost at head height and no more than 10m away. It cast us a quick cursory glance and then continued onward in the search of dinner. Magical! Capturing a glimpse of any owl is always thrilling and quickens my heart.

On our first full day up in the Scottish Highlands we’d booked a Red Squirrel hide near Carrbridge with professional photographer Mark Hamblin. He’s built a wooden hide sunken into the ground so we were at eye level with the squirrels when they were foraging. There were also various natural perches that had been baited with nuts that appealed to the local birdlife as well. Coal Tits were the most frequent visitors, swiftly swooping in to collect some food close to us and disappearing just as quickly. A couple of Brown Hares made a few apperances, mostly early morning when the light wasn't its best. It was such a bonus to see them foraging fairly close. Those large ears didn't miss anything!

Within five minutes of being set up, our first squirrels appeared and we started snapping away with our cameras. Aside from a one hour lull in the morning, there was fairly constant activity from 8am to 2pm, which was fabulous. The first arrivals sat and ate for quite a while, posing for us beautifully on the logs. More wary squirrels though came in, grabbed a nut and retreated to the safety of a tree to eat. Later, other visitors ventured really close to the hide, virtually filling my viewfinder. I never dreamed I’d see one so relaxed and at ease that close to me. I've visited Brownsea Island before - the only place I've seen Red Squirrels in England - but the only time they've come within a few metres is when they're dashing past at speed. Having these more intimate moments were such a joy and privilege and something I won’t forget.

On our first full day up in the Scottish Highlands we’d booked a Red Squirrel hide near Carrbridge with photographer Mark Hamblin. He’s built a wooden hide sunken into the ground so we were at eye level with the squirrels when they were foraging. There were also various natural perches that had been baited with nuts that appealed to the local birdlife as well. Coal Tits were the most frequent visitors, swiftly swooping in to collect some food close to us and disappearing just as quickly. A couple of Brown Hares made a few apperances throughout the day. It was such a bonus to see them foraging fairly close.

Within five minutes of being set up, our first squirrels appeared and we started snapping away with our cameras. Aside from a one hour lull in the morning, there was fairly constant activity from 8am to 2pm. The first arrivals sat and ate for quite a while, posing for us beautifully on the logs. More wary squirrels though came in, grabbed a nut and retreated to the safety of a tree to eat. Later, other visitors ventured really close to the hide, virtually filling my viewfinder. I never dreamed I’d see one so relaxed and at ease that close to me. I've seen the Red Squirrels at Brownsea Island, but the only time they've come within a few metres is when they're dashing past at speed. Having these more intimate moments were such a joy and privilege.

One tenacious little character was intent on caching as many nuts as it could in the general vicinity. This gave us perfect practice for the leaping shots. We had to pre-focus on the end of one perch, because its movement was lightening fast and easy to miss if you weren’t ready! Anticipating when it would dart across from one perch to the next, I’d fire off a quick burst in the hopes that one of the frames had captured the squirrel in flight. In poor light it was challenging using a fast enough shutter speed without the background appearing too grainy, but it was fun experimenting!

The following day we enjoyed exploring RSPB Insh Marshes. I loved walking through the moss-covered birch copses and creating some arty images of the trees that resembled an impressionist painting. After having lunch sitting alongside the River Tromie we returned to the hides in the hope of seeing some wildlife. It was a bit quiet and nothing was especially close, however, it was nice to see some Roe Deer and a female Hen Harrier (often referred to as a Ringtail on account of its white rump) being mobbed by a couple of corvids.

We enjoyed exploring RSPB Insh Marshes the following day. I loved walking through the moss-covered birch copses and creating some arty images of the trees that resembled an impressionist painting. After having lunch sitting alongside the River Tromie we returned to the hides in the hope of seeing some wildlife. It was a bit quiet and nothing was especially close, however, it was nice to see some Roe Deer and a female Hen Harrier (often referred to as a Ringtail on account of its white rump) being mobbed by a couple of corvids.

We finished the day at Loch Morlich, a much photographed and popular scenic spot on the way up to Cairngorm Mountain. It was so serene. The beautiful tranquil water was calm and serene. The white peaks were perfectly reflected in the stillness, that was until some Mallard Ducks decided to go for a swim. It was the best part of the day.

In the latter half of the week we visited the Loch Garten bird feeding station on several occasions, at different times of the day. I’d read online this was a good place to see Crested Tits, which in the UK can mostly only be found in the pine forests of Scotland. Only in the winter are they likely to come down from the tree tops, so it’s your best chance to see them. Sadly, we didn’t see any there, though I was quite enamoured by the numerous numbers of Coal Tits eager for food.

On the evening of my birthday we’d booked onto an Evening Mammal Watch with Speyside Wildlife. They have a hide set up with lights outside and they put out food for wild Badgers and Pine Martens, should they choose to take advantage of what is on offer. Both species are Mustalids, which is the largest family of carnivores. No Pine Marten had been seen for about a week, but the Badgers were regular visitors. I was amazed we saw nine that evening (from two different nearby setts). They poked their noses into every nook and cranny where food had been hidden, one even managed to knock over a log as it could smell something underneath. Like a team of vacuum cleaners, every morsel of food was devoured within about an hour.

On the evening of my birthday we joined an Evening Mammal Watch with Speyside Wildlife. They have a hide set up with lights outside and they put out food for wild Badgers and Pine Martens, should they choose to take advantage of what's on offer. The Pine Martens hadn't been seen for about a week, but the Badgers were regulars. I was amazed we saw nine that evening. They poked their noses into every nook and cranny searching for food. One even knocked over a log as it could smell something underneath. Like a team of vacuum cleaners, every morsel of food was devoured within an hour.

One Badger didn’t have food on its mind at all and, within minutes of arriving at the feast, mounted a female trying to eat. She didn’t look best pleased and tried to continue with her foraging with minimal success. The male was persistent and held on to her firmly with its front paws and also bit the female behind the neck. I’ve seen the same biting behaviour in mating kingfishers and swans and have read this occurs with many other animal species.

One Badger didn’t have food on its mind at all and, within minutes of arriving at the feast, mounted a female trying to eat. She didn’t look best pleased and tried to continue with her foraging with minimal success. The male was persistent and held on with its front paws and also bit the female behind the neck. I’ve seen the same behaviour in mating kingfishers and swans and have read this occurs with many other animal species.

After the Badgers disappeared into the night, for another long hour, we patiently waited to see if any other creature would appear. Secretly, I was still hopeful a Pine Marten would show up. What a great birthday treat that would be! There was a chance some Wood Mice might scurry out, as they were known to do, or maybe even an owl would perch up in one of the trees. My eyes were constantly scanning for signs of life – around the logs before us and the tree where the Pine Martens usually appear from - but to no avail.

Suddenly, someone in the group broke the silence, ‘Pine Marten!’ I looked up and saw some branches moving overhead, but the leaves obscured its occupant at first. After a few seconds it appeared, though it’s dark brown fur helped it stay fairly well concealed amidst the tree. Its creamy bib on the front eventually gave the Pine Marten away as it surveyed its surroundings, constantly alert and wary. Eventually, it nimbly navigated the branches down to the platform in front of us. With a big smile across my face, in awe and wonder, I enjoyed watching it feeding for a glorious 15 minutes. This would possibly be my only chance to see a Pine Marten in the wild and I savoured every moment.

Suddenly, I heard ‘Pine Marten!’ I looked up and saw some branches moving overhead, but the leaves obscured its occupant at first. After a few seconds it appeared, though it’s dark brown fur helped it stay fairly well concealed amidst the tree. Its creamy bib on the front eventually gave the Pine Marten away as it surveyed its surroundings, constantly alert and wary. Eventually, it nimbly navigated the branches down to the platform in front of us. With a big smile across my face, in awe and wonder, I enjoyed watching it feeding for a glorious 15 minutes. This would possibly be my only chance to see a Pine Marten in the wild and I savoured every moment.

One of the main focuses on this trip was to try and see Mountain Hares in their white winter pelage. Luckily, despite low numbers, we had success seeing them on two days with an experienced guide who knew the area very well. Despite the cold, 40mph winds and a snow shower, it was great fun and the highlight of my trip. Whilst we were lucky we didn’t have the difficult job of trying to navigate through a heavy blanket of snow looking for a white mammal known to hide well in plain sight, it was nonetheless extremely tricky. There was still patchy snow cover over the mountains and lots of white rocks that looked suspiciously mammalian! I was fooled several times, but I did successfully spot one! I was well chuffed! Read separate blog to find out more.

I’ve discovered there is an animal more cute than a lamb - a kid! As an added bonus on our days searching for Mountain Hares we also saw Long-Horned Mountain Goats and quite a few kids. What was quite remarkable was that we saw two pairs of twins. Although it’s not unheard of, it’s not common and certainly our guide had never seen it before.

On our final visit to Loch Garten – and still no joy seeing any Crested Tits – I enjoyed watching the other birds. A Great Spotted Woodpecker visited the large bird feeder and, a first for me that week, I saw a pair of Siskins. The male is a striking yellow colour and the female more dull in colour (right).

Earlier in the week I’d seen some other people placing bird seed in their palm. I wasn't sure it was a good idea to engage so closely with wildlife. I prefer to keep a respectful distance. But curiosity got the better of me. I wanted to experience a bird feeding from my hand and feel its weight in my palm. I figured there was no harm or risk if the birds were bold enough to come that close to humans. The important thing was that it was their choice. With plenty of seed on the feeders and perches nearby and scattered across the ground, they didn’t have to approach it they didn’t want to.

Within seconds of outstretching my hand I felt the delicate feet of a Coal Tit on it, and in a flash it was gone. But as the minutes passed, others did the same, or maybe it was the same one coming back for more. I’ll never know. They were unbelievably light and the feet didn’t scratch my skin. It was such a simple act and yet, I have to admit, it was incredibly uplifting and a wonderful experience and probably the highlight of my day.

On that last day, after chatting to a few other locals, we discovered a better place to look for the Crested Tits. So, on our final morning, we got up extra early to make sure we had enough time to squeeze in one last wildlife encounter before we had to vacate our cottage and drive south. We only had about an hour to spare. It was a cold frosty morning and not many people were about. My friend and I loitered in the darkness of the forest by some bird feeders. Quietly waiting. Patiently. Well, fairly patiently! Time was limited. We could hear the birds singing and calling high in the pine trees where the sun was warming the branches. Eventually, they started to venture lower to feed – Chaffinches and Coal Tits as usual were the first. It was a lovely way to start the day, listening to the sound of nature. I glanced down at my watch – we had half an hour left. I wondered if this would be yet another fruitless attempt. I didn’t give up though - hanging on to hope.

I kept peering through my binoculars. Eventually, I saw that unmistakeable crest. I held my breath! Even though I was hoping to see it, I was still surprised! Excitedly, I turned to my friend and silently gestured that we had success. For about 15 minutes we got to watch one flying about and then feeding. Unlike the other birds, it wasn’t so flighty at the feeders, and it took its time pecking at the peanuts. The light was so poor and when they flew off, they were extremely quick. The few photos I got were not great. I witnessed one perfect moment, when a Crested Tit landed on a sunlit branch higher up, beautifully covered in a bit of moss. But, by the time I raised the camera, it had flown off. Opportunity missed! However, I was just thrilled to FINALLY see one!

What a great way to end my holiday!

To read more about my Mountain Hares adventure click on the link.

See photos...

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A Day at Minsmere

By Lisa G Saw • July 6, 2025

Bob and I had just experienced a wonderful four days in Norfolk in search of the Swallowtail butterfly , which I'd never seen before, and we decided to head home via RSPB Minsmere in Suffolk. Both of us had only ever been to this reserve once before, many years ago, before we knew each other. That first visit for me was a memorable occasion because it was the first time I saw Eurasian Otters in the wild and my first ever sighting of an Eurasian Bittern. Aside from it being a lovely nature reserve to visit anyway, it was the lure of the bittern that was calling me back. We'd already had two lovely sightings of this shy and elusive waterbird in Norfolk, but I had higher hopes for a better, closer sighting at Minsmere having seen some fabulous photos on social media from a few weeks prior. So, whilst we were sad to be leaving Norfolk, I was eager for the day ahead and what we might see. Things were off to a great start as we followed the woodland trail to one of the hides and saw a small cluster of people on the path ahead looking up. Someone had spotted a Tawny Owl high up in the trees. There was even a scope set up pointing towards it. The gentleman who owned it kindly invited us to have a look. It was fabulous to see the owl nestled close to the tree trunk and with its eyes shut, having a few winks. They sleep a lot in the daytime since they're mostly nocturnal. After looking through the scope, it was a case of trying to locate it it with my bins and see if I could take a photo. I was pleased with the image I was able to capture. More people came along the path and some people were struggling to spot it. Bob and I both ended up helping others try to locate it. It can be very difficult describing to others which line of trees and branches to follow with their eyes!

Swallowtails in Norfolk: Part 2

By Lisa G Saw • June 30, 2025

In the first part of this blog post - Swallowtails in Norfolk - I wrote about our first two days spent mostly at Strumpshaw Fen, where I successfully saw my first ever Swallowtail butterfly. Following this, we had two more days exploring the area. I still hoped I'd see more of this beautiful native species at some of the other reserves. DAY 3 The forecast for this day wasn't great, but at least dry. There wouldn't be much chance of any sunshine until the afternoon, when it would warm up a bit. So, we decided to head to Buxton Heath, on the other side of Norwich. Bob knew it was a good site for the Silver-studded Blue butterfly. It's a species we have in just two locations within Sussex - both of which we've been to. It's a species that thrives on heathland and can be found in good numbers in the right habitat if it's managed well - with grazing or periodic burning in patches. It turned out the forecast wasn't very accurate. When we arrived, it was already brightening up and our chance of finding roosting butterflies disappeared very quickly. However, it was lovely exploring somewhere new and aside from one other couple and a man working there, we didn't see anyone else for the three hours we were there. We left the car park and headed towards the northern corner of the heath first and in next to no time, Bob spotted one flying. I stopped and looked down and saw there was another right beside me. I used my bins to take a closer look and suddenly noticed there were ants crawling around it. Instantly, I knew this was something special. The butterfly had only just emerged. I quickly took some photos but was having real issues with my camera. I was so disappointed not to get any good photos. The butterfly is out of focus but the ant is sharp!!! Hmmm! Not what I was going for! This close relationship with ants occurs with a few of the blue species of butterfly, such as the Large Blue, Adonis Blue and Chalkhill Blue. It's the first time I've ever seen the ants in attendance of a new emerged butterfly, so I was thrilled at least to have seen it.

Swallowtails in Norfolk: Part 1

By Lisa G Saw • June 29, 2025

When Bob and I returned from Kent, having just seen the Heath Fritillary , we looked at the weather for the following week and we saw that it was looking very changeable every day, with cool windy and/or wet weather forecast. The Swallowtail butterfly ( Papilio machaon ) is our largest native species found in the UK and Bob informed me they won't be flying if the conditions aren't good. They like the warmth! Now was not a good time for our hot spell to be over! With only one more week of my break from teaching left, we had little choice but to arrange our visit for then, regardless of the weather. I booked some accommodation for us and we figured that if we went for more than a couple of days, we were bound to have at least one fairly decent opportunity to see the final species on my UK list that I'd not seen before. DAY 1 As usual for us, we set off fairly early in the morning since we had over a three-hour drive ahead of us. The plan was to stop at Weeting Heath Nature Reserve, just inside the Norfolk border, so we could break up the drive and enjoy some time out in nature. The main purpose was to see the Stone Curlew that breed at this site ( Burhinus oedicnemus ). They're a rare summer visitor to the UK and I'd not heard of this species before. They're not in any way related to the Curlew ( Numenius arquata ), which I have seen before - though they are also quite rare and endangered. Their name relates to their similar call. We sat in two different hides during the course of the late morning and early afternoon and for quite some time we didn't think we were going to get lucky and see the Stone Curlew - though we did see a couple of Curlews. At one point I nipped back to the car, and of course that was when Bob saw one! It was on the far side of the field we were overlooking, but where the ground dipped lower out of sight. He saw it just as I was returning to the hide. So, I quickly sat down and looked for it, but I didn't get a chance to properly see it. We decided to stay a bit longer, and so this time Bob left the hide to fetch our lunch, and that was when the Stone Curlew reappeared. It even flew a short distance, quite low, as it apparently had a nest nearby and it wasn't happy about the Rooks that were too close for comfort. Don't hold your breath - the photo is pants! The bird was so far away and it was more of a record shot. However, I did enjoy watching it through my binoculars.