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Autumn Wildlife in the Cairngorms

Autumn arrives resplendent as Aspen turn butter yellow. Birch leaves fall to the ground like a shower of golden rain and Geans are clothed in a deep red hue. Boughs and bushes are laden with ripe fruit. It is time for our wild residents to tuck into the banquet and prepare for the lean winter months ahead.

Otter		Red Stag

Preparing for Winter in Moorland and Forest

Salmon now make their final journey upstream to spawning grounds in remote burns at the foot of the Ladder Hills. Otter are not far behind, ready to take advantage of an easy feast. They drive the fish downstream from pools into shallow water where they are easily picked off one by one. Meanwhile stags descend from higher ground to make energetic use of nearby wallows to dress for the rut. Emerging from these peaty pits covered in debris and dripping with mud they present an intimidating aspect to rivals as they defend harems against all comers.

Mountain Hare		Badger

As the days draw in a dusting of early snow is occasionally seen on the tops of the Ladder and Cromdale Hills. Mountain Hare moult dusky brown summer coats in favour of pure white for winter camouflage during the months ahead. Stoats, not to be outdone, adopt Ermine for more effective hunting in snow, leaving just the tips of their tails black. Meanwhile in woodlands Roe Deer cast their antlers and put on thick coats in anticipation of winter weather to come.

Badger now spend long periods foraging away from the sett. They need to put on plenty of fat to see them through their long winter lethargy. Red Squirrel set about an abundance of fungus and busy themselves storing nuts and seeds for harder times to come.

Red Throated Diver		Wild Boar

New arrivals from the Artic patrol hillsides descending on each new delicacy in eager anticipation of a feast. Fieldfare and Redwing take advantage of nature's bounty and strip succulent rowan berries from overloaded branches as flocks of geese pass overhead on their long journey from summer breeding grounds in Iceland and Norway.

As the sun sets Tawny Owl hunt silently in the twilight for juicy Field Vole whilst Weasel search for Wood Mice and other rodents in the undergrowth.

Also Close By

Glenlivet is not far from The Moray Firth. This plays host to many visiting water fowl at this time of year including the commoner species of diver, Sanderling, Whimbrel, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Oystercatcher, Bar Tailed Godwit and Dunlin as well as resident Cormorant, Shelduck and Redshank.

Not far away in Strathspey you will find The Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig. Here the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland keep many wild animals formerly resident in Scotland such as Wolf, Lynx, Bison, and Wild Boar.