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Bird Watching in the Spring

As snows melt and winter departs the first flowers of spring take advantage of increasing light before a leafy canopy shades the woodland floor. Migrant birds now begin to arrive in The Cairngorms National Park for the nesting season and before long the hills and straths of Glenlivet are alive with the sights and sounds of breeding birds.

The Nesting Season

The first migrant waders to appear are Lapwing and Golden Plover. Large flocks often arrive in the snow and frequently make several attempts to settle in Glenlivet before the weather becomes sufficiently mild to persuade them to stay. Not far behind are Oystercatcher. Following the Spey from the Moray coast they arrive to forage in some numbers before dispersing to their breeding grounds. Next are Curlew filling the air with their calls and proclaiming the start of spring. With longer days and rising temperatures the pace of activity quickens rapidly. Lapwing and Curlew put on superb aerial displays as they select nesting sites whilst Oystercatcher and Sandpiper patrol rivers and burns endeavouring to attract mates.

Lapwing		Oystercatcher

Rare Black Grouse now strut their stuff at traditional lekking grounds in Glenlivet providing an unrivalled Highland wildlife spectacle. At a lek males display to one another, trying to establish dominance, whilst making distinctive calls that can be heard from some distance. Females are attracted to the lek and mating takes place nearby.The more common Red Grouse are never far away chuckling to themselves from behind the cover of heather and juniper as Golden Plover discover the ideal spot on which to raise a new family. Not far overhead Hen Harrier and Short Eared Owl pose a potential threat to young game and wader chicks as they methodically quarter the ground in search of the next meal.

Curlew		Sandpiper

Deep in the woodlands of Strathavon Capercaille compete for the attention of their hens whilst Crested Tit and Crossbill busy themselves in the forest canopy. Long distance migrants now start to arrive on the scene from the Mediterranean and North Africa. One of the first are Sand Marten who re occupy traditional colonies in sandy banks. They are quickly followed by Redstart, Cuckoo, Song Thrush, and Willow Warbler who swell the sound of the resident dawn chorus. Swallows are amongst the last to arrive and get straight down to the business of nest building in sheds and barns. Sparrow hawk are common here and pose a constant danger for many smaller birds as they go about their nesting activities.

Wild Flowers and Butterflies

The first wild flowers herald the arrival of spring bringing a welcome splash of colour to the landscape after the monochrome of winter. First Lesser Celandine, then Primerose, Wood Anenome and Wood Sorrel carpet woodland floors before the leafy canopy of summer shades out the light. In sheltered clearings the Green Hairstreak flies again where Blaeberry flourishes and rare Pearl Bordered Fritillary butterfly may be found sipping nectar from the Dog Violet. By May Highland hillsides are clad in a golden mantle as Gorse bursts forth in abundance whilst carnivorous Butterwort and Sundew lurk in the undergrowth waiting to snatch unfortunate insect victims landing on their sticky spring traps.

Also Close By

The cliffs at Troup Head on the Moray Firth host huge colonies of breeding sea birds including the only mainland colony of Gannets in Scotland. This Special Protection Area supports over 20,000 individual breeding seabirds. Kittiwake, Guillemot, Fulmar, Gannet, Shag, Herring Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, Razorbill and Puffin all breed here in the spring.

The RSPB hide at Loch Garten is an excellent place to see Osprey during the nesting season. Capercaille can also be observed lekking here during April and May. Rare species such as Slavonian Grebe, Black Throated Diver and White Tailed Eagle may be found at several other local bird watching locations.