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Scottish Wildlife in Summer

As the days lengthen into summer, butterflies sip nectar from a profusion of wild flowers on sunny afternoons. Shy and elusive nocturnal predators with new families to feed are out and about hunting during daylight hours. This is the best time of year for spotting Pine Marten and Wild Cat.

Wildlife in Field and Forest

Roe Deer venture onto open ground to browse on the succulent growth of sweet young grass. It is not long before kids - often twins - are born in the shelter of woodlands and scrub. By mid summer the rut gets under way and bucks defend territories vigorously against rivals. Frayed and torn forest saplings mark the boundaries where they vent their aggression on small trees and shrubs. Eventually well worn tracks known as rutting rings form round trees and bushes where bucks pursue does in ever decreasing circles.

Pine Marten		Brown Hare

Not far away Red Squirrel families chase one another through the tree tops and Badgers spend long evenings foraging for worms and playing outside their setts. Young cubs have much to learn from their elders during the summer months. Unlike the Badger, Pine Marten do not have permanent homes. Instead mothers frequently move their vulnerable kits to new dens during daylight hours. Brown Hare, also nocturnal by preference, simply cannot wait for sundown before tucking into the next meal. Emerging from the safety of their forms they browse on lush meadow grass long before the shadows lengthen.

Red Squirrel		Badger

Waders also use these meadows to raise their chicks. Young birds emerge from nests to take their first uncertain steps in a potentially dangerous world. These fledglings are all equipped with remarkable camouflage and whilst quite obvious when feeding they simply melt into the ground to become invisible at any threat of danger. Anxious parents then resort to decoy tactics in an effort to protect their brood. Lapwing even dive bomb unwelcome intruders such as Raven or Crow to persuade them to beat a hasty retreat.

Mimulus		Scotch Argus

Wild Flowers and Butterflies

Yellow is the colour of early summer as first Gorse and then Broom clothe the hillsides of The Cairngorms National Park. Mimulus repeats the theme along damp burnsides as Orange Tip and Green Veined White Butterflies sip nectar from orchids in old water meadows. As the longest day passes the rare Northern Brown Argus is seen once again where Rockrose, the chosen foodplant of it's caterpillars grows.

With August the colour of Glenlivet turns to purple as Willow Herbs line the glens and moors are clad in Heather. The Scottish Bluebell now adorns our banks and braes whilst Scotch Argus flit from flower to flower sipping nectar on lazy afternoons.

Although home to a number of nationally rare plants such as the Dark Red Helleborine and Dickies Bladder Fern Glenlivet's real prize is the sheer number and variety of wild flowers to be found in its' sheltered straths and glens all offering wonderful inspiration for the enthusiastic photographer or painter.

Also Close By

Glenlivet is not far from The Moray Firth. This is home to the most northerly group of Bottle Nosed Dolphin in the United Kingdom. Around 130 dolphins frequent these waters as well as many other marine mammals including Harbour Porpoise and Minke Whale. The Firth is also home to large numbers of both Common and Grey Seal. Frequent boat trips enable visitors to see many of these fascinating animals at close quarters.

Just a few miles to the north west of Glenlivet is Loch Garten where nesting Osprey may be seen throughout the summer from the RSPB hide. A little further up 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.