Posts for August, 2024

Join our wildlife guide Sue Sykes for a guided stroll from the Hotel through Anagach Woods looking for some of our local and iconic wildlife. Possible sightings include Blue, Coal, Crested, Great and Long Tailed Tits, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Crossbill, Goldcrest, Robin, Siskin, Treecreeper, Wren, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Song Thrush, Buzzard, Red Squirrel and Roe Deer.

Image credit Graham Niven Photography

Join our guide Richard Thaxton for a guided stroll around Dell Woods at Nethy Bridge, a short 10 – 15 minute drive from the Hotel. Possible sightings include Blue, Coal, Crested, Great and Long Tailed Tits, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Crossbill, Goldcrest, Robin, Siskin, Treecreeper, Wren, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Goshawk, Buzzard, Song Thrush, Red Squirrel, Roe Deer.

Would you like to learn how to scythe, and help scythe and rake as part of a community volunteering day? Then why not join us In Tomintoul on the 30th August?

The Tomintoul Wildflower Meadow is 0.7ha of great wildlife habitat, with the ambition that the meadow be hand cut each year with a 5m strip left for overwintering birds. What is cut is then removed to the side reducing nutrients on the site which benefits diversity.

It will be a day run jointly by Glenlivet Estate, Doug Gooday, and Curam Fyvie. We will also be joined by Cairngorms National Park Rangers and Volunteer Rangers.

You can drop In or leave at any point during the day, and no experience Is necessary (although please do bring along a rake or scythe If you have one!).

Please bring:
• Appropriate clothing for spending time In an uneven meadow with long, potentially wet grass, Including stout and grippy footwear (please avoid shorts to limit the risk of tick bites);
• Appropriate clothing for the weather you don’t mind getting wet or muddy, plus any sun cream or Insect repellent you might need;
• Plenty of food and drink to keep you going
Please note that this event Is open to those aged 18 or over, unless accompanied by a responsible adult.

A look at the sites of some of the old, abandoned crofts above Tulloch in the Abernethy Forest with Jill Harden, RSPB archaeologist

Guided Bat Walk with Abernethy rangers

Meet our guest speaker Richard Thaxton at the RSPB’s Loch Ruthven to look for some of our returning summer breeding birds. We will meet in the car park and walk along to the hide, stopping and scanning along the way. Possible sightings include Slavonian and Little Grebes, possibly Red and Black-throated Divers, Teal, Curlew and fishing Osprey as well as Swallows, Swift and Sand Martins. Looking up you may spot a passing Osprey, Eagle or Red Kite. Limited to 15 guests. Pre-booking is essential, please ring 01479872526 to book your place. Meet at RSPB Loch Ruthven car park by 10am (directions available from Reception Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown on Spey).

Meet our local wildlife guide Richard Thaxton at Strathdearn (Findhorn Valley) to look for some of the raptors and other wildlife that can be found there. Potential sightings include raptors such as Buzzard, Golden and White-tailed Eagle, Goshawk, Hen Harrier, Kestrel, Merlin, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine Raven and Red Kite, Crossbills, Dipper, Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser, Grey Heron, Pied and Grey Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Mistle and Song Thrush, Mountain and Brown Hare, Grey and Red-legged Partridge, Common Gulls, Red Deer, Wild Goats, Red Grouse, Red Squirrel, Redpoll and Spotted Flycatcher, Ring Ouzel, Common Sandpiper, Swallows, House Martins, Oystercatcher, Common Tern Curlew, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Cuckoo, Redstart, Blackcap and Wheatear. Limited to 15 guests. Pre-booking is essential, please ring 01479872526 to book your place. Meet at the car park at the end of the road (not by the bridge) by 2pm.

Meet our wildlife guide Richard Thaxton at the beautiful Lochindorb to look for some of our local wildlife. We will meet at the northern end of the loch and move along the loch stopping when we can to scan for wildlife. Potential sightings include Black-throated Diver, Goldeneye, Greylag Geese, Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine, Red Kite, Golden Eagle, Meadow Pipit, Mountain Hare, Red Grouse, Red Squirrel, Crossbill, Swallow, Sand Martin, Redshank, Osprey, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, Curlew and Golden Plover. Limited to 10 guests. Pre-booking is essential, please ring 01479872526 to book your place. Meet at the northern end of Lochindorb (directions available from Reception) by 2pm.

Join our wildlife guide Nick Baker for a guided stroll around Loch Garten and down to Loch Mallachie looking for some of our local and iconic wildlife. Possible sightings include Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Crossbill, Goldcrest, Robin, Siskin, Treecreeper, Wren, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Buzzard, Osprey, Red Squirrel, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Goldeneye, Heron and Mallard. Limited to 10 guests. Pre-booking is essential, please ring our reception team on 01479 872526.

Join our wildlife guide Richard Thaxton for a guided stroll around Dell Woods at Nethy Bridge. We will follow the river Nethy for a stretch before turning into Dell Woods to walk back to the visitor centre.

Possible sightings include Blue, Coal, Crested, Great and Long Tailed Tit, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Crossbill, Goldcrest, Siskin, Treecreeper, Wren, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Redpoll, Buzzard, Dipper, Red Squirrel and Roe Deer.

Limited to 10 guests.

Pre-booking is essential, please ring 01479 872526 to book your place.

Meet at the Visitor Centre in Nethy Bridge by 9.30am.