Posts for November, 2023

Aims of the course
Waders can be one of the most difficult groups to identify in the UK with so many species possible and looking so similar. We shall look at all the UK’s wader species, particularly those seen in and around the Cairngorms National Park and coastal areas nearby, including scarcer species. We shall compare and contrast similar species and look at ways you can improve your wader identification skills with plenty of useful hints and tips using plumage, size and shape, behaviour, calls and other features. ​

What to Expect
The course is based near Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park and runs over two days, with a day in the ‘classroom’ and a day in the ‘field’.

The ‘classroom’ day will cover all aspects of wader recognition – plumage, structure, habitat, behaviour, times of year they are here and calls, how to tell the difficult species apart and other useful hints and tips.

The ‘field’ day will be out in suitable habitat for a selection of species, to put into practice what was learned the day before. Given the species covered, the field day will take place on the coast.

Prior to the course date you will receive joining instructions detailing the structure of the weekend and what to bring with you. You will need binoculars and if you have a telescope, you may find it useful. We recommend the Collins Bird Guide for identification purposes but if you have another field guide, please bring it with you.

Join Cairngorms Astronomy Group and Tomintoul & Glenlivet Development Trust for a night of introductory stargazing and star stories during the new moon at Inveraven Church & Pictish Stones. Where do we get our stories of the night sky? What did the Celts see in the night sky? Come along to find out more and have a go trying out our community telescope.

Access to Inveraven Church is off the A95 about half a mile north of the entrance to Ballindalloch Castle, and can be found by following the brown tourist sign directing visitors down the single track road to the Inveraven Pictish Stones.

Parking is available at the bottom of the drive before you arrive at the church or in front of the church building. We will be meeting in the foyer inside the church building before walking up to field above to access the telescope.

As we will be outside, please dress appropriately for cold and changeable weather. Please also wear shoes appropriate for outdoor, wet, and muddy conditions.

Suggested donation £5 on the night.

Funded by Foundation Scotland from the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.

Stories & Stars in the Braes of Glenlivet

Storyteller Nana Tumova will enchant us with seasonal and celestial stories from 4:30pm and again at 5:30 pm. Nana is an acclaimed Traditional Oral Storyteller and a nature connection guide. She loves stories of the wild, and her favourite place to tell them is out on the land. She is the creator of the Story Apothecary Podcast, where she dispenses stories as medicine. If you would like to attend the storytelling, please arrive a few minutes before each session. If the weather is good the storytelling may take place outside around a campfire otherwise the stories will be shared in the hall.

As day turns to night, our local astronomy group will host telescope and stargazing sessions for all ages and abilities from 18:45. Come along for an introduction to the constellations, enjoy a laser guided sky tour or try out our community telescope. If it is cloudy on the night there will be an indoor presentation in the hall.

All events are free and are on a drop-in basis.

Toilets are available on site. Parking is available onsite or on the road across from the hall.

Supported by Crown Estate Scotland and Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.

Peaking on December 13th, the Geminids are set to be the most impressive meteor shower of 2023. Join Cairngorms Astronomy Club and TGDT to experience this special celestial phenomena.

The meteors of the Geminid meteor shower are very bright, moderately fast, and are unusual in being multi-coloured – mainly white, some yellow and a few green, red and blue. These colours are partly caused by the presence of traces of metals like sodium and calcium, the same effect that is used to make fireworks colourful.

Please meet at the Tomintoul & Glenlivet Discovery Centre at 18:30 and come dressed for outdoor weather. We’ll have a briefing in the Discovery Centre before taking a short walk down to the Field of Hope or over to the school field dependent on conditions. Parking is available in the square. If the weather isn’t suitable on the night a presentation will take place indoors at the Discovery Centre and the Dark Skies Exhibition will be accessible.

Suggested donation of £5 will contribute to our local lighting improvement plan in the Cairngorms Dark Sky Park.

Funded by Foundation Scotland from the Dorenell Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.

Join us for a screening of the new film The Oil Machine on 15 November at 7.30pm in The Grant Arms, Grantown-on-Spey for an inspiring screening and conversation on our energy future.

The Oil Machine explores our economic, historical and emotional entanglement with fossil fuels by looking at the conflicting imperatives around North Sea oil & gas. This invisible machine at the core of our economy and society now faces an uncertain future as activists and investors demand change. Is this the end of oil?

The film brings together a wide range of voices from oil company executives, economists, young activists, oil workers, pension fund managers, and considers how this machine can be tamed, dismantled or repurposed.

Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon with Maria the florist, you’ll learn how to design and make a unique arrangement, that’ll take pride of place on your Christmas Dinner table.

No prior experience is necessary. All materials and tuition are included. £35.00 per person.

Insh Marshes is the largest and best example of a naturally-acting floodplain in the UK. Numerous designations, both national and international, attest to its importance for wildlife. Although best known for its birds, particularly breeding waders and wintering whooper swans, it is also important for a range of other wildlife including insects and plants. Pete Moore, who worked as the Warden of the site for 21 years will explain the importance of the site, look at some of its key wildlife and give an insight into how the site is managed.

Wildlife Artist Chris Rose explores the marine environment beneath the waves, with sketchbook and pencils, for the Wildlife Trusts’ Undersea Art Award.

Diving in the proposed new Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) off the Northumbrian coast Chris discovered an unexpected wealth of marine life.

Hear how he coped with drawing underwater and learn about some of the marine life he encountered and the problems affecting this largely unseen environment.

Author T S Westbrook will be will be talking about his new novel at this free event at Grantown Library.
His new novel S6 – An RB McGehee Scoop ‘A slow-burning missing-person mystery with a topical political angle and great insight into investigative journalism’

Refreshments will be available

Gary Hodgson is a wildlife and landscape photographer based in Aviemore. Migrating from Liverpool in his early twenties, he has lived, walked and climbed in the Scottish mountains for almost thirty years. During that time, he has worked as a mountain leader (in summer, winter and internationally) and so has had the opportunity to discover the remarkable wildlife that thrive in hostile mountain environments. In this talk, he will be discussing his approach to capturing images of Mountain Hare, Ptarmigan and Snow Bunting in Britain’s highest, snowiest, coldest and windiest terrain i.e. the Cairngorms. He will also be sharing some of the tips he gives to his clients in his outdoor wildlife photography workshops