February is another quiet month for wildlife in Speyside. Winter is still present, but it’s otherwise beginning to change. The summer visitors are not yet here, yet the temperature is beginning to warm up and the daylight starts to get longer. I went into Inshriach Forest one morning hoping to see Goshawks, as this is a good time of year to see them.

The Badgers are beginning to become more regular again. The winter months can be a slow time for the Badgers as the cold often keeps them inside their setts, but there have been nights recently where up to two have been showing.

January is one of the coldest months in the Cairngorms but there is still plenty to see. At Dalnahaittnach there are Crested Tits and Crossbills, with Roe Deer, Brown Hares, Eurasian Woodcock, Eurasian Curlews possible. I heard Crested Tits, Crossbills and saw a Eurasian Woodcock this month, the latter became an unexpected sighting. In the woods around Boat of Garten there are Crested Tits, Red Squirrels, Coal Tits, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Long Tailed Tits, Eurasian Jays and

2026 has just begun and already, plenty has happened. There have been sightings of Badgers, Pine Martens and even the Scottish Wildcat. Tawny Owls have been heard and there’s been excellent stargazing opportunities, when the nights have been clear, with Jupiter and multiple star constellations seen and enjoyed by guests.