The cold nights and the storms bringing lots of wind, caused the last of the golden autumn leaves to blow off the trees, leaving them skeletonised. Though it leaves the scenery looking bare, it does make it much easier to see birds and wildlife in the trees as they try to find shelter and food through the Winter.
Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulous) (RSPB)
Some small standing trees like Hawthorne and Rowan show their berries off well, making them look very inviting to our Winter visitors to the area over the next few cold months. Large groups of Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) often influx into parts of Britain from Scandinavia in the Winter in search of better food source. Due to the warm summer there are lots of berries on the trees which has of course drawn in the Waxwings. These beautiful birds are easy to spot on their food source but strip the branches so fast they don’t hang around long, making it hard to catch up with them sometimes!
Greylag coming to roost (KateM)
Brambling garden visitor (KateM)
Pink footed and Greylag Geese have been gathering in the fields throughout Speyside, with the echo of their calls filling the countryside, gathering on lochs at night in their hundreds. The Redpolls and Brambling have been flocking to feed and beginning to visit our gardens.
Sunset in the Cairngorms (KateM)
We still wait for the return of the snow to our lowlands, but frosty calm days mean that we have seen some beautiful sunrises and sunsets. The longer nights mean there is more chance of seeing the stars sand possibly northern lights. Tomintoul and Glenlivet have even become the most northerly Dark Sky Park, with low light pollution to be able to gaze at the stars.
With the festive season on its way, what will December bring for our wildlife at our Evening Wildlife Hide? Click here to find out how to book.
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