Wildlife & Conservation
Edinburgh Zoo: We try out the £2,000 bespoke private tour
I have fond memories of Edinburgh Zoo. Many trips were enjoyed there as a child with my grandparents and growing up it quickly became the highlight of the summer holidays But admittedly it’s been a very long time since my last visit and as I arrive in the capital on a freezing cold day, wrapped…
Read MoreRecord numbers of rare moth recorded at Scottish nature reserve
Record numbers of one of the UK’s rarest species of moth have been recorded at a nature reserve in Scotland. The Dark Bordered Beauty moth can be found in only a few places in Scotland and just one location in England. The loss of native woodland, increased pressure from grazers, and a lack of diversity…
Read MoreScottish cuckoos successfully make it to Africa for the winter
Two cuckoos tagged in Scotland earlier this year have successfully made it to tropical Africa where they will spend the winter months. Since 2011, BTO has fitted more than 120 individual cuckoos with state-of-the-art satellite tags to unravel the mysteries of their migrations and help their conservation. Henry and George 2 were tagged at Dundonnell…
Read MoreWinter wildlife with Rosanna Forbes
Rosanna Forbes shares her collection of seasonal winter wildlife pictures with Scottish Field. From a majestic sea eagle to a young tawny owl, Scotland’s landscape is the perfect place for Rosanna to capture her stunning snaps. Read more Wildlife stories here. Subscribe to read the latest issue of Scottish Field.
Read MoreAn adventure of a lifetime: ‘Scotland’s weather helped prepare me to count penguins in Antarctica’
It was Billy Connolly who said ‘there are two seasons in Scotland: June and winter’. And while Scotland’s infamous weather is often the butt of the joke, for one Edinburgh woman, our wee nations’ climate has helped prepare her for the adventure of a lifetime. Outdoor enthusiast, Maggie Coll, is heading off 9,000 miles from…
Read MoreNumber of endangered Corncrakes soar on Canna thanks to farmers
The number of endangered corncrakes on Canna has soared after years of low populations, and experts say it’s all thanks to farmers. At least 12-14 calling males were recorded on Canna this year, which is the first time the National Trust for Scotland has conducted formalised corncrake monitoring on the island for many years. Data…
Read MoreAutumn wildlife: Photographer Rosanna Forbes shares her seasonal pictures
Autumn’s colours make the perfect backdrop for wildlife photography, says Rosanna Forbes who shares her collection of seasonal pictures with Scottish Field. Read more Wildlife stories here. Subscribe to read the latest issue of Scottish Field.
Read MorePlans for UK ‘return’ of ancient aurochs 400 years after European extinction laid out
Cattle bred to resemble aurochs, large wild-roaming cows and bulls, could be introduced to an estate near Loch Ness – 400 years, after their extinction. Aurochs were once found across Europe, including Scotland, before habitat loss and hunting wiped them out in the 17th century. The muscular, long-horned tauros have been bred to be as…
Read MoreEmergency plan to save capercaillie from extinction in Cairngorms National Park
They have been in decline for decades, with experts believing they could be extinct in the next 20 to 30 years. But now an emergency bid to save the UK’s capercaillie population in the Scottish Highlands has been launched – and could lead to birds being introduced from continental Europe to help boost numbers. Cairngorms…
Read MoreCapercaillie numbers at leks down 9% amid extinction fears
The number of male Capercaillie at leks was down nine percent amid extinction fears for the species, The Scottish Gamekeepers Association has warned. Only 153 male birds were recorded at leks in key forests this year, 15 less than this time last year, according to the group. They warned should the decline continue, it would…
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