Wildlife & Conservation
Is love in the air for Scotland’s eagles?
POTENTIAL courtship has been spotted between two golden eagles that were moved to the South of Scotland. John Wright, eagle officer at the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project, spotted the birds displaying behaviour often used to communicate prior to mating. Wright watched as female Beaky, who was moved to the area in 2018, and…
Read MoreBBC Autumnwatch lands in Scotland
AUTUMNWATCH, the BBC’s flagship wildlife television series, returns to Scotland next week with live broadcasts from Tentsmuir in Fife. Presenter Michaela Strachan will be based at Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve (NNR), which includes sand dunes and forests. Species spotted on the site include red squirrels, seals, otters, badgers, white-tailed eagles, and kingfishers, as well as…
Read MoreHow to spot Scotland’s winter wildlife
Paul Sharman, business development manager at Hebridean Adventures, and binocular maker Swarovski offer tips for spotting winter wildlife in Scotland. 1. Be in the right place at the right time for the best chance of success There are some very seasonal highlights as well as localised species to target in Scotland, and a little forward…
Read MoreFunding for Highland Wildlife Park’s new centre
THE Highland Wildlife Park has moved a step closer to replacing its visitors’ centre after being awarded £1 million of funding by Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE). The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, which runs the park and Edinburgh Zoo, wants to build “Scotland’s Wildlife Discovery Centre” on the site near Kincraig, with an exhibition…
Read MoreBiggest beaver survey begins next week
SCOTLAND’S largest survey of beavers will begin next week. NatureScot, the government agency previously known as Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), will work with the University of Essex to conduct surveys in Tayside, the Forth valley and Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park during the autumn and winter. Roo Campbell, NatureScot project lead, said: “From sightings…
Read MoreKeep your eyes peeled for red squirrels
HIGHLANDERS are being asked to report sightings of red squirrels during the “Great Scottish Squirrel Survey“, which begins today. Rewilding charity Trees for Life wants to hear about sightings in gardens, forests or any other location across the Highlands. The charity has already reintroduced red squirrels to nine locations in the north. Around 120,000 of…
Read MoreMore wildlife spotted on Invercauld Estate
GAMEKEEPERS at Invercauld Estate on Royal Deeside have spotted more nesting birds from a wider range of species during their latest wildlife surveys. In total, 1,117 breeding pairs of endangered birds were identified during the three-month study, up 16% on last year’s results. Thirty-seven species were recorded nesting on the estate, including curlew, dotterel, and…
Read MoreSatellite tags reveal tiny Shetland birds’ journeys
BRITAIN’S smallest seabird spends more time around the coast of Shetland than was previously known, according to new research. Satellite tags were attached to storm petrels on the island of Mousa to study their flights between 2014 and 2017. Each bird weighs between 25 and 30 grams – the equivalent of three pound coins. They…
Read MoreLocation influences how drones affect birds
DRONES are scaring ducks, geese and other wintering waterbirds, according to new research. The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Scotland studied how drones affected waterbirds feeding in coastal, freshwater and arable farm habitats. Its scientists found larger flocks were more likely to take flight than smaller flocks, and large flocks also took flight at a…
Read MoreScottish sea eagle soars over Isle of Wight
A SCOTTISH white-tailed eagle has been relocated to the Isle of Wight as part of a reintroduction project. The young bird was collected by Forestry & Land Scotland (FLS), under a licence from Scottish Natural Heritage. It is one of seven birds being reintroduced to the South of England by Forestry England and the Roy…
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