‘Hummingbird’ flocks to Scotland

THE number of hummingbird hawkmoths spotted in Scotland has soared, according to new figures. The moths were reported in 1.2% of Scottish gardens last month, more than three times the season’s average. The British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO’s) Garden BirdWatch survey found the figure hit 5.2% across the UK as a whole, compared to 1.3%…

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North Coast 500 gets its own podcast

A PODCAST series has been created to promote attractions along the North Coast 500 driving route in the Highlands. Each 45-minute episode focuses on a different part of the trail. The first programme features Assynt’s Northwest Highland Geopark,  while the second outing spotlights the historic Attadale Gardens in Wester Ross, and the third introduces listeners…

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Look out for shelduck feathers at the beach

SCIENTISTS are asking visitors to beaches to look out for shelduck feathers this summer. Shelduck replace their feathers by moutling over the summer. They can’t fly for between two and four weeks, and so need to find safe places to moult. British shelduck either moult on mudflats in the UK or fly across the North…

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Maryculter House donates £9,000 to River Dee Trust

THE River Dee Trust has received a £9,000 donation from Maryculter House. The hotel has added a discretionary £1 charge to each of its customers’ bills to help raise the cash. The money will be split between the trust’s “OneMillionTrees” project – which has been running for two and a half years and has planted…

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Beavers bid by Glen Affric

LANDOWNERS in Glen Affric hope to reintroduce beavers to the Highlands. Four estates and government agency Forestry & Land Scotland have launched a joint consultation on the plans, coordinated by conservation charity Trees for Life. Beavers are already found at the Aigas field centre near Beauly and at the Highland Wildlife Park near Kincraig. Reintroducing…

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Bug ‘splatometer’ is a hit in Scotland

INSECT charity Buglife’s “splatometer” is proving to be a big hit in Scotland, with more than 100 people already signed up to carry out surveys this summer. The “splatometer” attaches to a car’s number plate and helps citizen scientists to monitor how many insects they kill on their journeys. The results are essential for monitoring…

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Sunscreen, shade, and sunset walkies

VETS are advising owners to stick to “sunscreen, shade, and sunset walkies” during the heatwave. Owners are advised not to take their dogs for a walk during the day. Unlike humans, dogs can’t sweat, and are vulnerable to over-heating. Flat-faced breeds – such as English or French bulldogs and pugs – are at even greater…

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Enjoy these photos from the Scottish Game Fair

MORE than 32,000 people attended the Scottish Game Fair at Scone Palace near over the weekend, according to figures released by the three-day event’s organiser. A partnership between Stable Events – the operator behind the Scottish Game Fair – and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) has generated £150,000 for the charity to help…

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Scotland gears up for Father’s Day

SCOTTISH restaurants and tourist attractions are gearing up for Father’s Day this weekend. The Broughton in Edinburgh, listed as one of the Sunday Times newspaper’s top 30 places for a roast dinner, is preparing to welcome dads, grandads, and other father figures this weekend. The pub on Broughton Street is also holding its weekly quiz…

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Guy Grieve shares adventures at Game Fair

SCOTTISH FIELD columnist Guy Grieve will be sharing stories from his adventures at next month’s Scottish Game Fair. Grieve will take to the stage in the Hive tent at 6pm on Saturday 2 July to tell tales from his journeys through the wilderness and across the seas. He will also be in conversation at 10.30am…

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