Watching wildlife in winter weather
In the past few months, the Cairngorms has experienced everything from storm force winds, spectacular sunsets, an unusually warm Christmas, heavy dumps of snow and rapid thaws. Something we can always look forward to though, is the winter wildlife.
Wildlife watching in wintery weather can be a challenge, but mammals are at their easiest to track with snow on the ground, making walks in the local woods an exciting prospect. Following footprints and imagining who or what made them is a great activity for all ages. There are numerous books and field guides you might take out with you so you can be the detective. Take a photo of the tracks so you can look at it later. Look for clues in the tracks- otters and badgers have five toes whilst cats and dogs have four. How big are they? Look at the spacing to get an idea of how the animal moves.
Some species change colour in winter to blend in with their surroundings. Ptarmigan and mountain hare residing in the hills famously turn white. However, you don’t have to head to high ground in potentially tricky weather to see some of our white coated wildlife: I saw a brilliant video filmed recently by deerstalker Flo from Cairngorms Connect, of an ermine (a stoat with a winter white coat) swimming across the River Spey. Apparently, some of the GPS collared Scottish wildcats released by Saving Wildcats have also taken to swimming across the river. Rivers and lochs in the Cairngorms National Park are fantastic places to spot wildlife, walk around Loch Kinnord in Deeside and you might see wintering goldeneye in good numbers.
Bird calls can be harder to identify in late spring when warblers and other migrants add their songs to the chorus, making it hard to pick out one species from another. In winter, the forest is quieter, meaning you are more likely to pick out individual calls. Head out into the woods with the free app Merlin, which detects bird calls or if you have a garden, you can even try it from your windowsill. When out on patrol, a keycall our team listens to all year round is that of the crested tit. Loch Morlich, Loch Garten, Rothiemurchus and Anagach Woods are all fantastic places to hear the ‘shivering’ call of these tiny iconic birds while they flit from branch to branch.
There are a few safety considerations when looking for wildlife in the colder months. Warm clothes and sensible footwear are a must. If driving to a site in colder climes, it’s well worth having winter or all-weather tyres on the car and having a shovel, spare blanket or refreshments with you. Always check the weather forecast and plan accordingly.
Like any other time of year, it’s important to give wildlife a bit of space. Animals are often less active in the winter to conserve energy and disturbance can disrupt an animal’s foraging capability, which is crucial for survival in the colder months. Observe from a respectful distance, but do get out there and enjoy the amazing wildlife of the Cairngorms National Park!