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Highland Wildlife in Winter

As the last leaves fall from trees larch needles cover woodland rides in a yellow carpet. Naked trunks and branches now have nothing but lichen to shield them from winter winds and fresh snowfall reveals a multitude of footprints that record the comings and goings of our Highland wildlife.

Foot Prints in the Snow

At dawn the outline of fresh trails is crisp before sunlight or fresh snowfall blurs evidence of the previous nights activities. Patches of vegetation show through where Roe Deer scraped away snow in search of a square meal during the night. Brown Hare have not been seen during daylight hours for many weeks now. They spent the hours of darkness searching for any plants left uncovered by snow. When nothing else is accessible they are reduced to eating juniper - reputed to taste like barbed wire in turpentine. At first light Red Squirrel crossed woodland trackways as they searched for treasure troves of nuts and cones concealed many weeks before. These can be dangerous journeys as Stoat patrol these same tracks always on the lookout for an easy meal and even taking Hare on occasion.

Mountain Hare and Grouse do not seem to be unduly troubled by snow, foraging on The Ladder and Cromdale Hills in all but the most inclement weather. Snow Bunting are likewise well adapted to winter conditions and are found on higher ground at this time of the year. Red Deer on the other hand move to lower ground, often taking shelter in forests and raiding gardens when unable to find food elsewhere. Raptors are considerably affected by the short winter days. Limited day light does not leave many hours for hunting that next much needed meal.

As the days lengthen birches veil snow white hillsides in a purple haze of new buds as Woodpecker are heard once again and Crossbill make an early start on their nests in pine forests.

Mountain Hare

Milder spells often persuade many that spring is on the way. Buzzard display overhead and Roe Buck grow new antlers wrapped in soft velvet in preparation for the summer rut. During these thaws Mountain Hare and Stoat are readily visible in their white winter coats on brown moorland hillsides. But all too soon winter returns and our wild residents are once again faced with the challenge of survival until the coming of spring.

Lichens

When the flowers of summer have faded a rich flora of lichen remains hanging from trees and bushes like an old mans beard. In times gone by several of these were indispensable to the creation of traditional tartans providing red, purple, blue, orange and brown dyes. Although susceptible to pollution these remarkable organisms grow almost anywhere including situations where little else can survive. A combination of fungus and primitive plant, they create their own nutrition from little more than sunlight and air allowing them to grow even on rocks and boulders. Look out for Devils Matchsticks with tiny bright red fruiting bodies often found on dead tree stumps.

Also Close By

The Moray Firth is the most important area in Great Britain for overwintering Sea Ducks. Many Long Tailed Duck, Red Breasted Mergansers and Common and Velvet Scoter can be seen offshore at Culbin Sands and at several other places along the Moray coastline.

Not far away in Strathspey you will find The Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig. Here the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland keep many wild animals formerly resident in Scotland such as Wolf, Lynx, Bison, and Wild Boar.