Woodland birding with some superb views

This reserve is a great place for you to explore a new habitat in Speyside, away from the many Scots Pines. There are some notable insects like Rannoch Sprawler, Kentish Glory and Pearl-bordered Fritillary to look for, and the view from the top can give you a good idea what the National Park is all about.

WHERE TO WATCH 1 2

Once under the road, you see a wonderful Birch woodland climbing up the hillside. Spring sees the likes of Pied Flycatchers, Redstarts and Wood Warblers for you to look for. Song and call can put you onto the birds quite easily. You will also find Willow Warbler and Tree Pipit here too. Look out for dragonflies like Highland Darter and Golden-ringed Dragonfly in summer, hunting around the trees. 3

Two small lochans are found here, and historically this was the site of one of the first Goldeneye to nest in the area in a natural hole in the Birch trees. The area is slightly too enclosed for waders other than Woodcock, but a Grey Wagtail may drop down to hunt for hatching caddisflies. 4

The crag in the wood has had breeding Peregrines, and it’s worth giving it a good looking over to see if any birds are roosting there. Aviemore offers the birds plenty of Feral Pigeons to feed on, while Buzzards in the area can feed on voles in the more open uplands above. The wood is famous for the Kentish Glory moth, which emerges early in the spring.

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For the fitter of the readers, try the climb to the summit to have a wonderful view over the town and out to the Cairngorms itself. Look out for soaring Ospreys as they navigate the River Spey and look for the famous fish farm behind the station for birds perched in the trees. View west to look for more raptors and even open birds like Cuckoo and Meadow Pipit.

TARGET BIRDS SPRING/SUMMER

● Pied Flycatcher

● Redstart

● Wood Warbler

● Willow Warbler

● Chiffchaff

● Blackcap

● Tree Pipit

● Chaffinch

● Bullfinch

● Song Thrush

AUTUMN/WINTER

● Buzzard

● Sparrowhawk

● Peregrine

● Coal Tit

● Blue Tit

● Great Tit

● Redwing

● Fieldfare

● Waxwing

● Lesser Redpoll

You start off in Aviemore, as the A9 cuts the reserve off from the town, and the only way to get to it is by using the underpasses. Check for moths brought into the tunnels by lights, as the reserve has some of the rare species found in the area. 5 4 3 2 1

Wood Warbler

Red Deer