Author | Lightnews

Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · Jun 26

Positive news for our Capercaillies! A new study shows diversionary feeding more than doubles Capercaillie chick survival, as predators fed Deer carrion are less likely to eat eggs instead. Read or listen here:

Feeding technique gives capercaillies ‘breeding’ room

The results of a recent study have shown an incredibly positive outcome for Capercaillies. By using a conservation technique called diversionary feeding, the number of chicks per hen has more than…

cairngormsconnect.org.uk

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Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · Jun 25

Deadline approaching!

There's still time to apply to our summer school 'Landscape Creatives'.

🏠Badaguish Outdoor Centre
📅Monday 14th - Thursday 17th July
🌱For S1-S3
🦫Free but places are limited

More info and apply by midnight tonight ➡️ bit.ly/LandscapeCre...

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Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · Jun 12

The trees – a mix of birches and willows – had been grown at the Cairngorms Connect Tree Nursery, which is now producing over 10,000 trees a year.

This batch of trees were destined for the upper reaches of Strath Nethy and will contribute to the restoration of the montane woodland habitat.

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Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · Jun 12

How many people does it take to restore a missing habitat?

Well, quite a lot! This spring, with a group of over 30 staff and volunteers we headed to the hills, bags laded with 3000 high-altitude trees.

[Image description: A view of a mountainous
landscape. Facing away from the camera people walk
along a narrow path. They carry backpacks and
harnesses, and you can just about see wee trees
poking out the top. The sky is bright blue with a few
white fluffy clouds – we seem to be very lucky with the
weather every year for this activity!]

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Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · May 27

“I saw a Bluethroat for the first time today. In time, their’s could be a song of the Scottish hills too.”

On this day in 2023, Ellie began her research fellowship in south-west Norway to better understanding Scotland’s missing habitats and how we might restore them. bit.ly/field-notes-...

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Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · May 22

Want to spot more Red Squirrels like this playful pair?

Join our citizen science project and try your hand at identifying wildlife spotted on camera traps across the Cairngorms Connect landscape.

Find out more and start identifying species: bit.ly/CC-Volunteer...

Camera trap image of a two fluffy Red Squirrels, one running up the side of a lichen-covered tree trunk, the second running down the other side. There is a black strip at the bottom with the time code stating 2°C, 04.21.2024, 06:44 AM.

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Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · May 20

Busy bumblebees, getting on with some landscape-scale restoration over the years 🐝

These bees were captured on one of our trail cameras that we’re using to monitor willow population high up on @rspbscotland.bsky.social. Take a moment to notice the bees as they buzz past you this #WorldBeeDay!

Camera trap photo of a Bumblebee flying past the trail camera, with a view of out over a loch surrounded by grass, heather, and rocks, the ground sloping upwards on the far shore.

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Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · May 13

Can you guess what fluttered by our camera trap in Loch A’an?

It’s not just the bigger species that appear on our camera traps … On this day two years ago, one of our camera traps at Loch A’an picked up the wing beats of a spectacular Peacock Butterfly, whose iconic markings can just be made out 🦋

Camera trap photo of a mountain landscape, with an out of focus shape of a red-orange butterfly flying towards the camera with eye markings just visible on its wings. In the background a willow with catkins can be seen on a grassy slope. There is a brown scree slope in the background and a corner of a loch in the top right of the photo. There is a black strip at the bottom with the time code stating 20°C, 05.13.2023

A close up photo of the wing of a Peacock Butterfly. It is a beautiful deep red orange colour with black and blue ‘eyespots’ like a peacock's tail.

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Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · May 10

After a 6000 km journey north from the West Africa, Ospreys return to RSPB Scotland Loch Garten in early April.

This year, Asha returned for her 5th year at the nest and has been visited by new and returning males. Watch the drama unfold: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ahj... #WorldMigratoryBirdDay

Two Ospreys sit on a large nest made of sticks, almost silhouetted as the sun sets over the hills behind them.

Asha perches on the nest, the sky dusky blues and pinks.

Brodie, a returning male, lands on the nest large wings outstretched.

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Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · May 3

"This strong sense of site fidelity is common in Hen Harriers and it shows how sympathetic land management is crucial to their breeding success and survival.” – WildLand

This #HenHarrierDay, read more about WildLand Limited’s hopeful story of raptors in the Cairngorms: bit.ly/raptor-succe... (3/3)

A Treasure and a Challenge

a comprehensive update from WildLand's raptor monitoring initiative

bit.ly

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Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · May 3

"WildLand Hen Harrier 10 is a female. She was tagged in Glen Tromie on 22/06/2020 and was one of three chicks to fledge from this brood.

She went on to breed successfully here in 2021–2024 and we are delighted to report that she has returned to her breeding area again this year!" (2/3)

A close up map showing the Highlands of Scotland, with a blue tracker line zigzagging around - mainly overlapping over the Cairngorms, which is the flight path of Hen Harrier 10.

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Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · May 3

“At WildLand Cairngorms, our detailed monitoring of Hen Harriers begins in early April, when most of these charismatic birds return to their breeding grounds.

After a busy period of sky dancing & nest building the female harrier will lay her eggs, towards the end of April or early May." (1/3)

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Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · Apr 30

Every morning in the springtime, one of nature's greatest choirs is performing 🎶

Celebrate #InternationalDawnChorusDay with a guided walk through @rspbscotland.bsky.social Abernethy Reserve's ancient Caledonian pinewoods.

🗓️ Saturday 3rd of May, 6:00 – 8:00 am
🎟️ Book now! bit.ly/dawn-chorus-...

A Song Thrush, silhouetted against a blue dawn sky, mid-song sitting on a thin branch. Photo by Ben Andrew, RSPB

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Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · Apr 29

It’s a busy time of year at the Cairngorms Connect Tree Nursery.

Seed beds are being dug over and prepared to plant out seedlings that are thriving in the polytunnels, like this Downy Birch (Betula pubescens).

Get involved and become part of our Tree Nursery community: bit.ly/cc-tree-nurs...

Two Tree Nursery volunteers wearing gardening gloves use spades and garden forks to dig along the edges of a long narrow seed bed. A fork stands upright stuck into the grass beside the seed bed closer to the camera, and there are large trees in the background outside the Tree Nursery fence.

A close up photo of Downy Birch seedlings in individual seed trays, frilly edged leaves catching the sun in the polytunnel. Some of the pots have wooden or plastic lollypop sticks stuck in the earth to label the trays. An outline of another polytunnel, a shed, and some large trees are just visible through the green mesh side of this polytunel.

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Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · Apr 28

During May’s Wildlife Wander at RSPB Scotland Insh Marshes we’ll see the lush green Aspen leaves trembling and a variety of bird species including Snipe, who could be displaying.

🗓️ Thursday, 8th of May 9:30am – 1:30 pm
📍 RSPB Scotland Insh Marshes
🎟️ Book now: bit.ly/insh-wildlif...

📷 Andy Hay

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Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · Apr 25

Celebrate #InternationalDawnChorusDay next Saturday with an early morning meander through peaceful pine forest as it wakes up at @rspbscotland.bsky.social Loch Garten.

🗓️ Saturday 3rd of May, 6:00 – 8:00 am
🎟️ Book your ticket now: bit.ly/dawn-chorus-...

Sun rays shine through trees and onto the forest floor at RSPB Scotland’s Loch Garten Nature Reserve.

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Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · Apr 23

We’re excited to be partnering with Out and About Highlands for a Green Health Week guided walk to celebrate LGBTIQ+ people in nature!

🗓️ Monday, 5th of May, 11:45 am – 4 pm
📍 Meet at the Glenmore Visitor Centre Car Park
🎟️ This event is free, but please reserve your spot! bit.ly/walk-and-cof...

A large pine tree stands on the shores of An Lochan Uaine (The Green Lochan), living up to it’s name with the waters a vibrant green reflecting the trees and scree slopes on the hill side opposite.

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Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · Apr 22

This time last year we were exploring snapshots of this landscapes through the eyes of people who live and work here that contributed to the Commonplace Book.

You can flick through a digital copy of A Commonplace Book of the Cairngorms in 2023 on our website: bit.ly/cairngorms-c...

Commonplace Book

bit.ly

Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · Apr 22

“An orange bottomed bumblebee potters through the undergrowth next to me. My adventure psyche is high & I trace future routes across the landscape and weave them with the beings that live there." – Sarah White, Commonplace Book entry.

This #EarthDay, take a moment to notice the nature around you.

A close-up photo of a bumblebee on a patch of undergrowth including green and brown heather, wisps of lichen, and tiny pink star-like flowers.

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Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · Apr 21

Enjoy a guided Wildlife Wander at @rspbscotland.bsky.social Insh Marshes on the 8th of May, 9:30 am – 1:30 pm. Book now: bit.ly/a-week-full-...

Three birds fly in a diagonal line across a blue sky with a few whips of white cloud. The middle bird is unmistakable as a Curlew with its curved beak. There is a male Goosander flying in front and a female Goosander flying behind the Curlew.

Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · Apr 21

Today we’re celebrating the Curlew, known in Scots as the Whaap, Whap, or Whaup.

A great place to see these majestic wading birds and hear their haunting cry is @rspbscotland.bsky.social Insh Marshes, where Estate Operations Manager Thijs captured these beautiful photographs. #WorldCurlewDay

A photo of a Curlew whose brown flecked head and body and long curved beak are visible through long green grasses. The grass is dotted with yellow flowers and it is slightly blurred, as if blowing in the wind, giving the photograph a painterly feel. There is white writing over the image which reads: Whaap, Whap, Whaup (noun).

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Reposted by Cairngorms Connect

Butterfly Conservation @savebutterflies.bsky.social · Apr 18

Butterfly Conservation's Scotland team are helping with a unique four-month ‘Easter egg hunt’ involving one of the UK’s rarest and most beautiful moths, the Dark Bordered Beauty

Read the full story here 👉 butterfly-conservation.org/news-and-blo...

#MothsMatter #TeamMoth

Moth experts kick-off four-month ‘Easter egg hunt’ in Scotland

Butterfly Conservation's Scotland team are helping with a unique four-month ‘Easter egg hunt’ involving one of the UK’s rarest and most beautiful moths.A team led by the Royal Zoological Society of Sc...

butterfly-conservation.org

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Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · Apr 19

An egg hunt with a difference …

A team led by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland have released 400 eggs of the Dark Bordered Beauty Moth on WildLand Cairngorms, within the Cairngorms Connect landscape. Read the full story: bit.ly/an-egg-hunt-...

A hand holds a small round transparent container filled with tiny orange moth eggs sitting on top of a brown piece of tissue paper. The person’s nails are painted pinky red, and in the background are twigs and grasses and a large green plastic tray.

A hand holds a blue paintbrush as they carefully deposit a tiny moth egg in the mossy ground at the base of an Aspen sucker.

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Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · Apr 16

You still have time to apply to be our Communications Officer!

Work across the #CairngormsConnect partnership, telling the stories of this wild landscape in the making.

You have until end of day on Thursday to submit your application: bit.ly/cc-jobs-and-...

@cairngormsnews.bsky.social #hiring

Hands hold a small ring-bound notebook and a stubby yellow pencil which is attached by a striped length of cord. The lined page is filled with unreadable notes. Photo by Ronan Dugan

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Cairngorms Connect @cairngormsconnect.bsky.social · Apr 14

Have you heard your first Cuckoo of the year? Last week, we spotted a telltale sign that Cuckoos are on their way with this beautiful stem of Cuckooflower in bloom, heralding the sound of spring.

📷 Photograph by Adrian Samuels, Assistant Warden at @rspbscotland.bsky.social Insh Marshes

A delicate stem of violet flowers with four petals. The background of grasses and marsh with distant hill and blue sky is out of focus.

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