A reminder we will be holding our annual Open Day on Sunday 28th April. 10am till 3pm. All are welcome. See the Eventbrite link for full details: eventbrite.co.uk/e/open-day-mar…

Somewhat wild day yesterday in Coire Sputan Dearg looking at this years montane willow planting sites. Lochan Uaine was looking a bit intimidating in the murky light with the winter ice now breaking up.
#munros
walkhighlands
National Trust for Scotland

Had a trail cam out recently down by the river Dee and here's a wee selection of the residents that it captured. Not quite up to the trail cam footage I have seen from places like Yellowstone but interesting all the same.

Due to a late cancellation, we have two spaces available on tomorrow's walk & tour of Mar Lodge. Book your place at: eventbrite.co.uk/e/afternoon-wa…

After several nights of trying finally managed to capture (badly) one of our local woodcock roding - not an easy task. Lovely to watch this bird as it patrols the skies and competes with the other males for airspace and to attract a female.

This photo sums up the weather today at Mar Lodge. April showers and rainbows a plenty. Beautiful in between the showers but very wet, cold and miserable in them.
VisitAberdeenshire
VisitCairngorms.com
#AprilShowers

Great to catch up with ptarmigan. You can see how well camouflaged this species is - it is easy to walk past them without noticing them! Ptarmigan are found across all the high ground at Mar Lodge, but this species is at risk in Scotland, and was put on the UK red list in 2021.

Picked up this nice footage of a pine marten on a trailcam this week. You get a great view of the throat patch which varies between individuals and can be used to identify different pine martens.
Mammal Society
National Trust for Scotland
#mammals

Fantastic conditions to be out on the tops on Easter Sunday. For those interested in long-lasting snow patches, here's a photo of the Sphinx patch which sits below Braeriach. This was previously almost guaranteed to last all year, but has melted in each of the last 3 years.

Beinn Bhreac is a small rounded hill and doesn't look the most exciting but it offers some great views back to the main Cairngorms massif on a beautiful day like today. Always nice to drop into the pinewood at the end of the day as well.
#munros
#winterwalking

Two days learning about the remarkable world of Sphagnum moss. They play a vital role in the creation of peat bogs, they provide high quality water, they support distinctive communities and are a window into the past. Their value to us should not be under estimated.
#peatland

The wintry weather continued today with a fair dump of snow. It's already melting in the glens but might hang on a bit longer higher up!

Winter made a brief return to Mar Lodge this morning.

The frogs, toads and newts have appeared in their masses this last week at Mar Lodge.
We have been having to wiggle our way along the roads and tracks swerving to avoid them and the puddles, ponds and ditches are filling up with spawn. Is this spring or may the snow return ?

It has been great to work with Trees for Life in our work to restore montane willow communities at Mar Lodge.

One of our largest scots pines on the estate, seen in March 2019 and March 2024. Andy is standing there again....but has almost disappeared! I did wonder whether there might be some change in tree limbs, given the trees's age, but nothing major has dropped in those four years.

It was almost like summer in the glens today but still pretty wintery on the hills. A quiet day on Carn a' Mhaim and treated to a fly by from a golden eagle. A fine panorama of the Cairngorms but too chilly on the top to hang around for too long.

A last wee shout out for our film screening of the fabulous film 'The Bough Breaks' on Monday 18th March at Braemar Village Hall. Tickets and info here:
https: eventbrite.co.uk/.../the-bough-…...
A preview here:
- youtube.com/watch?v=Cfkw4H…