Scouting in Scotland

Scouting in Scotland

An Exploration in Scottish Highland

Photography: Arnab Basu Story: Arnab Basu (Exploring Nature), Craig Round and John Grierson (Speyside Wildlife)

Scouting in Scotland Exploration Series – 9 Explorer : Arnab Basu Photographs : Arnab Basu 7th to 14th October 2017

Š All the Information and Photographs published in this report are the properties of Exploring Nature and cannot be used for commercial or research purposes without prior permission of the explorers.

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"....Behold her, single in the field, Yon solitary Highland Lass!

Reaping and singing by herself; Stop here, or gently pass!

Alone she cuts and binds the grain, And sings a melancholy strain; O listen! for the Vale profound Is overflowing with the sound.."

– The Solitary Reaper

BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH (1807)

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Content Page No. Chapter : 1 Diary of A Highland Scout

4

Annexure – I List of Identified Species

17

Annexure – II Explorer’s Profile

23

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Chapter – 1: Diary of a Highland Scout 7th and 8th October, 2017: The Journey to Autumn and Night

7th October at evening 6:00 O'clock I reached Aviemore railway station from Glasgow Queen Street station by ScotRail, a 3 hours train journey through picturesque highland railway track.

More than just a manner of getting from one location to another, a train journey around Scotland is one of the best (and most comfortable!) ways of admiring the stunning landscapes around the country. Hundreds of miles of misty mountains, glittering lochs, quaint villages and even elegant mansions, all with a cup of Hot Chocolate, in hand bought from the cart within train was a different experience altogether. Widely regarded as one of the world's greatest train journeys, the West Highland Line is known to millions as the railway that took Harry Potter from Platform 9 and ž all the way to Hogwarts. The route, serviced by Abellio Scotrail, leads from Glasgow to Inverness and Mallaig and takes around 5 hours and 15 minutes in total. However, I got down at Aviemore which was one station before Inverness. As the train headed west, it passed over the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct. Along the route, also run by Abellio Scotrail, passed idyllic beaches and tranquil lochs, all set to a backdrop of untouched Highland hillsides - one might even spot herons, eagles or otters if lucky! and offers breath-taking views of locations such as Loch Shiel, Loch Eilt and Ben Nevis, many of which can also be seen in the Harry Potter films.

I reached at Aviemore at around 6:00 PM and got picked up by one of our tour guides John and after picking up three more guests we reached at Steading, where our accommodation was arranged in an old Scottish barn. After having a British dinner with 11 other fellow bird watchers and wildlife photographers and two guides Craig and John we discussed next Page | 4

day’s plan and received a comprehensive checklist of probable wild lives of Scottish highland. At around 10:00 PM, it was time to get in cosy bed in an old Scottish barn turned into forest stay.

Our actual exploration started on Sunday 8th October. The day started still and fine as we headed out for a short walk around some local lochans that morning. The Birch trees were showing off their lovely autumn colours and some great reflections in the still water, and during our walk we saw flocks of Coal Tit, and Goldcrest as well as Treecreeper and a very late Chiffchaff singing.

We also heard some Crossbills were flying over but sadly the birds failed to land, as well as some Pink-footed Geese and a small flock of Greylag Geese that flew over. A Red Squirrel ran across the track at one point and we got some good views of two or three Crested Tits which were calling in the trees around the car park.

After some welcome tea and coffee back at the Steading we drove up into the Findhorn Valley. On the way up we saw a Kestrel and a Buzzard perched and about half way up the valley we stopped to scan; there we got some great views of a fine Red Deer stag roaring from the hillside and chasing his ‘harem’ of hinds about, with more stags roaring from the hillsides all around us as we watched.

We also saw another Buzzard and two Kestrel that flew through, before we drove up to the top end of the valley. We had some lunch beside the river, seeing the first Redwing of the Autumn flying over and the fine weather was obviously bringing out the raptors as whilst there, at least six Buzzards were soaring overhead and a Peregrine goes over, best of all a huge immature White-tailed Eagle came over the ridge and we watched as it flew off down the valley, what a bird!

After lunch we took a walk across the river and up out onto the hill, and scanning the hill we picked out several Mountain Hares well camouflaged and hunkered down out of the wind as well as a Red Grouse. On the walk back there are Stags roaring from the hills all around, some with harems of 50+ Hinds. Already it was dusk in the highland and we decided to comeback at our base location to grab quick dinner and get ready for night hiking to look for Scottish Wild Cat......

One thing I must confess, spotting wild lives in Alpine Tundra forest is much more difficult than Tropical Rain or Savanna Forest.... Because of extreme weather, less biodiversity and also mostly found in high altitude... at mountain top.....

At 9:00 PM, we reached at Cairn Valley Wildlife Hide, our guides Craig and John switched off all lights in the hide and spread some peanuts at the surrounding area, and outside the hide...... the evening was marked by dramatic appearances of nocturnal mammals... Pack of 4-5 badgers, wood mouse and a very rare nocturnal rodent Pine Marten were spotted..... We only had a short wait before the first Wood Mice appear to feed at the front of the hide. Even better, shortly afterwards we saw at least five Badgers that came in to feed on the scattered peanuts and also a female Pine Marten which we saw on two occasions, before it finally scampered back off into the night. While heading Page | 5

towards the hide Craig had to apply sudden break in van.....in search light of van, a Female Roe Deer was found running away.

Species spotted on Day One: Birds: Gold Thrush, Grey Heron, Pink-footed Goose, Greylag Goose, Mallard, White Tailed Sea Eagle, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine, Pheasant, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit, Swallow, Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Crested tit, Coal tit, Blue tit, Great tit, Treecreeper, Jakdow, Rook, Carrion Crow, Hooded Crow, Raven, Sterling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Redpoll, Chiffchaff, Canada Goose, Little Egret and Jay Mammals: Red Squirrel, Mountain Hare, Mountain Goat, Red deer, Roe Deer, Wood Mouse, Pine Marten, Badger Insects: November Moths Amphibian: Common Frog

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9th October, 2017: Hunting and Migration

9th October at 9:00 AM, we started our exploration of day two, we drove out over to the Black Isle, and its lovely, sunny and warm there as we made our first stop just the other side of the Kessock Bridge at Inverness. Here we got some spellbinding views of a hunting juvenile female Peregrine repeatedly stooping at incredible speed right overhead and finally catching a small bird which it then ate on the wing! What an awesome sight!

From there we followed a road which crossed some farmland on the Black Isle and got great views of at least five Red Kites soaring over the fields, there were also masses of Skylarks in the fields along with flocks of Linnets and Goldfinch, and a female Sparrowhawk glided low over the fields hunting the many birds up there.

Near Avoch we passed flocks of Redshank along the shore, and also lots of roosting Common Gulls before we headed to Chanonry Point and walked out along the shingle beach to sea watch across the firth. There we saw several Bottle-nosed Dolphins just offshore as well at least five Common Seals.

Our next stop was at Udale Bay RSPB reserve for high tide and as we arrived there are masses of Scandinavian migratory birds - Pinkfooted Geese calling and dropping into the bay in front of us, as well lots of birds out on the estuary, including thousands of Wigeon as well as Teal, Oystercatchers, Redshank, Curlew, Lapwing, Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit and a few Knot. Scanning through the goose flocks we also saw Canada Geese and Greylag Geese mixed in with the many Pink-feet as well as two Barnacle Geese and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose. A Little Egret was spotted feeding in one of the channels, which was still a scarce bird up there in Highland Scotland, as well as a Kingfisher which flies past calling, before perching on a fencepost nearby for some time, and giving us some lovely views through the telescopes and camera lenses.

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At least 4,000 species of bird are regular migrants in UK. That’s about 40 per cent of the world’s total. But some parts of the world have a higher proportion of migrants than others. In far northern regions, such as Canada or Scandinavia, most species migrate south to escape winter.

In temperate regions, such as the UK, about half the species migrate – especially insect-eaters that can’t find enough food during winter.

As the tide drops again we drove around the coast following the shore alongside the Cromarty Firth. Here we stopped to look at a stunning close flock of around 160 Scaup and got lovely views in the calm conditions, and scanning further out we counted at least 500+ Scaup in total out in the Firth! We also picked out three Slavonian Grebes offshore as well as two male Long-tailed Ducks, a few Eiders and a distant group of three Red-throated Divers from there.

Species spotted on Day Two: Birds: Red-throated Diver, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Pink-footed Goose, Grelag Goose, Barnacle Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Scaup, Eider, Long-tailed duck, Goldeneye, Redbreasted Merganser, Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Knot, Dunlin, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black0backed Gull, Woodpegion, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Northern Wheatear, Wren, Duncock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Hooded Crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Redpoll, Kingfisher, Chiffchaff, Brunt Goose, Canada Goose, Little Egret.

Mammals: Roe deer, Bottlenose Dolphin, Common Seal

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10th October, 2017: Coast and Storm

10th October at 9:00 AM, we started our exploration of day three.

In the morning we got some lovely views of two Crested Tits near the Steading, and there were masses of Goldcrests in the trees as well as small flocks of Redwing flying over as we loaded the vans to head for the west coast. The drive took us through some great scenery which only got more mountainous as we pushed on west with some dramatic rain showers and a rainbow over Loch Glascarnoch, where we found two newly arrived Whooper Swans asleep at the head of the loch and a few Redwings in the trees.

Moving on, first we went to Rongia Falls and then to Corrie ShallochGlascornoch and then to Guinard bay or Guinard noch and to 1st and 2nd Coast. We made a stop on the coast overlooking Gruinard Bay, where we found a smart summer plumaged Great Northern Diver and also a single Black-throated Diver, Black Guillemot and a few Shags, as well as nice views of a pair of Stonechat which were perched nearby.

Scanning out across the bay our luck was in and we also got great views of two or three Otters which were feeding just offshore! From there we drove around the coast and stopped to watch lots of Common Seals hauled out on the rocks below, Gannets are plunge diving for fish just offshore and we also saw a single Red-throated Diver in winter plumage as well as more Shags and a single Razorbill. Our next stop was near Laide for some lunch overlooking the coast and where there was some shelter from the strengthening wind. During our lunch there both Page | 9

Curlew and Redshank flew past and there was another Great Northern Diver and Red-throated Diver offshore.

After lunch sadly the weather took a turn for the worse, the winds got even stronger, approaching gale force and rain started to fall heavily as we headed around the coast, seeing several Curlew, Redshank and Oystercatcher along the shore as well as a female Red-breasted Merganser. Our last stop of the day was around at Mellon Udrigle where we braved the elements and took a walk down onto the beach. A flock of 20 Ringed Plover, a Curlew and a single Dunlin were roosting on the rocks there and we got nice views through the telescopes before, with time getting on, we started to head back.

That night, instead of having dinner at our base accommodation in Steading, we stopped at a local Scottish inn at Grunard bay for dinner with sumptuous Scottish food with wine and scotch.

Species Spotted on Day Three: Birds: Red-throated Diver, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, Grey Heron, Whooper Swan, Mallard, Eider, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Pheasant, Oystercathcer, Ringed Plover, knot, Sanderling, Curlew, Redshank, Black-headed gull, Common Gull, Lesser black-headed gull, great black-headed gull, Kittiwake, Guillemot, Razorbill, Black Guillemot, Rock Dove, Woodpegion, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Northern Wheatear, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, Coal tit, Blue tit, great tit, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Raven, Hooded crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Redpoll, Bullfinch.

Mammals: Otter, Mountain Goat, Red deer, Common Seal

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11th October, 2017: The Cairngorm Valley

11th October at 9:00 AM, we started our journey towards Loch Insh and then headed towards Inchmarshes to Dalnihaitnich and then to Cnean Canbridge. The dawns with overnight rain was clearing to a fine, sunny but breezy day, and two Crested Tits were again seen calling near the steading before breakfast. Our first stop after breakfast was Loch Insh where we found some Goldeneye including a very smart drake out on the loch as well as Tufted Duck, a pair of Mute Swans and again there were lots of Goldcrest in the trees.

Then it was around to Insh Marshes RSPB Reserve where we scanned out from the viewing platform on top of the hide with great views out across the marshes. Three Redwing went over and a few late Swallows were moving through, and we also got good views of a Sparrowhawk hunting low over the ground. A few Buzzards were seen perched with three more Buzzards and a few Ravens soaring over the tops of the hills opposite, and a large flock of Mallards and Teal flew around flushed by a Grey Heron. Several Siskin flew over and there were Chaffinch, Great Tit and Coal Tits on the feeders just outside the hide and we got some great views of several Roe Deer which were grazing quietly below us from the viewpoint.

Moving on again, we made a stop near Ruthven Barracks where we got some lovely views of two Dippers on the river, before we headed towards Carrbridge and drove out onto an extensive open area which overlooks some moorland and hill as well as pine forest. It was a great mix of different habitats and we had only just pulled up when we spotted an adult WhitePage | 11

tailed Eagle and two Golden Eagles soaring over the hills in the distance! Through the telescopes we got some good views, and could clearly see the size difference between the much larger Sea Eagle and Golden Eagle as they circled together.

The fine weather had also encouraged more raptors into the air as we saw no less than nine Common Buzzards soaring and also picked out a single Fieldfare perched in the top of a pine, which was the first this autumn.

After some lunch in the sunshine beside the River Nethy we took advantage of a small gap in the weather to make a dash up to Cairngorm and took the funicular railway up the mountain. From the Ptarmigan Centre we scanned out from the viewpoint, the weather was pretty cold up there with some nasty sleety showers rolling in at times, a Raven landed on the ground near the viewpoint and we managed to pick out two Red Grouse but sadly after much scanning no Ptarmigan were to be seen and as another sleet shower come in we decided to head back down.

Species spotted on Day Four: Birds: Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, White-tailed Sea Eagle, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Kestrel, Pheasant, Woodpegion, Collard Dove, Pied Wagtail, Northern Wheatear, Swallow, Dipper, Robin, Blackbird, Firldfare, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, Crested Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Hooded Crow, Raven, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Jay. Mammals: Red Squirrel, Rabbit, Roe Deer, Rein Deer.

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12th October, 2017: The Water Birds

12th October at 9:00 AM, we started our journey towards Moray Firth, where our first stop was in the warm sunshine overlooking Findhorn Bay. Oystercatchers were along the beach along with a few Gannets and Red-breasted Mergansers offshore and a smart male Stonechat was in the dunes nearby. From there we moved on to Roseisle where we scanned out to sea from the dunes. A skein of Pink-footed Geese flew over calling and there was a sizeable flock of Eiders offshore from there as well as several Goosander including a very smart drake, Red-throated Diver and a flock of 12 Common Scoter which gave us some great views through the telescopes.

There were also many Goldcrest calling in the Pine forest amongst the dunes as well as a few Coal Tits, Treecreepers and a Crested Tit was heard. Moving on from there we drove around the coast to Burghead and make a stop in the harbour where we found three Grey Seals swimming around the moored fishing boats.

For lunch we drove over to the foreshore near the maltings where there were mixed flocks of waders along the shore including Redshank, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Turnstone as well as several Rock Pipits, whilst offshore more Gannets are passing by along with both Shag and Cormorants.

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After lunch we moved on again around to Lossiemouth estuary, where there were masses of mainly Herring Gulls roosting, along with Black-headed and Common Gulls. There were also Lots of Wigeon and Teal there and we managed to pick out three Bar-tailed Godwits along with six+ Dunlin, Redshank and Oystercatcher.

Our last stop of the day was back around Findhorn Bay, where we had a scan out across the estuary as the tide rise.

There were a good selection of waders out in the bay including flocks of Golden Plover, Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Redshank, Ringed Plover and also some Pintail.

Also a huge flock of Pink-footed Geese were out on the mudflats in the distance with many more skeins wheeling around in the sky calling and dropping in to join them.

Species spotted on Day Five: Birds: Cormorant, Mallard Mammals: Grey Seal (male and female)

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13th October, 2017: The Solitary Highland

13th October at 9:00 AM, started with heavy rain overnight, easing but the gales continued through the day. In the morning we headed up onto the moors where we got lovely views of 15+ Red Grouse, very close to the roadside, with some of the male grouse displayed flighting and calling.

We also saw three Stonechats perched up on the moorland as we headed around to the shores of Lochindorb for a hot drink. It was still very windy up there beside the loch but we managed to pick out some Goldeneye, Tufted Duck and a few Goosander out on the loch, and also got good views of a late ‘greenland race’ Northern Wheatear perched beside the road.

From there we dropped down to the RSPB Reserve at Loch Garten for lunch, and found the feeders in the car park there very busy, with many Coal Tits, Blue and Great Tits. Several folk even managed to hand feed some of the incredibly tame Coal Tits!

After lunch we drove back up into the Findhorn Valley again for another crack at getting better views of Golden Eagle. On the way up into the glen we saw several Buzzards and also got good views of two Sika Deer feeding at the edge of the forest before we stopped to have a scan higher up in the valley.

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Again there were good numbers of Red Deer out on the hill, along with some Mountain Goats and we got lovely views of a Red Kite that soared right overhead, and on the way out of the glen, John’s van got a good view of a Golden Eagle soaring, before it drifted off, and we headed back to the steading at the end of a great week!

Whole day Strong winds made it difficult for us to even stand on ground.... The series ended.... It was dusk in Scottish highland... A melancholy of bag pipes was heard from a faraway solitary Scottish house.....

Species spotted on Day Six: Birds: Red throated diver, Garnet, Cormorant, Shag, Grey heron, Pink-footed goose, Grelag goose, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Eider, Long-tailed duck, Common scooter, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander, Red kite, Common buzzard, Golden Eagle, Kestrel, Red grouse, Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Dunlin, Blacktailed Godwit, Bartailed godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Common Gull, Herring gull, Great black-backed Gull, Guillemot, Razorbill, Woodpegion, Collard Dove, Tawny Owl, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Rock pipit, Pied Wagtail, northern Wheatear, Swallow, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Crested Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Treecreeper, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion crow, Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet,Parrot crossbill, Little Egret.

Mammals: Rabbit, Red Squirrel, Brown hare, Mountain Hare, Mountain Goat, Sika Deer, Common Seal, Grey Seal, Short-tailed Vols.

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Annexure – I: List of Identified Species Sl. Name of Species No. Mammals Wood Mouse 1 2 3

Vole sp Red Squirrel European Rabbit

4 5 6

IUCN Status

Apodemus sylvaticus

Least Concern

Microtus longicaudus Sciurus vulgaris)

Least Concern Least Concern

Photograph

Oryctolagus cuniculus European Brown Hare Mountain Hare European Pine Marten

7

8

Scientific Name

Eurasian Otter

Lepus europaeus Lepus timidus

Least Concern Least Concern

Martes martes

Least Concern

Lutra lutra

Near Threatened

European Badger 9 10

Common Pipistrelle Bat Feral/Mountain Goat

11

Meles meles

Least Concern

Pipistrellus pipistrellus

Least Concern

Oreamnos americanus

Least Concern

Cervus elaphus

Least Concern

Capreolus capreolus

Least Concern

Cervus nippon

Least Concern

Tursiops truncatus

Least Concern

Phoca vitulina

Least Concern

Red Deer 12 Roe Deer 13 Sika Deer 14

15

16

Common Bottlenose Dolphin Common Seal

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Grey Seal 17

Halichoerus grypus

Least Concern

Feral Reindeer 18

Rangifer tarandus

Birds 1 Red-throated Diver Black-throated Diver 2 3 Great Northern Diver 4 Slavonian Grebe 5 Gannet 6 Cormorant 7 Shag Grey Heron 8 9 10 11

Little Egret Mute Swan Whooper Swan Pink-footed Goose

12

Gavia stellata Gavia arctica Gavia immer Podiceps auritus Morus bassanus Phalacrocorax carbo Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Vulnerable

Least Concern Least Concern Least Concern Vulnerable Least Concern Least Concern Least Concern

Ardea cinerea

Least Concern

Egretta garzetta Cygnus olor Cygnus cygnus

Least Concern Least Concern Least Concern

Anser brachyrhynchus

Least Concern

Anser anser

Least Concern

Branta leucopsis Branta bernicla Branta canadensis Tadorna tadorna

Least Least Least Least

Mareca penelope

Least Concern

Anas crecca

Least Concern

Anas platyrhynchos

Least Concern

Anas acuta Aythya fuligula

Least Concern Least Concern

Aythya marila

Least Concern

Greylag Goose 13 14 15 16 17

Barnacle Goose Brent Goose Canada Goose Shelduck Eurasian Wigeon

18 19

Eurasian Teal Mallard

20 21 22

Pintail Tufted Duck Greater Scaup

23 24

Eider

Somateria mollissima

Concern Concern Concern Concern

Near Page | 18

25 26 27 28 29

Long-tailed Duck Common Scoter Common Goldeneye Red-breasted Merganser Goosander Red Kite

30 31 32

Mergus serrator

Least Concern

Mergus merganser

Least Concern

Milvus milvus White-tailed Sea Eagle Eurasian Sparrowhawk Common Buzzard

33 34 35

Clangula hyemalis Melanitta nigra Bucephala clangula

Threatened Vulnerable Least Concern Least Concern

Golden Eagle Kestrel Peregrine

36

Near Threatened

Haliaeetus albicilla Accipiter nisus

Least Concern Least Concern

Buteo buteo

Least Concern

Aquila chrysaetos Falco tinnunculus

Least Concern Least Concern

Falco peregrinus

Least Concern

Alcedo atthis

Least Concern

Lagopus lagopus scotica

Least Concern

Alectoris rufa Phasianus colchicus

Least Concern Least Concern

Common Kingfisher 37 Red Grouse 38 39 40

Red-legged Partridge Pheasant Oystercatcher

41 42 43

Haematopus ostralegus Ringed Plover Golden Plover Lapwing

Charadrius hiaticula Pluvialis apricaria

45

Knot

Calidris canutus

46

Dunlin Black-tailed Godwit

Calidris alpina

Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponica

44

47 48

Vanellus vanellus

Limosa limosa

Near Threatened Least Concern Least Concern Near Threatened Near Threatened Least Concern Near Threatened Near Threatened

Eurasian Curlew 49

Numenius arquata

Near Threatened Page | 19

Redshank 50 51 52

Tringa totanus

Least Concern

Arenaria interpres Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Least Concern

Larus canus

Least Concern

European Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Black-legged Kittiwake Black Guillemot Razorbill

Larus argentatus Larus marinus Rissa tridactyla Cepphus grylle

Rock Dove Wood Pigeon Eurasian Collared Dove Tawny Owl Great Spotted Woodpecker Eurasian Skylark Meadow Pipit

Columba livia Columba palumbus Streptopelia decaocto Strix aluco

Least Concern Least Concern Vulnerable Least Concern Near Threatened Least Concern Least Concern Least Concern Least Concern

Dendrocopos major

Least Concern

Alauda arvensis

Rock Pipit Grey Wagtail Pied Wagtail Northern Wheatear Barn Swallow Dipper

Anthus petrosus Motacilla cinerea Motacilla alba Oenanthe oenanthe Hirundo rustica

Least Concern Near Threatened Least Concern Least Concern Least Concern Least Concern Least Concern

Ruddy Turnstone Black-headed Gull

Least Concern

Common Gull 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 69 70 71 72 73 74 75

Alca torda

Anthus pratensis

Cinclus schulzii

Vulnerable

Troglodytes troglodytes Prunella modularis

Least Concern Least Concern

Erithacus rubecula

Least Concern

Saxicola rubicola

Least Concern

Blackbird Fieldfare Song Thrush Redwing

Turdus merula Turdus pilaris Turdus philomelos

Mistle Thrush Chiffchaff

Turdus viscivorus Phylloscopus collybita

Least Concern Least Concern Least Concern Near Threatened Least Concern Least Concern

Wren Dunnock European Robin

76 European Stonechat 77 78 79 80 81 82 83

Turdus iliacus

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Goldcrest 84

Regulus regulus

Least Concern

Aegithalos caudatus

Least Concern

Lophophanes cristatus

Least Concern

Periparus ater

Least Concern

Cyanistes caeruleus

Least Concern

Parus major

Least Concern

Certhia familiaris Pica pica Garrulus glandarius Coloeus monedula

Least Least Least Least

Corvus frugilegus

Least Concern

Corvus corone Corvus cornix Corvus corax

Least Concern Least Concern Least Concern

Sturnus vulgaris

Least Concern

99 House Sparrow 100 Chaffinch 101 European Greenfinch Goldfinch

Passer domesticus Fringilla coelebs Chloris chloris

Least Concern Least Concern Least Concern

102

Carduelis carduelis

Least Concern

103 Eurasian Siskin 104 Linnet 105 Common Redpoll 106 Eurasian Bullfinch 107 Yellowhammer Reptiles None Amphibian

Spinus spinus Linaria cannabina Acanthis flammea Pyrrhula pyrrhula Emberiza citrinella

Least Least Least Least Least

85

Long-tailed Tit European Crested Tit

86 Coal Tit 87 88

Eurasian Blue Tit Great Tit

89 90 91 92 93

Treecreeper Magpie Eurasian Jay Jackdaw Rook

94 95 96 97

Carrion Crow Hooded Crow Raven European Starling

98

1

European Common Rana temporaria Frog

Concern Concern Concern Concern

Concern Concern Concern Concern Concern

Least Concern

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Insects 1 Red Admiral November Moth 2 3 Common Hawker

Vanessa atalanta Epirrita dilutata Aeshna juncea

Least Concern

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Annexure – II: Explorers’ Profile Arnab Basu, Member of Exploring Nature Born in Kolkata on 17th June, 1978 and currently based out of Bengaluru.

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 A Sustainability Consultant by profession and holds B.Sc with major in Botany and Zoology from 2000 batch of University of Calcutta; MBA in Environment Management from 2004 batch of Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (IISWBM), Kolkata; Diploma in Chemical Engineering and Industrial Safety.  Has about 15 years of experience in overall management and supervision of Sustainability, Safety Transformation, Industrial and Construction Environment, Occupational Health & Safety and Quality Systems; compliance assessment, assurance, verification and evaluation of EHS legal requirements and Corporate EHS management system; implementation, evaluation and assurance of Corporate Sustainability Reporting and GHG accounting; training and consultancy for Quality, Health, Safety, Social Accountability and Environmental Management Systems.

Worked with National and multinational EHS consultancy farm like EQMS, Deloitte etc, currently working as Principal Consultant in ERM. Participated in about 15 biodiversity expeditions, which include Palkot Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Jharkhand; Speyside and Cairngorm National Park, Scotland, UK; Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, Maharshtra; Gunug Leuser National Park, North Sumatra, Indonesia;Tiger Reserves of Satpura, Pench and Kanha (Madhya Pradesh); Kruger National Park in South Africa, Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary (Karnataka); Nagarhole National Park (Karnataka); Bandipur National Park (Karnataka); Eravikulam National Park (Kerala) and Periyar Tiger Reserve (Kerala); Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary (Assam); Gir National Park (Gujrat); Wild Ass Sanctuary (Gujrat); and Biodiversity study of Ghatshila and Jhargram (West Bengal), Araku Valley and Vizag Port (Andhra Pradesh), Forest of Bankura and Midnapore (West Bengal) etc.

Conducted assessment of urban and sub urban biodiversity at Kolkata, Salt Lake Wetland, South Bengal (West Bengal).

Conducted Study on Joint Forest Management and Wild Life in South West Bengal under the supervision of Department of Forest, Govt. of West Bengal and under the joint guidance of Environment Management department of IISWBM and National Afforestation and Eco-development Board, Govt. of India.

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Craig Round, Guide of Speyside Wildlife Craig loves Speyside and the Scottish Islands and has led tours in Scotland for nearly 25 years, taking explorers regularly to Mull, Shetland, Fair Isle and the Outer Hebrides. He has a great combination of field naturalist skills, outgoing personality and incredibly sharp eyes; along with an astonishing knowledge of birds, mammals and insects.

John Grierson, Guide of Speyside Wildlife A native of Perthshire, John has lived in Aviemore for over 25 years. Prior to becoming a guide, John was involved in wildlife crime investigation throughout the Highlands and was able to use his extensive knowledge of birds and animals to great advantage. An enthusiastic wildlife watcher, he lists all creatures as favourites and therefore is a perfect choice for days out in the Cairngorms as well as holidays.

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