Spring in Ardnamurchan
Spring is a great time for walking and wildlife in Moidart and Ardnamurchan. March and April are months full of promise. This is great time to lose yourself in the scenic splendour of the Highlands- stunning beaches, ancient mountains and open country awaits you. Early flowering plants add white, purple and yellow hues to the former Winter landscape, whilst the woodland soundscape becomes a glorious avian biphony as resident and early migrants establish breeding territories in Mingarry Woods heralding the start of Spring.
By May, Spring flowers are in full bloom and opportunities for wildlife encounters abound locally and further afield. May is a great time to take a trip to the Treshnish Isles to witness the arrival and nesting of puffins, auks, kittiwakes, fulmars and skuas on the Isle of Lunga. At Minagrry, young red squirrels emerge from the drey, early flying butterflies are on the wing and nest building and brooding is well underway. This is also a great time to explore the Small Isles (Rum, Eigg, Canna and Muck) and Mull.
March/April - The first signs of Spring in the Highlands.
Mingarry woods is a cacophony of sound. The territorial vocalisations of the tawny owls heard early in the year are gradually replaced by the drumming and ‘chik chik’ call of the greater spotted woodpecker and the ‘kronking’ of ravens. The trills of curlew and the ringing whistles of greenshanks drift in from Acharacle Moss, heralding the start of the breeding season. Early migrant species arrive in the Highlands, including swallows, warblers, siskins and cuckoos. The spectacular aerial courtship displays of white-tailed eagles and golden eagles earlier in the year has reinforced pair bonding leading to mating and egg laying in March. Hen harriers also return to their breeding grounds.
March and April also see the arrival of large flocks of chaffinches as transit migrants on their migration north to Scandinavia and Finland. These birds add to the number of newly arrived summer migrants which are busy feeding to improve their condition in preparation for the breeding season in the West Highlands. As Spring progresses, the dawn chorus becomes a crescendo of warbles, churps, whistles and trills as territories are established and individual songbirds pair up. It is no long before the resident woodland birds are seen flitting about the grounds prospecting for nest sites and gathering nesting material. The end of April also heralds the return of osprey to their former nest sites.
Further afield in Lochaber, black grouse gather at their lekking grounds to defend small territories for elaborate courtship displays.
Amongst the herpetofauna, slow worms and common lizards emerge from hibernation and can be seen basking in warm sunny places on logs and stones. The slow worms will mate in late April and May; the courtship involving a ritualised intertwining and rhythmical waving.
Frogs and toads also gather in increasing numbers around small bodies of water and indulge in their characteristic frenzied mating behaviour.
The first litter of red squirrels are born; these will emergence from the drey in May or early June. Female pine martens give birth to a single litter of between one and six kits. Otters are busy fishing along the quiet coastlines.
Violets, primroses and lesser celandine bloom in abundance, adding purple and golden hues to the woodland floor. The first of the butterflies are on the wing, including orange tip, peacock.
Marvellous May - Breeding Time
May is characterised by green, luscious foliage as beech, hawthorn, elm, hazel and oak burst into leaf; the timing dependent and individual tree species and weather conditions. The blossom of apple, pear, cherry and hawthorn add a sweet scent to the air. A riot of spring flowers, including bluebells and cow-wheat carpet the woodland grounds of Mingarry Lodges, whilst cuckoo flowers, early-purple orchids and common spotted orchids add splashes of colour to the grassland.
The last of the migrants arrive in the Highlands. Nest building and brooding is well underway. Early May is marked by a short period of relative calm as residents and migrants incubate newly laid eggs. This is followed by an eruption of activity, as blue tits, great tits, coal tits and, chaffinches are seen busily feeding their young in the nest. It is not long before the first robin, siskin and greenfinch fledglings emerge filling the woods with their chattering calls. Female swallows are busy incubating their eggs (for approximately 18 days). They will soon emerge to join their partners and flocks of sand martens swirling and sweeping close to the ground or surface of the water to catch the numerous tiny insects of the wings. The evocative cooing of cuckoos fills the air.
Pipistrelle bats can be seen flying on warm Spring evenings. Young red squirrels emerge whilst pine martens are seen busy feeding their young.
Further afield, osprey, white-tailed eagle and golden eagle are busy tending to newly emerged chicks.
Butterflies on the wing include green hairstreak, chequered skipper, pearl bordered fritillary, small pearl bordered fritillary, green-veined white and common blue.