Cairngorms Connect
LightNews LightNews
banner
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
Cairngorms Connect
@cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
430 followers 130 following 85 posts
A wild landscape in the making. For people, wildlife and climate.
https://www.cairngormsconnect.org.uk/
Posts Replies Media Videos
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
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
June 26, 2025 at 11:29 AM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
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...
June 25, 2025 at 2:10 PM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
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!]
June 12, 2025 at 11:26 AM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
“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-...
May 27, 2025 at 2:04 PM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
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.
May 22, 2025 at 5:04 PM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
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. 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.
May 20, 2025 at 2:14 PM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
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.
May 13, 2025 at 5:05 PM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
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.
May 10, 2025 at 11:01 AM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
“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)
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.
May 3, 2025 at 11:01 AM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
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
April 30, 2025 at 11:03 AM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
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.
April 29, 2025 at 5:04 PM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
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
A photo of Snipe, who is standing with its mottled brown back to us but it is turning its head to the right so we can see its long straight bill in profile. The wading bird is surrounded by long grasses which are out of focus at the edge. Photo by Andy Hay, RSPB
April 28, 2025 at 2:05 PM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
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.
April 25, 2025 at 2:04 PM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
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.
April 23, 2025 at 2:03 PM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
“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.
April 22, 2025 at 2:01 PM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
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).
April 21, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Reposted by Cairngorms Connect
savebutterflies.bsky.social
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
April 18, 2025 at 1:26 PM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
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.
April 19, 2025 at 7:58 AM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
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
April 16, 2025 at 12:51 PM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
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.
April 14, 2025 at 11:00 AM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
When it comes to capercaillie - please #LekitBe

Breeding or ‘lekking’ season has begun for Capercaillie, and during this time the species is particularly vulnerable to disturbance.

Find out more about @cairngormsnews.bsky.social's Lek It Be campaign & how to play your part: lekitbe.scot
An image graphic which includes an illustration of a male Capercaillie with a large yellow beak, red patch above the eye and dark tail feathers, and text that reads: "This breeding season Lek it be. Please do not go looking for Capercaillie from April to the end of August. #LekitBe. There are the Cairngorms National Park, Scottish Outdoor Access Code and Police Scotland logos along the bottom.
April 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
Try your hand at identifying wildlife spotted on camera traps across the #CairngormsConnect landscape! This Pine Marten is just one many sightings of the incredible species who call this place home.

Find out how you can get involved and start identifying species: bit.ly/CC-Volunteer...
Camera trap image of a chestnut-brown Pine Marten walking across a fallen tree in a forest. The pale yellow 'bib' on its chin and throat is just visible. There is a black strip at the bottom with the time code stating 10°C, 09.30.2024, 08:15 AM.
April 9, 2025 at 9:00 AM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
Do you want to help improve the fortunes of some of the UK’s rarest insects?

Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms is hiring a Project Officer to join their team!

🔗 Find out more : bit.ly/cc-jobs-and-...
🗓️ Apply by Friday the 25th of April

@cairngormsnews.bsky.social @savebutterflies.bsky.social
Two people kneel and sit on the sunny forest floor wearing midge nets and writing down what they find in a rotting piece of Scots pine. They are looking for Pine Hoverfly larvae. Photo: Lizzie Brotherston
April 8, 2025 at 10:06 AM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
Happy #InternationalBeaverDay! “The first question we’re asked these days is how are the Beavers doing. This footage is from the largest Beaver dam on @rspbscotland.bsky.social Insh Marshes. It makes us hopeful we will see the first young Beavers emerge from their lodge this summer.” – Thijs Claes
April 7, 2025 at 1:21 PM
cairngormsconnect.bsky.social
Capturing the story, whatever the weather 🌧️ ☀️ ❄️

We’re recruiting a Communications Officer (maternity cover) and we are running an informal online session where you can meet us, find out more about our work and ask questions on Monday 7th of April 12–1pm. Find out more: bit.ly/cc-jobs-and-...
Image Descriptions: 1) A person wearing full (soaking!) waterproofs sits on some rocks and takes a photo of a gnarled Krumholtz pine tree with their phone. 2) A sunny photo taken from down low through long grasses and yellow dandelions of a group of people walking away from the camera against a bright blue sky. 3) A close up photo of frosty grasses with an out of focus line of trees and winter sunset.
April 3, 2025 at 11:00 AM