Aigas Visit.

 We had two different cottages booked for our eight day stay in the area near to Matt and Emily. One, a very nicely equipped cottage and the other one that was really a wooden cabin in a private woodland, which was across the valley from the cottage. We were literally on our own in the woodland, just the single cabin and 280 hectares of woodland. It was really quite unique and exciting. In the sales brochure there was a picture of a Pine Marten on the decking, so we put the camera trap every night hoping!!

One night I was woken at 2am by the sound of paws running along the decking, I woke up Lisa and we both heard the sound as it ran back a little later. We both hoped it would be either a Pine Marten or possibly a Badger. We had actually seen a Badger earlier that night on our drive back from Matt and Emily's. Needless to say, we were extremely disappointed when we checked the footage and saw it was just a domestic cat!! Presumably from the nearest house some distance away.

Both properties were in the Aigas valley, and as Emily had worked for the Aigas Wildlife Field Centre she very kindly contacted the centre to see if they would let us look around the site. We were then given VIP treatment, as we were met by two of their wardens and shown around this impressive site. They also told us about the Scottish Wildcat breeding program, where several institutions around the country are involved with breeding suitable cats, for release back into the wild. There have already been several releases in the Cairngorms, and they are already breeding again in the wild. Each breeding cat is DNA tested to make sure it's 95% or higher for true Scottish Wildcat, as there has been breeding in the past with feral cats that ran the risk of the true Scottish Wildcat becoming extinct.

We were lucky to be shown a male cat that is now beyond breeding age. The cats being used for the breeding program are kept as far away from human contact as possible. Although I don't normally post photos of captive animals, I think I can safely post this one, as to see a true Scottish Wildcat in the wild would be almost impossible as they are so elusive and obviously rare!!

Male Scottish Wildcat.

Unfortunately, the weather on our day at Aigas was quite wet and dull, but we still had a great time there. Following on from the Wildcat, we were left to explore if we wished. With the rain continuing, we decided to sit in the Red Squirrel hide and hope for some good views of these delightful animals.

We didn't have long to wait before we were entertained by three different Red Squirrels. Often they chased each other, or ran off with a Hazelnut, to bury it somewhere safe.

Red Squirrels.

There were plenty of birds too using the feeders outside the hide. Mainly Coal Tit, but also Siskin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch and Great-spotted Woodpecker.

The kindness shown to us by the Aigas Field Centre was absolutely fantastic. If only the weather had been as kind!!