Spring is just around the corner 🌻

We are very excited about this year. With lots of tours already booked up it looks like its going to be another fantastic season of wildlife guiding ahead.

We are starting to see the early return of Oyster Catcher, Lapwing and Curlew to the area which is always a sign that spring is near and is most welcome. It is always a pleasure sharing these amazing animals with our guests and with our exclusive access for wildlife guiding it gives you a front row seat.

Soon there will be all sorts of young animals about so we would always advise visitors and locals alike to follow the outdoor access code https://www.outdooraccess-scotland.scot/exploring-without-disturbing-wildlife and also local signage.

We hope you all have a great year and look forward to seeing you soon.

Crossbill in the Cairngorms National Park.

Spring 😁

Firstly we would like to thank all of the guests that came out on wildlife tours last year! Great to meet so many nice people and thank you for all of your 5 star reviews. In addition it was really nice to see the return of such a large number of overseas guests.

We are looking forward to welcoming all the guests who have booked for 2023. Its going to be another busy year and we are ready for it.

The Eagles were a huge hit this last year with almost every outing getting great views of these fantastic animals. We are not running the Black Grouse tours this spring due to low bird numbers which is unfortunately in keeping with the national trend. We are however doing all we can to try and slow/stop this decline. On a positive, this gives us more availability in April for outings, so if you fancy a trip don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Lekking Black Grouse seen on one of our wildlife tours in the Scottish Highlands.

For any information on our guided wildlife tours or to book please see our ‘book now’ page. Thanks

Spring has sprung!

One of my favourite times of year! This is truly one of the best times for viewing wildlife. From a practical sense, with the grass having not grown a great deal and the leaves only just starting to fill the trees it is easier to see these creatures. But more importantly, there is more wildlife around. With our resident animals shaking off the previous winter and thousands of migrant birds arriving we are spoilt for choice.

Our tours have been very busy and thank you to everyone has ben out this year so far. Great to see more and more bookings coming in from over seas now to!

Here are some shot from the last couple on months:

Seeing so many Siskins this year in the Cairngorms National Park and surrounding areas.

So nice to see one of my images on the front cover of Aprils ‘What’s On’

With the weather constantly improving and the daylight hours increasing we are looking forward to welcoming all of the guests booked with us this year. See you all soon!

What a season!

Thank you to the many, many groups we have had out this year! From reopening at the end of April we have been super busy with wildlife tours and it’s all thanks to you!

As usual this year has flown by and with the arrival of thousands of Fieldfare and Redwing it’s a sure sign Winter is just around the corner. With bookings rolling in for next year it is easy to write 2021 off, but its not over yet. The Salmon and Seatrout are spawning, the Winter migrants are arriving on mass and the hardcore residents are preparing for the Winter. So if you at a loose end, or wondering what do to for Christmas, why not head out? There is, as always, so much to see!

As usual you can get in touch via the website, our social media platforms or give us a call.

Here are few shots from this Autumn and some from last Winter, lets hope for the same again this year!

A Crested Tit, a species often seen on our wildlife tours.

Red deer crossing a remote frozen river in the Scottish Highlands.

A Buzzard, one of the many species of birds of prey seen on our bespoke tours.

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Its been a strange old season but that’s not stopped us getting out and seeing some fantastic wildlife!

Spring is here!

Hello everyone, Spring is here and although it is not normal for us this year, for nature it is business as usual. Obviously we have had to cancel all bookings for the next wee while but we are doing our best to focus on the positives!

The birds are singing, displaying and showing off to their mates and pretty soon we will have some fantastic migrant birds arriving which is a sure sign that Spring has sprung. With Swallows, Ospreys, Cuckoos and Swifts all arriving in the next couple months it will be a welcome sight in the skies above us. As well as many more!

These bruisers are lekking away well!

Now that we are focusing far more attention on the garden and our immediate surroundings why not start a garden bird list? Our rules are that the birds have to be in OR seen from the garden. As we have plenty of time on our hands we did it over 48 hours. With 2 hours to go here’s what we have so far….

I made the text Jazzy

We will also be running a ‘Garden nature photography’ competition via our Facebook page @instinctguides. People will be able to submit their best photos of anything nature based around the garden and the winner will receive an Instinct t-shirt .

That’s all for now folks, all the best to everyone and take care 👍😊👍

Its snowing!

It appears Winter is upon us…for now! Storm Brendan is still with us resulting in high winds and snow showers but for the wildlife its business as usual. I always try and bare this in mind when I’m in a warm house with the fire on during a blizzard, they are still out there, surviving! These little chaps below are a perfect example of that, up on the mountain, whatever the weather!

In other news I am delighted to show off our new logo! Very happy with it and feel it covers all aspects of the business. Please feel free to get in touch and let us know what you think.

With bookings coming in fast for 2020 we have now made it even easier to plan your trip, view activities and book your day by teaming up with the guys at Cairngorm Business Partnership. This means we are now listed on VisitAviemore, VisitCairngorms and VisitScotland. https://visitcairngorms.com/dbactivities-Instinct_-__Wildlife_Guide/849.html

Our framed photographs are selling well so thank you to anyone who has purchased one. Any of my photographs that appear on the website or social media can be printed, framed and sold. If you see one you would like then please get in touch via the '‘BOOK NOW’ button. Here is a look at some of the latest on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/instinct_guides/

Thank you to everyone for your support as usual and have a great 2020!

Winter is coming!

With temperatures dropping, the leaves falling from the trees and fresh snow in the mountains it can only mean one thing, winter is coming!

Autumn has been busy with both walking groups and 4x4 tours alike. Having had guests from America, Germany, France, India, Norway, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand and of course the UK, it is a fantastic way to meet people from all over the world who are passionate about wildlife.

We did manage a trip out to the french alps at the end of the summer which provided us with a chance to recharge and a great opportunity to get some hiking, photography and wildlife watching in the mountains. I captured this image of an Alpine Ibex at 2100m on Dent d’Oche. It is always nice to see how different countries/areas manage the land. The communities we passed through on our trip all seem to really embrace the wildlife that surrounds them. With paintings of Capercaillie and Black Grouse on the walls to statues of Ibex carved out of wood, it was really nice to see.

I am also pleased to say that the legends in the Coffee Pot in Aviemore are now displaying some of our photographs on the walls. They do great coffee so if you are in there have a look at the pics and let me know what you think. As usual you can get in touch via the ‘book now’ button or by using the link to our Facebook page below.

If you are looking for a unique Christmas gift, Instinct gift vouchers for half and full day trips will be available by the end of the week. If there is something else you had in mind, email or give us a call and we will put it together for you.

Cheers!

Instinct-News

Welcome to Instincts new blog! Here we will keep you up to date with the latest photos, news, outings and developments.

Our exclusive off road access in the Scottish Highlands and the Cairngorms National Park continues to prove very popular, as a result we have been working hard on continuing to improve these experiences.

Re-brand: We are currently in the process of re branding, once completed we will have an exciting new logo and you will see some shiny new livery on the Hilux!

New Kit: I recently purchased a Sigma 150-600 mm contemporary lens which I am delighted with. I took it on my latest trip to Sri Lanka and found it clear, portable and was able to shoot with out the use of a mono/tripod. Hand held shot of a Common Kingfisher.

Exciting Osprey news: The Osprey chicks who have been adopted by the children of the local Primary schools have now fledged! This fantastic project allows tracking of the Carr and Deshar (the names of the two Ospreys). Carr, as shown in the image below is now down around Marrakesh. Find more information on how the birds are getting on at http://www.roydennis.org/osprey-satellite-tracking-map/ . Its a great site and well worth a look!

Looking forward: Summer isn’t over however a lot of the bird species that visit in the summer are beginning to return to their wintering grounds. Its sad to see them go however it always gives me added respect for the hardy Scottish wildlife that stay hear year round, roughing out the harsh winters. Last Autumn our full and half day wildlife tours were very popular, particularly the evening trips where we were regularly seeing Eagles, Black Grouse whilst listening to the Stags roar. I always enjoy these trips as you really make the most of the shorter days, having the vast expanses all to yourself and often staying out after dark.

Thank you for taking the time to have a read, feel free to share or use the Book now button to get in touch with any queries or questions you might have.