RFI: Pine Martens - Speyside or West coast (2 Viewers)

[dbradnum]

Hi everyone,

My parents are heading up to Scotland for Whitsun week (based just S of Inverness, spending time in Speyside and on the west coast) and are very keen to see Pine Marten. We have tried a couple of sites in the past, but without success.

I'm aware that they're very difficult to see during the day, and that the best bet is often in local people's gardens, baited with jam sandwiches / digestive biscuits / other sweet foods, at dusk - I've heard of a number of B&B's that do this enabling visitors to see the martens.

Does anyone have any details of such places, or even semi-reliable sites by day? If private message is more appropriate, that's fine.

Where have BF members seen these fantastic animals?

Thanks in advance,

David

 

[edenwatcher]

This is probably not allowed as it refers to a specific company, but here goes anyway:
Try Speyside Wildlife (www.speysidewildlife.co.uk) - they have a hide which they bait with jam, peanut butter etc.. Cost was £15 for the evening last year and worth every penny. We saw 2 individuals at a range of about 3 feet. Sightings are VERY reliable. Some days are not available (set aside for their tour groups) but we went on a Saturday in May last year and were the only people.

Rob

 

[dbradnum]

Brilliant - that's exactly the sort of thing I was looking for. Now I'm going to be absolutely gutted if parents go and manage to see them... :C

Cheers Rob!

 

[carol poole]

pine maretn

one of the best places for seeing pine martin is along the loch maree road in west ross there are a couple of bb and guest houses which have been feeding martins for years and are present nightly it is also a good place for seeing them cross the road. glen cannich near dusk is also worth a try there are other places in scotland such as loch morlich speyside and the roads around bonar bridge kyle of sutherland where i have also seen them but not with any regularity

 

[Andrew03]

I went to the hide mentioned in post No 2 twice last July and had excellent views of a mother with two (large) young. It was still light when they appeared, and later a badger turned up (as well as roe deer). Well worth it.
Andrew

 

[Steve Babbs]

Hi everyone,

My parents are heading up to Scotland for Whitsun week (based just S of Inverness, spending time in Speyside and on the west coast) and are very keen to see Pine Marten. We have tried a couple of sites in the past, but without success.

I'm aware that they're very difficult to see during the day, and that the best bet is often in local people's gardens, baited with jam sandwiches / digestive biscuits / other sweet foods, at dusk - I've heard of a number of B&B's that do this enabling visitors to see the martens.

Does anyone have any details of such places, or even semi-reliable sites by day? If private message is more appropriate, that's fine.

Where have BF members seen these fantastic animals?

Thanks in advance,

David

In 2002 I stayed in a B & B in Glenborrodale, Ardamurchan where we got superb views of a pine martin coming to a feeder. They'd even had them nesting in their roof. It's also a good area for wildcats. Sadly I've lost the phone number - but there aren't many B&Bs there.

Steve

 

[Vipers]

Brilliant - that's exactly the sort of thing I was looking for. Now I'm going to be absolutely gutted if parents go and manage to see them... :C

Cheers Rob!

Hi David

The Speyside wildlife hide that Rob mentioned is on Rothiemurchus estate, just outside Aviemore. We were there last night and saw three different pine martins and three badgers. At one stage there were two pine martins and a badger feeding outside the hide at the same time. You can book this at the Rothiemurchus visitor centre but I'd advise you to book in advance because it's very popular and does get fully booked. It costs £15 per person but it's worth every penny.

Unfortunatly Because of the very low light, I didn't get any clear shots of the Pine Martin, but hear is a couple to give you an idea how close they are. The Badger is only about one metre from the camera.

 

[dbradnum]

WOW! I need to go to Speyside and do this....

 

[abagguley]

Hi David

Another vote for Speyside Wildlife - type it into Google & you'll find their website - you can reserve a place on-line. We went last August, & saw at least 4 different individuals (maybe more - they keep coming & going, so it's hard to be sure). There were young there, and they came whilst it was still light enough for photos. We also saw 2 badgers (one of which climbed a tree, for some obscure reason) and a deer (Red, I think, but I'm not too hot on deer ID). One word of warning - mossie repellent would be useful - the little b*stards bit hell out of me last year.

Also, you're pretty handy for the Ospreys at Loch Garten if you go to Aviemore.

Adrian

 

[failed flyer]

we have a guesthouse at Grantown on Spey (this is not a sales pitch - so I won't include our address), but we have had many visitors visit the Speysidewildlife Pine Marten Hide, and every one is more than happy with the result.

Pine Marten, Badger, deer are all very regular visitors at the site.

I am sure you will find it great - you will have to book though and they do not open most weekends.

 

[robinm]

Hi failed flyer,

A warm welcome to BirdForum from all the Moderators and Admin.

I shall be going to the Speyside wildlife hide myself in a couple of weeks. Reading this thread has filled me with anticipation.

 

[Vipers]

Hi Robin

I'm so jealous! I was there last Tuesday, and I wish I was going back in a couple of weeks. Its an experience you won't forget in a hurry.

 

[JWN Andrewes]

The B&B mentioned in post 6 is possibly Cala Darach (I had point blank views on Pine Marten there about 3 years ago) which has now been sold and is a private residence.

James

 

[rlchew]

Further to this thread and previous posts, we have just returned from our annual trip to the Highlands and Islands.

Whilst we have seen Pine Martens in the Highlands before (but only fleeting dusk or dawn sightings in Assynt and Ardnamurchan), we took the opportunity to book on one of the Speyside Wildlife night time watches.

http://www.speysidewildlife.co.uk/Where/Scotland/hide_full.htm

This was one of the highlights of our trip with exceptionally close and lengthy views of both Pine Martens and Badgers during our 2 hour stay in the cabin on the Rothiemurchus Estate close to Loch an Eilan near Aviemore. There were ample opportunities for digital/film photography and video filming.

Highly recommended to anyone visiting this area and wanting almost guaranteed views of a highly elusive British mammal …. mind you, the jam and peanut butter baiting undoubtedly helps!


Richard

 

[dbradnum]

Thanks to all those who recommended Speyside wildlife for Pine Martens... Mum and Dad had a fantastic evening watching these, and Badgers. Now all I need to do is find time to get up there to see them myself!

David

 

[Pie Face]

Whilst I had planned to go on one of these trips (they were booked up) part of me can't help thinking that it is a little artificial. Whilst I would no doubt enjoy seeing this very elusive mammal, the Zoo feeling would always be there.

Mark

 

[Ian Bell]

Whilst I had planned to go on one of these trips (they were booked up) part of me can't help thinking that it is a little artificial. Whilst I would no doubt enjoy seeing this very elusive mammal, the Zoo feeling would always be there.

Mark

Yes,I have to agree with Mark.For example seeing the Loch Garten Ospreys does not give you the same "buzz" as seeing one at another place away from the postcard and tea towel selling places.

 

[dbradnum]

Yes,I have to agree with Mark.For example seeing the Loch Garten Ospreys does not give you the same "buzz" as seeing one at another place away from the postcard and tea towel selling places.

I see what you mean, but there's a world of difference between seeing Osprey and seeing Pine Marten.... Ospreys are dead easy on Speyside all over the place, and passage birds are usually not too hard to come by throughout the UK. Pine Martens, however are b****y hard to see away from baited watchpoints, and their range is much more limited.

I'd love to see one genuinely "in the wild", but being realistic, that's not very likely, so Speyside wildlife or similar is the next best thing!

David

 

[Ian Bell]

I see what you mean, but there's a world of difference between seeing Osprey and seeing Pine Marten.... Ospreys are dead easy on Speyside all over the place, and passage birds are usually not too hard to come by throughout the UK. Pine Martens, however are b****y hard to see away from baited watchpoints, and their range is much more limited.

I'd love to see one genuinely "in the wild", but being realistic, that's not very likely, so Speyside wildlife or similar is the next best thing!

David

Yes David I can see your point.At times I take where I stay and what I see for granted.At least the Marten is showing signs of spreading into other parts of Scotland.As the saying goes;"God made the world but made Scotland for himself".