Sun and blue skies and a clear, crisp winter's day are providing perfect conditions for winter wildlife watching in the Cairngorms National Park.

It's remarkable how an adaptation such as the white winter finery of the Ptarmigan and Mountain Hare can so suddenly become a liability when the snow and ice thaws.
The scree of nearby Glenlivet Estate is currently a sure bet for seeing 'blue' Hares scurrying over the steep boulder strewn slopes caused by periodic freeze-thaw action whilst all the ski areas are holding packs of feeding Ptarmigan.
The Ptarmigan building's outdoor viewing platform at nearly 4000 feet at Cairn Gorm is also offering some peerless views of the Spey valley and the chance of seeing the Reindeer herd in their natural domain. It's hard not to be envious of a pelage that's so well insulated that when the reindeer lie down the snow beneath them doesn't even melt.
Gortex and Paramo eat your heart out...

A truly inspiring Illustrated Talk by Osprey expert Roy Dennis at the hotel ensured that we ended 2008 on a high (not forgetting the traditional Hogmanay dinner-dance and ceilidh, of course!).



And the first guest wildlife sightings of the New Year gave a mouthwatering taste of what is to come over the next 12 months...4 Bottlenose Dolphins at Chanonry Point...Black Grouse at Lochindorb...and skeins of Pink-footed Geese landing on the frozen lochs and comically skidding and sliding away into the distance.




Lochindorb itself was a haunting place to be at dusk as the melting ice groaned and occasionally exploded as another 'berg' broke off. Even the River Spey has frozen and looks particularly picturesque as the image left shows...I wonder how the spawning Atlantic Salmon are managing in the headwaters of the Monadliath Mountains if one of the main rivers of the Highlands can freeze up?

Still, with a warm Hotel to return to and over 100 Speyside single malts to choose from, wildlife watching in winter at the Grant Arms has its own singular charms...

A very Happy New Year to everyone!