Click on one of the thumbnails to the right to view the corresponding item.
Related Images Click a thumbnail to view.
Red squirrel, RSPB Loch Garten, Speyside
16725
5
Cairngorms National Park in winter
Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), RSPB Loch Garten, Speyside, taken by David Palmar. In the UK, 75% of the red squirrel population reside in Scotland, and are our only native squirrel species.
28 January 2020
Red squirrel, RSPB Loch Garten, Speyside
16724
5
Cairngorms National Park in winter
Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), RSPB Loch Garten, Speyside, taken by David Palmar. To deal with the cold temperatures of winter, the red squirrel's coat and tail become thicker. They also develop these impressive ear tufts which can grow up to 3cm! In the summer months their coat and tail thin out again and they completely lose their ear tufts.
28 January 2020
Coal tit, RSPB Loch Garten, Speyside
16723
5
Cairngorms National Park in winter
Coal tit (Periparus ater), RSPB Loch Garten, Speyside, taken by David Palmar. Coal tits nest in holes in trees, crevices in walls, or mice and rabbit burrows. They will also use the old magpie nests, squirrel dreys, and occasionally nest boxes.
28 January 2020
Tree creeper or Treecreeper, RSPB Loch Garten, Speyside
16722
5
Cairngorms National Park in winter
Tree creeper or Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris), RSPB Loch Garten, Speyside, taken by David Palmar. Treecreepers have a long, pointed tail and a fine, downwards-curved bill. They climb up trees in a spiral around the trunk, feeding on insects and spiders which they find in crevices in the bark. They have long, curved toes that help them cling to the bark, and really stiff tail feathers that they can push against the tree for extra support.
28 January 2020
Goldcrest, RSPB Loch Garten, Speyside
16721
5
Cairngorms National Park in winter
Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), RSPB Loch Garten, Speyside, taken by David Palmar. Goldcrest beaks have evolved to be thin and pointed, a tough and able instrument with which to pick out insects from among dense pine needles.
28 January 2020
Goldcrest, RSPB Loch Garten, Speyside
16720
5
Cairngorms National Park in winter
Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), RSPB Loch Garten, Speyside, taken by David Palmar. Goldcrests are a dull olive green with paler underparts and a gold stripe on their crown bordered with black. The male’s stripe is more orange than the female’s which is yellow in colour.
28 January 2020
Great spotted woodpecker, RSPB Loch Garten, Speyside
16719
5
Cairngorms National Park in winter
Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major), RSPB Loch Garten, Speyside, taken by David Palmar. Great spotted woodpeckers use their powerful beaks to hammer holes in tree bark and then extract beetle larvae with their long, flexible tongues. Caterpillars, adult beetles and spiders are also taken. Nuts and seeds are also an important food source, particularly in winter.
28 January 2020
Great spotted woodpecker, RSPB Loch Garten, Speyside
16718
5
Cairngorms National Park in winter
Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major), RSPB Loch Garten, Speyside, taken by David Palmar. Great spotted woodpeckers have a pale breast with black upper parts, and a bright red rump. They have white cheeks with black lines underneath and a black cap. Males can be identified by a red patch on the back of the neck. Their wings are black with white spots. Great spotted woodpeckers are not as large as many people imagine, being on average slightly smaller than a Blackbird.
28 January 2020
Male Great spotted woodpecker, RSPB Loch Garten, Speyside
16717
5
Cairngorms National Park in winter
Male Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major), RSPB Loch Garten, Speyside, taken by David Palmar. The adult male has red on the back of his head, which the female does not. Woodpeckers chisel into trees to excavate nest holes, find food and to drum to advertise and defend their territories.
28 January 2020
Coal tit, RSPB Loch Garten, Speyside
16716
5
Cairngorms National Park in winter
Coal tit (Periparus ater), RSPB Loch Garten, Speyside, taken by David Palmar. Coal tits love coniferous woodlands, their slender bills are perfect for eating insects amongst the pine needles.
