Glenesk has a rich natural history. Many bird species are to be seen, from the humble Meadow Pipit and the Red Grouse and the Ptarmigan, Golden Plover and the rare Ring Ousel; also many birds of prey, Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, Kestrel and Hen Harrier and increasing rapidly the Common Buzzard. Many mammals are also present. Red deer are to be seen in herds numbering many hundreds, mountain hares, wildcat, fox, otter, red squirrel and, always, a plague of rabbits.

The red grouse is the main reason for employing gamekeepers in the Glen, and although numbers have declined in recent years, they are still the most important bird to the estates. On the higher hills there are a number of ptarmigan, while pheasants and partridges inhabit the low ground. There are golden eagles, buzzards, peregrine falcons, hen harriers, sparrow hawks and kestrels to be found in various parts of the Glen. There are also increasing numbers of crows and gulls which may be one reason for the decline in the numbers of lapwings, curlews, oyster catchers and other ground nesting birds.

Thrushes and mistle thrushes also seem to be in decline, although there are plenty of blackbirds. Most of the usual birds appear in the Glen, along with occasional visits from osprey. Red deer are numerous on the hills and roe deer are common on the lower ground. Stalking plays an important role in the commercial viability of the estates, and venison is a much under-rated meat which is low in fat and very tasty.

Rabbits seem to make up the majority of wild animals in many places in the Glen. They destroy trees and any crops that are not rabbit netted. Any field or rough ground which has not been grazed is eaten bare by rabbits and tunneled with rabbit warrens. Although they are shot by both farmers and keepers, their numbers still increase, and as they do not now sell for very much, fewer people set snares for them. An increasing number seem to recover from the effects of myxomatosis which appears in the summer.

The photograph of the adder was taken at Loch Lee recently by a young lady called Lornette Hughes.

The Cairngorms National Park

The Cairngorms National Park was established in September 2003.  It is the UK’s largest National Park at 1,467 sq miles.  The CNPA was set up by the Scottish Parliament to ensure that the unique aspects of the Cairngorms - both the natural environment and the local communities - are cared for, sustained and enhanced for current and future generations to enjoy.  The CNPA is designed to be an ‘enabling’ organisation promoting partnership and giving leadership to all those involved in the Cairngorms.

The Cairngorms National Park has a large mountain range at its heart with diverse communities around it. It is home to 16,000 people and 25% of Britain’s threatened species. It includes unique mountainous areas of wild land, moorlands, forests, rivers, lochs and glens. Sites designated as of importance to natural heritage take up 39% of the land area – two thirds of these are of Europe-wide importance.

The Park stretches from Grantown on Spey to the heads of the Angus Glens, from Ballater to Dalwhinnie and Drumochter including much of the Laggan area in the southwest and a large area of the Glen Livet estate and the Strathdon/Glen Buchat area.

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