Pine Marten

Our guests last week were fortunate enough to see a native Pine Marten as they drove along the Errogie road back to Aspenwood Cottage at dusk. They are about the size of an adult cat with a long slender body, a long and fuffy tail and a distinctive yellow-creamy bib. They are elusive nocturnal creatures and are members of the weasel family, thus very agile and will easily chase squirrels up a tree. Thus the red squirrels in the vicinity naturally prefer to come out to eat and play during daylight hours - how very wise. We were lucky to see these creatures in a friends garden nearby which opens out onto the woodland of Farigaig Forest. They arrive every night to be fed and we took this video of the Pine Marten.

Aspenwood pine marten

Guests who stayed at Aspenwood Cottage recently took this video of a pine marten at one of the peanut feeders on the fence outside the lounge window......so many thanks to Tom and Mary from USA for sending this video to us. These native pine martens live in Farigaig Forest surrounding the cottage so future guests may be fortunate enough to view these elusive creatures at such close range.....keep a look out !

Great spotted woodpecker

The male Great spotted woodpecker has been a frequent visitor to the nut feeders cramming its beak full of food before taking it back to the nest somewhere nearby in Farigaig Forest. Only realised just how large it is compared to the smaller female siskin feeding nearby.