Cairngorms Capers: A Badger Bonanza at the Speyside Badger Hide
Discover the magic of the Scottish night in the Cairngorms! This blog post details an unforgettable night-time adventure filled with badger encounters, dazzling birds, and more. Learn tips for your visit and discover the magic of the Scottish night.
The mystique of the Cairngorms National Park extends far beyond its rugged peaks. On a recent adventure, I delved deeper into this breathtaking region to uncover a hidden gem - the Speyside Wildlife Badger Hide near Aviemore.
Arriving at the Hide
The hide is nestled in a beautiful garden filled with flowers (many non-native for the region). We met our guide, Harris, in a parking area across from a long driveway. As we walked up Harris pointed out various flowers and told us a bit about the property. Harris also mentioned that there is a Scottish Wildcat in the area and tried to find it in the garden. Unfortunately we didn't get to see it on our visit.
Some of the man flowers as we walked up the driveway to the hide.
A Few Feathered Friends before Sunset
As I settled into the hide, Harris went outside and spread peanuts and peanut butter immediately in front of the hide. Soon after he came back inside some bird friends came by to nab some peanuts and peanut butter on their own.
Eurasian Wood Pigeons were the first to come by and investigate the treats.
We had some Blue Tit visitors. I was able to get some nice shots of it here.
A Eurasian Blackbird was also curious about the peanutty goodness.
A Great Tit came to chow down on some peanut butter.
We saw two Robins, one was missing its head feathers. This can be due to feather mites which usually don't cause issues for the bird. Despite its baldness, this bird was enjoying the peanuts quite a bit!
Unexpected Encounters at the Hide
While we awaited the badgers, a few little field mice also popped out to grab some peanuts.
The mice darted in and out of their hiding spots very quickly.
Nighttime Ninjas in the Cairngorms
European badgers, with their iconic black and white markings, are shy and elusive creatures. The Speyside Wildlife hide offers a rare chance to witness these nocturnal foragers in a natural habitat.
As the darkness settled in further our first badger came for a visit.
A badger licks peanut butter off a tree!
When it grew darker Harris put on some lights so that we could more easily see and photograph the badgers.
The first badger to visit the area outside the hide was very into peanut butter. I found it adorable to watch him use his paw to get at the peanut butter and then lick it off.
It seemed that some badgers preferred the cronch of the peanuts on the ground, while others were willing to work to lick peanut butter off of the trees.
Badgers don't see well, they rely on their nose to sniff out food. LOOK AT THAT CUTE NOSE!
This badger looooved peanut butter!
Under the Covers of Darkness
Badgers are omnivores, with a diet that includes worms, grubs, fruits, and even small mammals. They rely heavily on their noses to find food. Especially as it got later we had a lot of fun watching them snuffle around for the peanuts we could see right in front of them.
We waited until 11:30pm in hopes of a Pine Martin coming down, but it wasn't our night for them. Harris kindly offered to give it an extra half hour, but everyone was feeling quite tired and we still needed to drive back to Inverness.
Tips for Your Cairngorms Speyside Wildlife Hide Visit
- Book in advance: The badger hide is a popular spot, so be sure to reserve your evening session well ahead of time.
- Dress warmly: Scottish nights can be chilly, so pack warm layers and quiet clothing.
- Be patient: Badgers are most active after dusk, so be prepared to wait quietly for them to emerge.
- Keep an eye out for smaller critters: Other critters come by prior to the badgers and its fun to try to spot them.
- Have your camera ready for night photos: If you shoot with a high shutter speed, you're going to want to adjust that before the badgers show up. Fortunately they aren't very fast so you can get them with a slower speed and let more light into your sensor.
- Respect the wildlife: Maintain a safe distance and avoid using flash photography, bright lights, or loud sounds.
An Unforgettable Nighttime Adventure in the Cairngorms
My visit to the Speyside Wildlife badger hide in the heart of the Cairngorms was a truly special experience. It allowed me to witness these fascinating creatures up close and appreciate their unique role in the Caledonian ecosystem. If you're looking for a unique way to experience the magic of the Scottish night, I highly recommend adding this to your Cairngorms itinerary.
Let me know in the comments below if you've ever had a close encounter with a badger!