Bird Watching

Moorfield House is located within a village that is surrounded by woodlands and moors and with one of the major Scottish rivers, the Spey, flowing along side it. On this page, we attempt to give an overall picture of the breeds of birds that can be seen locally and locations that can easily be reached on a days’ trip from Boat of Garten. All distances and times are approximate and for guidance only.

The area around Boat of Garten is renowned for its bird watching opportunities. Within the grounds of Moorfield House, we are fortunate enough to have been visited by a pair of Wryneck, Waxwing, Redwing, Brambling, Bullfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Hawfinch (one of the first sightings in the area for approximately 7 Years) and unfortunately by a Sparrowhawk! We have resident Yellowhammers, Treecreepers along with the usual Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Great, Coal and Blue Tits etc. Our Red Squirrels also deserve a mention.

The village has its own Lochan; Milton Loch. Here you will find a Heronry with about a dozen breeding pairs also Little Grebe, Golden Eye, Mallard, Coots and Moorhen. Woodcock regularly fly over a particular area in the village. Just outside the village there are Slavonian Grebe and Wigeon. The River Spey is a popular place to see Dipper, Sandpiper, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Osprey. Crossing the bridge over the River Spey takes you to the edge of Abernethy Forest and further on to the shores of Loch Garten.

At the River Spey you may see Dipper, Sandpiper, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker and of course Osprey. Meanwhile, crossing the bridge over the River Spey takes you to the edge of Abernethy Forest and further on to the shores of Loch Garten.

The RSPB website contains useful information for Bird watchers. The site gives details of all of the RSPB nature reserves, 6 of which are within easy reach from Boat of Garten and many others can be reached on a days' trip.

The Abernethy Forest RSPB reserve and Forsinard RSPB reserve are amongst the largest Nature reserves in Europe.

Abernethy Forest RSPB reserve (2 miles) has Capercaillie, Scottish Crossbill and Crested Tit. Loch Garten is famous for it's breeding pair of Osprey and RSPB Osprey Centre.

Insh marshes RSPB reserve
( 20 mins. by car ) has a wide range of wildfowl, waders, Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl.

Loch Ruthven RSPB reserve
(30 mins. by car ) boasts Slavonian Grebe, Raven and Black Grouse.

The Cairngorms play host to Golden Eagle, Ptarmigan, Dotterel, Ring Ouzel and Snow Bunting, whilst Black and Red Grouse can be found on local moorland.

Findhorn Valley (15 mins. by car ) known locally as raptor valley is where Golden Eagle, Buzzard, Merlin, Hen Harrier, Peregrine and Raven may been seen. At certain times of the year, Sea Eagles have been sighted in this Valley.

Culbin Sands RSPB reserve, Findhorn Bay, Moray Firth and Spey Bay ( 35 mins. by car ) have Eider and Long Tailed ducks, Common and Velvet Scoters, Great Northern and Black throated Divers and many other sea birds.

Fairy Glen RSPB reserve and Udale Bay RSPB reserve (60 mins by car ), Loch of Strathbeg RSPB reserve ( 120 mins by car ) & Forsinard RSPB reserve ( 150 mins by car) are all areas that can be visited, making for an excellent day's outing, whilst at Gruinard Bay (105 mins by car ) Sea Eagles are a regular sight.