Spring is Here - Aquila Ecology

Welcome or our Spring Newsletter Spring is here and, along with the emergence of snowdrops and crocuses in our gardens, we see the return of hedgehogs from their hibernation and frogs, toads and newts make their way to breeding ponds. Travelling along roads these amphibians are at risk from cars as well as the chance of dropping down gulley pots at the kerbside so please be on the look out. We are looking forward to the return of our garden slow worms who will once again take up residence in our ‘snake heap’ of grass cuttings. We have been lucky to see a couple of stoats in their brilliant white ‘ermine’ coats this winter, but they will now be moulting into their summer coats as will the mountain hares. The grouse of the high tops, the ptarmigan, will also change from white plumage to grey as camouflage against becoming dinner for the golden eagle. We will soon say goodbye to the winter thrushes, the redwing and the fieldfare and we will see flocks of pink-footed geese flying high in V formations to their summer breeding grounds in Greenland and Iceland. We will be saying hello to the sand martins, wheatears, willow warblers and ospreys which will be joining us for summer after their African winter. A little later, swallows and house martins will be looking to nest under our eaves and in our garden sheds again. Our local golden eagle pair are already on eggs as are the neighbouring ravens They will nest even while there is a risk of snow whilst most other birds will wait until April or May. Idyllic Islay We had a wonderful time guiding a group to Islay in February. The weather was mild and we were able to tick off otter, hen harrier, chough, twite, white-tailed and golden eagles, as well as watching huge flocks of barnacle and white-fronted geese. We had fabulous close encounters with hares, red and roe deer and feral goats. Each day was topped off with home-cooked meals, open fires and good company. Why not join us next year? Kids Go Wild! We hear so much these days about the disconnect between people and nature – especially young people. We are running our Wild Wednesdays at Comrie Croft  for 7-12 year olds where they will discover what animals can be found at the Croft, where they live, what they eat and how they spend their days. If you are interested please keep up to date with the details by checking on our Facebook page. Brilliant Birding in Extremadura Our next trip at the end of April is to the birdwatching paradise of Extremadura in central Spain. Staying in a converted farmhouse we will spend a leisurely six days visiting steppes, lakes and mountains and will be surrounded by bee-eaters, hoopoes, rollers, corn buntings and nightingales. We will see five species of eagle and three species of vulture, three species of kite as well as sandgrouse and bustards.   The wildflower meadows, the wetlands and the cork oak forests are just stunning and all this within a stone's throw of the fantastic Montfrague National Park. We still have one twin room left so why not come along? Visit our website for more information. Tours and Walks It’s not only youngsters who are disconnected from nature. How many of us have spent a summer evening sat quietly next to a river as dusk falls in the hope of catching a glimpse of an otter or a beaver? And whilst waiting, bats flutter around you, kingfishers zip past and a roe deer walks close by unaware of your presence. Or, how many of us are aware of the black grouse that display at their leks near to towns and villages, the newts and the dragonflies that live in our ponds or the golden eagles that patrol the hills and mountains around us? If you haven't experienced this, you should give it a go. If you would like to reconnect with nature this year, then why not join us for a bespoke guided tour or walk? Visit our website for more ideas. We love to keep in touch with our followers so please feel free to post your sightings or other wildlife stories on our Facebook page or tag us on Twitter.

Copyright © 2018 Aquila Ecology, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Aquila Ecology Cruachan St Fillans, Perthshire PH6 2NQ United Kingdom

Aquila Ecology Activities and Events for Spring

Spring has sprung! Spring will be turning into summer soon and we have been really blessed with an unseasonably dry and warm spell. The wildflowers are blooming, our Swifts, Swallows, Sand and House Martins have all returned to breed and bats have returned to their summer roosts. Our local Golden Eagles are incubating eggs and Ospreys are being seen regularly fishing on the loch. So, time to think about your summer holidays- how about a short stay in St Fillans with a nature tour included?

Extremadura Birding trip We visited the beautiful Extremadura region of Spain last month and managed to jot up an amazing 127 different bird species in just 7 days! These included: Spanish Imperial Eagle, Griffon, Egyptian and Black Vulture, Montagu's Harrier, Black-winged Kite, Great Bustard, Rock Bunting and so many more. We are currently taking expressions of interest for next year's trip, so please get in touch if you would like to join us by emailing info@aquilaecologyscotland.co.uk Check our interactive trip report below. Marvellous Malta In our last newsletter we promised more information on our upcoming trip to Malta this Autumn. The itinerary is coming along nicely and guests can expect to enjoy: a walk through a Mediterranean woodland; a trip to Gozo to include listening to shearwaters at night; cultural trips to Mdina and Valletta; visiting raptor viewpoints; evening bat watches; visits to BirdLife Malta Nature Reserves and evening strolls on the beach. If interested, please email us: info@aquilaecologyscotland.co.uk Summer Events On Wednesday afternoons from 5th of July until 16th August we will be running children's nature activity sessions at Comrie Croft.  In just 2 hours your kids will become experienced wildlife detectives able to tell you what animals live at the croft, what they eat, where they live and how they spend their days there. There will be fun practical activities and the chance of glue and glitter at some point :) Sessions will cost £6 per child and are ideal for 7-12 year olds. Children younger than 7 must be accompanied by an adult. Residents and non-residents welcome, but booking is essential as places are limited. If interested, please email us: info@aquilaecologyscotland.co.uk It's bat time of year again Bat survey season is now in full swing and we're very busy conducting roost assessment and activity surveys. However, this is also the time of year when bat casualties come to our attention. Every year the Bat Conservation Trust's National Bat Helpline receives thousands of calls from concerned members of the public who have happened across injured bats, usually around homes and gardens. Luckily there are a number of Bar Carer volunteers across the country who are able to take in these bats and nurse them back to health (not all, but we try). Enter the little guy in the photo. Andrea got a call to attend a house with an injured bat on Sunday 6th May. He seemed to have something wrong with a finger and clearly did not want to attempt to fly. After a week of R and R he was transferred to a 'flight cage' and encouraged to fly which he did. He was released back where he came from on the following Thursday evening. A happy ending. IF YOU COME ACROSS AN INJURED OR GROUNDED BAT PLEASE CONTACT THE NATIONAL BAT HELPLINE ON 0345 1300 228  Copyright © 2017 Aquila Ecology, All rights reserved. News letter from the test site Our mailing address is: Aquila Ecology Cruachan St Fillans, Perthshire PH6 2NQ United Kingdom Add us to your address book

Join Aquila Ecology Scotland on a Birding Tour To Islay

Isle of Islay birding tour Date: February 19th-23rd 2017 Join us on the idyllic inner Hebridean Isle of Islay for a 4 day birding and wildlife holiday and blow those winter blues away. This is one of the best times to visit if you want to see a good number of geese, Choughs, Hen Harriers and eagles and there’s a good chance of otters and seals too. Barnacle Goose ©Andrea Hudspeth   We will be staying just outside Bowmore at a well-equipped and comfortable lodge with views over heather-clad hills and a burn below where otters and Grey Herons can be seen. The lodge has 5 twin en suite bedrooms and a spacious living area with TV, DVD player and open fireplace. You will be catered for by us with breakfast, a packed lunch and home-cooked evening meal with the option of an evening meal out on the last day. Special diets will be catered for. We will spend our days cruising around the island looking for places to stop and watch wildlife as well as using hides and taking leisurely walks on the RSPB’s Loch Gruinart and Oa Nature Reserves. We will also drop into Machair Bay to take a walk along this stunning white sandy beach. A slight detour to visit the Bruichladdich or Bunnahabain Distillery can be arranged for those who are whisky aficionados, whilst the rest of us look for otters and divers. Target Species: Hen Harrier, Raven, Chough, Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Barnacle and White-fronted Geese, Divers, Otters, Common and Grey Seal. The price includes accommodation, all meals, ferry crossing and mini bus transport whilst on the island and from a pick up and drop off point in Scotland (to be arranged). For further information please email on info@aquilaecologyscotland.co.uk

Aquila Ecology is a member of the Loch Earn Tourism Information group. Based in St Fillans on Loch Earn.  Contact Andrea Hudspeth for tailor made walking tours in the area to spot the wonders of local flora and fauna. Andrea Hudspeth Cruachan, St Fillans PH6 2NQ Tel - 01764 685459 Mob - 07960 391297 Mail - aquilaecology@gmail.com

Changing The World One Blue Bottle At a Time - For Christmas

Exciting news from LETi member Alison Inglis, a  Tutor,  Therapist & Neal's Yard Organic Independent Consultant - Indian Champissage Scotland

Between 3pm Wednesday 30th November & Friday 9am 2nd December NYR Organic will be offering customers 20% off selected products whilst stocks last!

Email or text Alison with your shopping wish list of items that you would like to purchase during this period. You can view the range at https://uk.nyrorganic.com/ shop/alisoninglis/area/shop- online/

Alison said " Included will be gift boxes (ideal for Christmas or to treat yourself) but these will be popular! We also have fabulous stocking fillers e.g., Remedies to roll, lip glosses, bee lovely balm, soaps as well as it being a great opportunity to top up on your regular skincare, body care, inner health - teas, superfoods & supplements & get together your organic medicine cabinet to stay healthy this Winter. 

I will be placing orders from 3pm Wed 30th November and all Thurs 1st Dec.  I am able to call for payment details - card or will accept bank transfer - and of course happy to help with any suggestions and recommendations.   Free postage on all orders over £20."

"Changing the World One Blue Bottle at a Time" this Christmas Season.

Alison also runs a pop-up rural shop selling magical (angel, fairy), fair trade, handmade Scottish and holistic (including Neal's Yard) products.  Visit the shop on pop up weekends at

The Enchanted Cottage

Dunollie Cottage,

Balquhidder 

FK19 8NY

Tel:01877 384659

You will come across the shop on the Scottish Thistle Award winning #BLiSStrail Balquhidder section mapped at www.robroycountry.com/blisstrail between MHOR84 and The Balquhidder Village Hall.

 

Visit Alison's NYR Organic Online Shop Here: See the latest NYR Organic  Winter 2016 Catalogue at  http://www.nyrorganic.com/uk/nyr-organic-catalogue-uk-issue-16/#6

Tel: 01877 384659 or 07796 327765

Email: alison.inglis@indianchampiscotland.com

Web: www.indianchampiscotland.com