Rory Richardson is the Reserve Manager at our Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve. There is a lot happening on this popular reserve at this time of year as Rory explains below.

The three Munro’s on our Reserve continue to attract high numbers of walkers. Carn Liath, Stob Poite Coire Ardair, and Creag Meagaidh, are as enjoyable in summer as they are challenging in winter and I must say we are delighted with the help we get from walkers on the reserve who it must be said are highly respectful of the nature reserve, and continue to give great feedback of wildlife sightings. This feedback helps us paint a fuller picture of what is happening on the reserve.

Talking of wildlife sightings the early indications are that this has been a surprisingly good year for Dotterel. No fewer than twenty-seven breeding birds have been recorded. This is quite remarkable given the late winter and the wet summer we have had to endure.

Dotterel

We monitor the number of visitors that the reserve gets and visitor numbers are up on previous years. Over five thousand visitors were recorded in March which is a record for Creag Meagaidh; this is partly due to the extra two thousand metres of all-abilities paths in the lowland area we have invested in attracting the small bus tours to stop by and explore the lower reaches of the reserve.

Of course as well as ad-hoc visitors we have planned events. We have had several successful black grouse watching days, and black grouse numbers were at 74 males and 16 females which again is a testimony to our continuing successful habitat restoration.

Fortunately we have few problems to report on or near the reserve. There is a small issue with pike fishing down at the loch shore where we have had some incidences of litter being left behind, but we plan to work with our visitors to resolve this issue.

Find out more about Creag Meagaidh NNR @ http://www.nnr-scotland.org.uk/creag-meagaidh/

All images courtesy of Rory Richardson.