Wildlife at Glencoldon Cottage -your wildlife haven in the Cairngorms National Park.

Red squirrel perched on a tree branch in the Cairngorms National Park near Glencoldon Cottage.
Osprey catching a fish mid-flight over water near Glencoldon Cottage in the Cairngorms.
Roe deer standing in summer greenery near Glencoldon Cottage in the Scottish Highlands.

Wildlife at Glencoldon Cottage

Glencoldon’s ever-growing garden and surrounding woodland are a haven for wildlife. Guests are often amazed by the variety of animals and birds spotted right from the cottage — from red squirrels and red kites to butterflies, bats, and even the occasional mystery visitor.

This page gives a sense of what you might encounter, and we invite you to add your own sightings and photos too.

If you are looking for information on specific wildlife, please use the links to jump to:

Birdlife | Mammals | Insects & Amphibians | Mystery Mammal | Share your Sightings

Birdlife in the Wild Garden

The garden is alive with birdsong, and guests regularly spot a wide variety of species — especially as biodiversity continues to improve.

A guest in May 2025 recorded 22 different birds in one morning using the Merlin Bird ID app, which identifies birds by their calls. We highly recommend downloading it before your stay.

Merlin Bird ID app showing Willow Warbler and Eurasian Siskin sightings near Glencoldon Cottage in May.
Merlin Bird ID app displaying Great Spotted Woodpecker and Spotted Flycatcher sightings recorded in Glencoldon garden.
Merlin Bird ID app results featuring Common Woodpigeon and Eurasian Wren seen at Glencoldon Cottage.

Species seen include:

Song Thrush, Eurasian Blackcap, Dunnock, Rook, Eurasian Blue Tit, European Greenfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit, Long-Tailed Tit, Robin, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Hawfinch, Willow Warbler, Siskin, Spotted Flycatcher, Treecreeper, Goldfinch, Mistle Thrush, Starling, Woodpigeon, Wren — and more.

Red Kites and Buzzards are also regularly seen overhead, likely drawn by the thriving population of small mammals in the garden.

Mammals You Might Spot

  • Red squirrels visit the peanut feeders daily and are often seen darting through the woodland behind the cottage.
  • Deer, especially young ones, are frequent visitors — though we’re still not sure if it’s the same few making a loop!
  • Rabbits occasionally emerge to feed on the grassy areas.
  • Pine martens have been reported by guests (especially at night), though these elusive creatures remain shy and hard to spot.
  • Bats are a guaranteed highlight each evening at sunset (between May and November).

Insects & Amphibians

Thanks to the garden’s rich planting and growing ground cover, it’s also a wonderful place for:

  • Frogs and toads, even without a pond.
  • Butterflies, damselflies, and bees, especially in warmer months — the garden truly buzzes with life.

The Mystery Mammal Quest

Down in the far corner of the garden (away from the gate), there’s a well-worn path leading to a smoothed hole in the fence. We’ve never seen what uses it — but we suspect it could be a badger, fox, or even a Scottish wildcat.

We’re planning to provide a camera trap for guest use, so you can help solve the mystery. Keep an eye on our blog for updates — and let us know if you catch a glimpse!

Share Your Sightings

Seen something special? We’d love to hear about it — or even feature your wildlife photos in our guest gallery (coming soon). You can email us after your stay. Every new spotting helps us build a fuller picture of the nature thriving at Glencoldon Cottage.

Please contact via email or call:
[email protected] /07968 177394

Want to know how Glencolodon Cottage changes throughout the seasons?
Explore the seasons at Glencoldon →

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