Highland Council Ranger Service

Martin Hind Easter Ross Ranger 01349 868563

Thursday 7th February Wintering birds of Nigg Bay 10am - 12pm Visit the RSPB hide and check out the bird life feeding on the mudflats at Nigg. Depending on weather may move to Nigg Ferry for a walk along the shore for other wintering birds. Meet at the RSPB Nigg Bay bird hide by NH806730

Wednesday 13th February Wintering birds of Udale Bay 1pm till 3pm Check out the bird life feeding on the mudflats and settling down to roost at Udale Bay as the tide comes in. Depending on weather may move to Newhall Point for a walk along the road for other wintering birds. Meet at the RSPB Udale Bay bird hide by Jeminaville, Black Isle NH712651

Thursday 21st February Wintering birds of Inver Bay 1pm-4pm Wander and watch the wintering waders and wildfowl feed along the shoreline of Inver Bay. Teal, wigeon, knot and dunlin to name a few. Where have they come from and why? Meet at Inver Community centre carpark, Inver by Tain NH862825

Thursday 21st February Fins, Fur & Feathers - The Coastal Life of The Moray Firth 19.30- 21.00 Ross & Cromarty East LBAP Winter talks- Come along learn from our speaker Charlie Philips about the marine and coastal life of the Moray Firth Fortrose Academy Theatre, Fortrose, Black Isle NH729564

Saturday 1st March Wintering birds of Alness bay 10am - 12pm Come along and learn how waders feed on the mudflats, why their bills are the shape they are and other facts to bore your friends with. Meet at the Alness Point Business Park

Wednesday 5th March Beauly Firth Birds at Redcastle 10.00 - 13.00 The wintering birds will be starting to get ready for heading back north so come along and have one last look at barred tailed godwit, dunlin and other birds of the Beauly Firth Redcastle village carpark between North Kessock and Muir of Ord NH583494

Wednesday 12th March Cromarty Firth Wander @ Balconie Point 12 - 2pm Look out for Teal, wigeon and waders before they head back to their breeding grounds at Balconie Point, Evanton Kiltearn Graveyard carpark, Evanton NH616652

Wednesday 12th March "Croak,squeek and other amphibian noises" 19.15-21.00 Ross & Cromarty East LBAP Winter talks - David O'Brien our local amphibian enthusiast will be enlightening us with his knowledge newts, toads frogs and other amphibians he has come across in his travels. Strathpeffer Community Centre Strathpeffer NH481579

APRIL
Saturday 12th April R&C LBAP Amphibian Surveying Workshop 12 - 4pm A training event for community groups in Easter Ross and the Black Isle. If interested in surveying for frogs toads and newts get in touch. Ord Arms Hotel, Muir of Ord NH527508

Tuesday 15th April Dusktime wander in Spring 7pm-9pm A walk through the local riverside woods of Alness listening out for the birds before they settle down for the night plus see the new sculpture trail. Meeting at Crawl park carpark opposite Alness Library NH655696

Saturday 26th April Springtime around the Muir of Tarradale 10am - 2pm Listen and lookout for our springtime arrivals and learn to identify Chiffchaff from Willow warbler along with other LBJ's on this circular walk. Muir of Ord Service Point carpark NH528502

MAY
Thursday 1st May R&C LBAP Bat Survey Workshop 7.15 - 10.15pm Training within the community in Easter Ross and the Black Isle. Get involved in surveying your community for bats. Book now! Strathpeffer Community Centre Strathpeffer

Saturday 24th May A Bog woodland near you - Monadh Mor, Black Isle 11 - 2pm Visit this rare habitat for Scottish Biodiversity Week and learn how bog woodland supports a varied and unusual group of flora and fauna including white faced darter dragonflies. FC Monadh Mor carpark off the A835 between Tore and Maryburgh NH579526

Monday 26th May Erratics, plough stones and glacial features of Ben Wyvis 9.30 - 4.30 Explore the plateau of Ben Wyvis and learn to read the glaciation signs from plough stones to active turf banks and boulder lobes as well as moraines and glaciated valleys. Need to book! Meet at FC Ben Wyvis carpark near Garbat by Garve NH411673

JUNE
Saturday 21st June Tarbat Ness Dolphin Watch 10am till 4pm National Whale and Dolphin Watch Week - Come to the Ness and have a lookout for Bottlenosed Dolphins and Minke Whale. Games and activities for those with a childish bent. Tarbat Ness Lighthouse by Portmahomack NH945873

JULY
Tuesday 15th July Guddling amongst the Rock pools - Rosemarkie Beach 2 - 4pm Armoured chitons, beadlet anemones and sea scorpions may appear for you. Watch the creatures of the sea perform their daily rituals in the rock pool theatre at Rosemarkie beach Rosemarkie beach carpark, Black Isle NH737577

Saturday 19th July Wilderness wander - Northern Corries of the Fannichs 10 - 4pm Explore the northern corries of Meall Gorm in the Fannichs by walking into Meallan Buidhe. Learn about the wildlife and geology of the area. About 14km and 400 metres. Need to book! Meet at the Torrandhu Bridge carpark at the head of Loch Glascarnoch on the A835 Ullapool Road NH278742

Tuesday 22nd July Wet and Dry Minibeasts at Milton Community Wood 2 - 4pm Explore the woodland and river at the community wood for minibeast and learn how they live in the river and undergrowth Milton Community Wood, Kildary. Park at Milton Primary School and follow the signs to the Log cabin. NH767745

Wed 23rd July Rock of Ages 1- 3pm approx Knockan Crag inspired the birth of modern geology. Join the ranger and take a walk to rediscover the secrets that lie beneath. Knockan Crag Interpretation Centre car park NC 189091

Thursday 24th July Ruttling amongst the Rocks - Cromarty Rock Pooling 10 - 12am Explore the foreshore at Cromarty for nippy crabs, slippery butterfish and other weird creatures. Cromarty Links carpark NH789676

Thursday 24th July Creepy crawlies of the Undergrowth - Littleburn Wood, Munlochy 2 - 4pm Check out the undergrowth and burn for weird creepy creatures and learn how they survive from predators at Littleburn Wood with the Rangers. FC Littleburn Wood carpark (not the Clootie Well carpark), Munlochy NH637535

Monday 28th July Guddling amongst the Rock pools - Balintore 2 - 4pm Spiny starfish, home seeking hermit crabs and many more weird creatures star in your very own show as you guddle in the rock pools at Balintore. Seaboard Memorial Hall carpark, Balintore NH870761

Tuesday 29th July Pond dipping at the Lily Loch, Muir of Ord 2 - 4pm What's a backswimmer, water scorpion and boatman ? Don't know well come along and find out whilst dipping for the creatures of the Lily Loch. Lily Loch Carpark, Muir of Ord near the Black Isle showground. NH537497

Wednesday 30th July Guddling amongst the Rock pools - Portmahomack 2- 4pm Slippery Blennies, nippy crabs the world is your oyster in a rock pool. Come along search out the creatures of the pools at Portmahomack Beach, Easter Ross Portmahomack beach Carpark in Easter Ross NH914843

Thursday 31st July Creepy crawlies of the Undergrowth - Blackmuir Wood, Strathpeffer 2 - 4pm Check out the undergrowth and pond for weird creepy creatures including water scorpion and learn how they survive from predators at Blackmuir Wood with the Rangers. FC Blackmuir Wood carpark, at top of Strathpeffer NH478573

AUGUST
Saturday 2nd August Sights and sounds of Choire Ghranda - Beinn Dearg 9.30 - 4.30 Search for Ring Ouzels and other mountain birds and listen to the sounds of the waterfalls in this dramatic landscape on the east side of Beinn Dearg. Tough going so be prepared. 14kms and 400 metres. Need to Book! Meet at the Torrandhu Bridge carpark at the head of Loch Glascarnoch on the A835 Ullapool Road NH278742

Wed 6th Aug Around the World in 80 Minutes! 2pm - 3:30pm Join the rangers from the Highland Council and Forestry Commission at Lael Forest Garden and visit trees from all around the world. This is orienteering for those with the travel bug. A fun trail for all the family! All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Meet at Lael Forest Garden, West Car Park (opposite wood turners) NH 195 810

SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
Saturday 18th October "Come a droving" - Garbat to Strathpeffer 10.00 - 3.30pm Walk the drove road over the Bealach Mor past Raven Rock and into the Strath. Learn about the old droving ways and other drove roads of the Highlands. Need to book! Meeting at Strathpeffer Community Centre at 10am. Minibus to Garbat NH481579

NOVEMBER
Thursday 13th November "There's more to birds than feathers" 19.30- 21.00 Ross & Cromarty East LBAP Winter talks - Learn about the biodiversity and educational work of the RSPB in Ross & Cromarty and the rest of the Highlands with Kenna Chisholm Fortrose Academy Theatre, Fortrose, Black Isle NH729564

Saturday 29th November Salmon Hatchery Open Day by Contin 10.30 - 13.00 Ross & Cromarty East LBAP event - Come and see the Cromarty Firth Fisheries hatchery which maintains the stocks of wild Atlantic salmon in the River Blackwater. Get a really close look at living salmon. Loch na Croic by Tarvie. Just past Snack bar at Tarvie and turn right down track to buildings at green metal gate. NH427589 for entrance