Azure Hawker dragonfly

The new discoveries on the 10,000-acre estate include the first Scottish record of one species of sawfly and what may be the first British record of another; the second-ever British record of a waxfly species; and species of spider, cranefly and dragonfly all listed in the UK’s Red Data Book of endangered species.

At least 60 priority species for conservation have now been identified on the site, which lies to the west of Loch Ness and which has been described as a “lost world”. The 2011 findings add to the extensive range of species already discovered on Dundreggan, some of which were previously unknown in Scotland, or which were feared to be extinct there.

Alan Watson Featherstone, Executive Director of Trees for Life, said: “The richness and diversity of life on Dundreggan is astonishing. The secrets slowly being revealed on this Highland estate suggest that we have much more to learn about the true extent of Scotland’s biodiversity. It’s a powerful reminder of the crucial importance of conservation work.”

A survey last year by Guy Knight, Curator of Entomology at National Museums Liverpool, added 32 species of sawfly to those that he found on Dundreggan in 2010. This brings the total known sawfly species there to at least 120, which Guy has described as being “quite exceptional” and “very difficult to find a parallel in the Highlands”.

A dragonfly survey conducted by dragonfly specialist Jonathan Willett mapped the Red Data Book species Azure Hawker (Aeshna caerulea), classified as Vulnerable and under-recorded in Scotland. The study suggests that Dundreggan has the largest known single area of contiguous breeding habitat for the Azure Hawker in Scotland – although other areas of potentially suitable habitat have yet to be thoroughly surveyed. The survey also identified the near-threatened Northern Emerald Dragonfly (Somatochlora arctica).

Trees for Life purchased Dundreggan in 2008. The charity is planting half a million trees on the estate as part of its award-winning restoration of the Caledonian Forest. The charity is also working for the return of rare woodland wildlife, plants and insects, and is conducting scientific research and education programmes. Volunteers are carrying out much of the forest restoration work at the site. For more information, see the Trees for Life website.

A 19-year-old walker who was airlifted to Raigmore Hospital on Monday (23 January) after a fall in the Gairloch area has sadly died in hospital. Craig Cathie, 19, from Moodiesburn, near Glasgow was walking in a group of 16 in the Flowerdale Estate area of Gairloch when he fell between 20 and 30 feet and sustained a head injury.

Next of kin have been informed and, as is normal in these circumstances, a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

Police have said that the search for missing Yorkshire man Grant Cunliffe has been stood down. A third day of searches failed to find any trace of the missing man and his family have been made aware there will be no further searches at the moment.

Mr Cunliffe from North Yorkshire has been missing in the Cairngorms since Thursday 19 January 2012. Around 180 rescue personnel have been involved in the searches over the past three days. Yesterday (24 January) 65-70 rescuers took part in a first light search for Mr Cunliffe, which included representatives from Northern Constabulary, Grampian Police, Cairngorm MRT, Braemar MRT, RAF & Leuchars MRTs, SARDA dogs, Rescue One Three Seven from Lossiemouth.

The areas the search teams were concentrating on today were the hills around Corrour Bothy, Angel’s Peak, Devil’s Point and Cairn Toul and the corries around these. Mr Cunliffe, aged 49, was believed to have walked into Corrour Bothy in the Larig Ghru pass on Wednesday 18th January, intending to go hillwalking on the Thursday and Friday before returning home. He was reported overdue on Saturday 21 January.

Mr Cunliffe is described as 5ft 10ins, slim build, balding, wearing a blue waterproof jacket and black waterproof trousers, carrying a large black rucksack. Anyone who believes that they met Mr Cunliffe in the Cairngorms between Wednesday 18 January and Friday 20 January 2012 is urged to contact Aviemore Police on 01479 810222 as they may have information regarding his movements prior to his disappearance.

Police in Aviemore are appealing for information in relation to the movements of an overdue climber missing in the Cairngorms since Thursday 19th January 2012.

Grant Cunliffe, aged 49, from Skipton in North Yorkshire is believed to have walked into Corrour Bothy in the Larig Ghru pass on Wednesday 18th January, intending to go hillwalking on the Thursday and Friday before returning home. As yet Mr Cunliffe has not returned from his trip and was reported overdue on Saturday 21 January.

Mr Cunliffe is described as 5’10″, slim build, balding, wearing a blue waterproof jacket and black waterproof trousers, carrying a large black rucksack. Any persons who believe that they have met Mr Cunliffe in the Cairngorms since Wednesday 18th January are asked to contact Aviemore Police on 01479 810222.

Mountain Rescue personnel from Cairngorm, Braemar, Aberdeen, RAF Kinloss and RAF Leuchars rescue teams along with Search and Rescue dogs and a Rescue Helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth have been carrying out co-ordinated searches in the Cairngorms during Sunday 22nd and Monday 23rd January.

A free walk showcasing Loch Leven’s wetlands takes place on Saturday, 4 February, led by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) staff.

Loch Leven is an internationally designated wetlands site, and the walk is part of the celebrations for this year’s World Wetlands Day. Craig Nisbet, SNH reserve officer at Loch Leven, said: “We’re again seeing high numbers of birds at Loch Leven this winter, so the walk should be a terrific one. We recently counted over 12,000 pink footed geese, plus almost 500 greylag geese, lots of whooper swans, a few grey partridges and a kingfisher. Plus there’s the chance to see the sea eagle which has been spotted lately at the loch.”

World Wetlands Day marks the anniversary of the Ramsar convention, which was established 41 years ago to protect wetlands internationally. Loch Leven is celebrating the event with wetland sites from over 160 countries. Each site is committed to preserving important habitats.

The large extent of breeding, in wintering wildfowl and ducks, has made Loch Leven national nature reserve one of the UK’s most prominent Ramsar sites. Loch Leven is one of 168 Ramsar sites in the UK, and one of about 2000 internationally important wetlands sites in 160 countries.

The walk begins from Findatie car park at 10am and will take about two hours. Call the SNH office on 01577 864439 to reserve a place. Walking boots, water-proofs, and binoculars are recommended.

The Sportscotland Avalanche Information Service is now providing a free text service to mobile phones. The summary service complements the detailed avalanche forecast information available on the SAIS website.

You can subscribe to the service by sending a keywords to the number 88020 (standard network charges will apply). The summary avlanche forecast text will then be sent out daily at 1800 hrs.

The keywords are:

saisnc for (North Cairngorms area)
saislo for (Lochaber area)
saissc for (South Cairngorms area)
saisgl for (Glencoe area)
saiscm for (Creag Meagaidh area)

Once the relevant keyword has been sent to the number 88020 a free text will confirm that the text service is active. You can then terminate the service by texting Terminate to 88020 and all the areas subscribed to will be stopped.