The recent snowfall has caused chaos in many parts of the country but at Scottish Natural Heritage's (SNH) Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve, snow has had a revealing effect. The white stuff is perfect for following the, sometimes shocking, behaviour of our winter wildlife.
With frozen water and snow covering some foodstuffs animals are forced to get out when they can and travel longer distances, even if it means doing so in daylight for more nocturnal animals, to fight for their meals. Some animals are also out looking for mates and this also increases the chances of alert, well wrapped up wildlife spotters getting lucky. Footprints in the snow and the remains of creatures left there can reveal what has been going on. Traditional images of peaceful robins adorn our Christmas cards at this time of year but this harmless looking bird is actually a territorial terror. As well as defending territory during mating, they will often fight other robins, sometimes to the death, over scarce food resources in winter.
Tom Cunningham, SNH’s reserve manager said: “With it being winter there are usually teal although there are fewer than normal while the north and south Morton Lochs are frozen. We have regular sightings of otters, roe deer and fox, even occasionally badgers, throughout the Morton area in winter. As well as looking around and in the trees when you are out, it is worthwhile checking the snow for footprints. These can reveal a lot about who’s been passing by, where they stopped, what they did and even how long ago.
“At Tentsmuir Point all the wintering birds have arrived including huge numbers of eider duck and pinkfooted geese. Snow bunting have recently been seen, along with shag, cormorant, knot, sanderling, curlew, oystercatcher, dunlin and bar-tailed godwits. Our famous residents, common seals and grey seals, are here most of the time on the sandbar and foreshore.
“Even in the depths of winter a bracing walk along the beach or may be a more sheltered walk and visit to the hides at Morton Lochs can pay dividends.”
The reserve is a large area of grassy sand dunes and the huge Abertay Sands sand bar which stretches eastward from the landward tip of Tentsmuir. The reserve is home to large groups of wildfowl and waders and the largest gathering of eider ducks in Britain. It is also used by grey and common seals. For details of the dune and forest walk at Tentsmuir see the description on Walkhighlands.