Scots pine

The first proper day of our Speyside wildlife watching week. This is Scots Pine at Uath Lochans. First fact of the week - I learnt that you can easily identify Scots Pine because the trunk is always red towards the top.

The trees are spread far enough apart that the light can reach the ground, and this allows vegetation to grow, and create very good habitat for lots of different species. In this wood we saw lots and lots of different fungi. We also saw a wasps nest that had been ripped open by a badger, with several drowsy and disoriented wasps inside (it's amazing what is hidden underneath the surface). Towards the end of the walk we also managed to spot a crested tit - very rare in the UK but this is one of the areas where you can find them.