Wildlife Visitors

As avid animal lovers supporting the local wildlife is important to us, as such we welcome and actively encourage both our feathered and fur clad friends to visit the cottage garden. 

The garden has been secured and fenced so as to allow the free movement of wildlife through the area, the path in the garden is a natural long standing wildlife route.

On our many visits to the cottage we have set up a Bushnell night vision camera so we can capture the comings and goings of our nightime visitors. 

We have installed a number of bird feeding stations in the garden and it is our hope that our cottage guests will maintain these bird feeders in our absence.

In April 2021 we added a pine marten nesting box to the garden. The nest box house's a small internal camera and guests will be provided with the details for downloading a mobile phone app  to view inside the nest box for activity. Please note this app will enable you to view inside the box at all times and not just when you are at the cottage.

The wildlife diary in the cottage is there for guests to note any wildlife sightings both in the garden and in the local area, by logging sightings it helps us build a picture of bird and mammal activity throughout the year.

In addition to the numerous variety of visiting birds we also have regular visits from badgers, foxes and pine martins who like to be fed in the outdoor drying area. We also have visiting hedgehogs, brown hares, bats and bank voles. 

We now a red squirrel visiting the garden although the visits are brief. If you see a red squirrel in the garden please log your sighting in the wildlife diary.

Buzzards, red kites, hooded crows, ravens, whooper swans, sparrow hawks and the magnificent golden eagle have all been spotted in the skies above the cottage .... it pays to keep an eye on the sky. .

The night skies over Tomich on a clear night are breath taking for star gazing, and its not uncommon to see the Aurora Borealis from the village, however on warm spring and summer nights the skies are also abound with many species of bats as well as numerous owls (including barn owls).

New sighting in April 2021 and Osprey over the cottage. Ospreys are summer visitors to the region and can be seen on Loch Affric as well as some of the smaller Lochs. In 2016 some of our guests camped overnight at the far end of Loch Affric and were lucky enough to watch the ospreys fishing from their tent in the early morning.

On the long hot summer days the cuckoo's can be heard in the surrounding woodland, and a walk in the woods offers the chance to see crested tits and the Scottish crossbill both unique to Scotland. A drive to RSPB Corrimorny near Balnain at the right time of year is the place to see black grouse lekking.

The crystal clear burns and rivers around the cottage support the perfect habitat for shy and elusive otters. The sight of an otter is a very special moment and although we haven't spotted one in the burn yet we have seen evidence of their existence, and we have heard them.  

A walk or drive up one of the many glens will reward you with Red and Roe deer sightings. There are a number of wild goats which can be seen in Glen Strathfarrar. The glen is open seasonally to a limited number of vehicles each day April - October when free pass tickets are available at the gate house at the start of the glen. Access on the 17 mile private glen road on foot/cycle/horse is permitted all year round.

In a bid to encourage more invertebrates into the garden we have planted a small orchard on the rough bank, these trees along with the many other fruit trees and bushes we have now planted will in time provide for all our visitors. We welcome and encourage our guests to help themselves to the fruits in the garden as they become available, but please remember to share some with the wildlife.

A small supply of bird, fox, badger and pine marten food has been left at the cottage (while stocks last)however we welcome you bringing your own, and/or replace our supply where possible.

We would like to say a very big Thank You in advance for caring for our extra guests and sharing your stay with them....


Visiting bird and wildlife to look out for:

Mammals

Badgers, Red Squirrels, Foxes, Pine Martens, Brown Hare, Bank Vole,   Wood Mice, HedgehogsBats, otters. 

Birds

Chaffinch, House SparrowGreat Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Long Tailed Tits, SiskinRedpoll, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Nuthatch, Tree Creeper, Yellow HammerSparrow HawkMerlinWrenGreater Spotted Woodpecker, Tree Creeper, Robin, BlackbirdThrush, Waxwing, Dunnock, Wood pigeonCollared DovePied WagtailWood warblerHooded Crow, Raven, Red Kite, and the stunning Golden Eagles, Ospreys and Sea Eagles.


The Brewers Cottage. Tomich, Near Cannich, Inverness-shire. IV4 7LY

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