Scotland Crested tits in Scotland

[aerobandit]

Can anyone recommend a place to see Crested tits in Cairngorms or around Inverness? Are there any visitor centres that would have them regularly on the feeders perhaps?

 

[da_nige]

Boat of Garten have feeders at the visitor centre which are filled throughout the year even when the visitor centre is closed. Crested tits are there regularly through the winter.

If you want a photo friendly set up there are a number of photographers in the Cairngorms who offer Crested Tit photography - Neil McIntyre for example. Neil offers it without the use of a hide and he also has a red squirrel hide he runs alongside Rothiemurchus

Neil

 

[nc_killie]

Agree with Neil. We stayed at coylumbridge last year and i put up a feeder and there were cresties there within 24 hours. People thought I was mad sitting in the car outside the house we were staying in. I would recommend taking some seed and a feeder to help get them where you want them. Good luck

 

[aerobandit]

Thanks guys. I’ve spoken to a warden at Loch Garten RSPB today and he said they haven’t seen them for a long time now. Same at Loch an Eilein. People think the birds went deeper into the forests due to warm weather.

 

[nc_killie]

Sorry should have mentioned that they disappear from feeders in summer. I believe that it is a more insectivorous diet. When are you going? Best time is in winter. Good luck

 

[da_nige]

Yep as John says you will struggle more in the summer as they stick to the canopies. They come down more in the winter when there is less to eat in the canopy