Grant Arms Hotel


Hotel category: Stars Stars Stars Stars

Rating: BirdsBirdsBirds

Country: United Kingdom

Region: Eastern Highlands of Scotland, Cairngorms National Park

We speak: English


Location:

The Grant Arms Hotel, UK’s Wildlife Hotel, located in the Cairngorms National Park – just 35 miles south of Inverness Airport - is the perfect base to explore Scottish Wildlife. Speyside and the Cairngorms are one of the best areas for Bird and Wildlife Watching in the UK. Perfect for beginner to expert, whether for a day or a fortnight. The Town is surrounded by ancient woodlands, which offer a unique habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. Anagach Woods with its ancient Pine Trees, on the doorstep of the Grant Arms Hotel, is a haven for rare animals and plants. Depending on the season you could see during your trip: Gold Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Capercaillie, Pine Marten, Red Squirrel, Slavonian Grebe, Crested Tit and Crossbill, as well as Dolphins, Waders, Sea Ducks and Sea Birds along the Moray Coast.

Services:

The Bird Watching and Wildlife Club (BWWC) was established in 2008 to offer visitors to the Highlands of Scotland a new kind of wildlife watching experience – one in which their time is their own. We believe in allowing our Guests to create their own unique programme of visits and experiences depending on what it is they most want to see, but we provide a helping hand in doing so. Anyone staying at the Hotel is welcome to use the BWWC facilities and join in the free events organised by the BWWC Team during their stay. These include daily Wildlife Briefings, Wildlife Film Screenings, Talks, Quizzes and Guided Walks. BWWC can provide information not only on the best places to go but also on the huge range of wildlife-related activities which may be going on in the area during your stay, from Land Rover Safaris, Boat Trips, to Guided Trips and Evening Hide Watches. Throughout the year we also offer Special Event packages, from Wildlife Photography workshops to species focused breaks & Celebrity Guided Holidays.

Guestrooms:

The Hotel offers 50 en-suite bedrooms all with tea and coffee making facilities, toiletries, hair dryer, colour TV, direct dial phone and free WiFi but also features a drying room, boot wash, lecture theatre and library. There are two Four Poster Rooms, Twin, Double, Single or Family Rooms and also three enabled rooms for disabled guests. All facilities in the Grant Arms Hotel are wheelchair accessible and dogs are very welcome at the Grant Arms Hotel. Our newly refurbished restaurant has been designed with a warm and traditional feel, to enable space yet intimacy. Breakfast and Dinner are taken in our Restaurant. The most important aspect of any restaurant is the quality of food and service. We are proud of both! Head Chef, Steven Hart, and his Team are passionate about using as much local, regional produce as possible in the creation of the menus. Free Range, Hand Reared, Organic and GM free where possible are key elements in Steven’s choice of supplier. Relax and enjoy a drink in our “Capercaillie Bar”...


* Please note that the English bird names on this site follow the American terminology. If you can't find a species name, try searching by Family or latin name.
Status key: B = breeding species; RB - rare breeding; W = winter only; V - vagrant; RV = rare vagrant; TM - trans-migrant; In - introduced

Name
Status
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Name (lat)
Family
Northern Harrier
B/W
1
1
1
1
Circus cyaneus Accipitridae
Northern Goshawk
B/W
1
1
1
1
Accipiter gentilis Accipitridae
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
B/W
1
1
1
1
Accipiter nisus Accipitridae
Common Buzzard
B/W
1
1
1
1
Buteo buteo Accipitridae
Red Kite
B/W
1
1
1
1
Milvus milvus Accipitridae
Rough-legged Hawk (rare)
V
0
0
0
0
Buteo lagopus Accipitridae
Golden Eagle
B/W
1
1
1
1
Aquila chrysaetos Accipitridae
White-tailed Eagle
B/W
1
1
1
1
Haliaeetus albicilla Accipitridae
Western Marsh Harrier
B
1
1
1
0
Circus aeruginosis Accipitridae
Sedge Warbler
B
1
1
0
0
Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Acrocephalidae
Long-tailed Tit
B/W
1
1
1
1
Aegithalos caudatus Aegithalidae
Sky Lark
B/W
1
1
1
1
Alauda arvensis Alaudidae
Common Kingfisher
RB
1
1
1
1
Alcedo atthis Alcedinidae
Dovekie
W/TM
0
0
1
1
Alle alle Alcidae
Atlantic Puffin
B
1
1
0
0
Fratercula arctica Alcidae
Common Murre
B/W
1
1
1
1
Uria aalge Alcidae
Razorbill
B/W
1
1
1
1
Alca torda Alcidae
Black Guillemot
B/W
1
1
1
1
Cepphus grylle Alcidae
Red-breasted Merganser
B/W
1
1
1
1
Mergus serrator Anatidae
Mandarin Duck
B/W
1
1
1
1
Aix galericulata Anatidae
Long-tailed Duck
W
0
0
1
1
Clangula hyemalis Anatidae
Greater White-fronted Goose
W
0
0
1
1
Anser albifrons Anatidae
Northern Shoveler
B/W
1
1
1
1
Anas clypeata Anatidae
Mute Swan
B/W
1
1
1
1
Cygnus olor Anatidae
Common Merganser
B/W
1
1
1
1
Mergus merganser Anatidae
Eurasian Wigeon
B/W
1
1
1
1
Anas penelope Anatidae
Greater Scaup
W
0
0
1
1
Aytha marila Anatidae
Common Scoter
B/W
1
1
1
1
Melanitta nigra Anatidae
Pink-footed Goose
W
0
0
1
1
Anser brachyrhynchus Anatidae
Common Pochard
B/W
1
1
1
1
Aythya ferina Anatidae
Whooper Swan
W
0
0
1
1
Cygnus cygnus Anatidae
Gadwall
B/W
1
1
1
1
Anas strepera Anatidae
Surf Scoter (rare)
V
0
0
0
0
Melanitta perspicillata Anatidae
Taiga Bean-Goose
W
0
0
1
1
Anser fabalis Anatidae
Ring-necked Duck (rare)
V
0
0
0
0
Aythya collaris Anatidae
Tundra Swan (rare)
V
0
0
0
0
Cygnus columbianus Anatidae
Green-winged Teal
B/W
1
1
1
1
Anas crecca Anatidae
White-winged Scoter
W
0
0
1
1
Melanitta fusca Anatidae
Barnacle Goose
W
0
0
1
1
Branta leucopsis Anatidae
Tufted Duck
B/W
1
1
1
1
Aythya fuligula Anatidae
Mallard
B/W
1
1
1
1
Anas platyrhynchos Anatidae
Common Goldeneye
B/W
1
1
1
1
Bucephala clangula Anatidae
Brant
W
0
0
1
1
Branta bernicla Anatidae
Common Eider
B/W
1
1
1
1
Somateria mollissima Anatidae
Canada Goose
B/W
1
1
1
1
Branta canadensis Anatidae
Northern Pintail
B/W
1
1
1
1
Anas acuta Anatidae
Smew
W
0
0
1
1
Mergellus albellus Anatidae
Common Shelduck
B/W
1
1
1
1
Tadorna tadorna Anatidae
King Eider (rare)
V
0
0
0
0
Somateria spectabilis Anatidae
Graylag Goose
B/W
1
1
1
1
Anser anser Anatidae
Garganey
B
1
1
0
0
Anas querquedula Anatidae
Snow Goose
W
0
0
1
1
Anser caerulescens Anseridae
Common Swift
B
1
1
0
0
Apus apus Apodidae
Gray Heron
B/W
1
1
1
1
Ardea cinerea Ardeidae
Great Bittern
V/W
0
0
1
1
Botaurus stellaris Ardeidae
Little Egret (rare)
V
0
0
0
0
Egretta garzetta Ardeidae
Waxwing
W
0
0
1
1
Bombycila garrulus Bombycillidae
Snow Bunting
B/TM/W
1
1
1
1
Plectrophenax nivalis Calcariidae
Eurasian Treecreeper
B/W
1
1
1
1
Certhia familiaris Certhiidae
Northern Lapwing
B/W
1
1
1
1
Vanellus vanellus Charadriidae
Black-bellied Plover
TM
1
0
0
0
Pluvialis squatarola Charadriidae
Common Ringed Plover
B/W
1
1
1
1
Charadrius hiaticula Charadriidae
Eurasian Dotterel
B
1
1
0
0
Charadrius morinellus Charadriidae
European Golden-Plover
B/TM/W
1
1
1
1
Pluvialis apricaria Charadriidae
White-throated Dipper
B/W
1
1
1
1
Cinclus cinclus Cinclidae
European Turtle-Dove
RV
1
1
0
0
Streptopelia turtur Columbidae
Rock Pigeon
B/W
1
1
1
1
Columba livia Columbidae
Stock Dove
B/W
1
1
1
1
Columba oenas Columbidae
Common Wood-Pigeon
B/W
1
1
1
1
Columba palumbus Columbidae
Eurasian Collared-Dove
B/W
1
1
1
1
Streptopelia decaocto Columbidae
Common Raven
B/W
1
1
1
1
Corvus corax Corvidae
Eurasian Jay
B/W
1
1
1
1
Garrulus glandarius Corvidae
Eurasian Jackdaw
B/W
1
1
1
1
Corvus monedula Corvidae
Eurasian Magpie
B/W
1
1
1
1
Pica pica Corvidae
Rook
B/W
1
1
1
1
Corvus frugilegus Corvidae
Hooded Crow
B/W
1
1
1
1
Corvus cornix Corvidae
Carrion Crow
B/W
1
1
1
1
Corvus corone Corvidae
Common Cuckoo
B
1
1
0
0
Cuculus canorus Cuculidae
Yellowhammer
B/W
1
1
1
1
Emberiza citrinella Emberizidae
Reed Bunting
B/W
1
1
1
1
Emberiza schoeniclus Emberizidae
Corn Bunting
B/W
1
1
1
1
Emberiza calandra Emberizidae
Eurasian Kestrel
B/W
1
1
1
1
Falco tinnunculus Falconidae
Eurasian Hobby
B
1
1
0
0
Falco subbuteo Falconidae
Peregrine Falcon
B/W
1
1
1
1
Falco peregrinus Falconidae
Merlin
B/W
1
1
1
1
Falco columbarius Falconidae
Eurasian Siskin
B/W
1
1
1
1
Spinus spinus Fringillidae
Twite
B/W
1
1
1
1
Linaria flavirostris Fringillidae
Red Crossbill
B/W
1
1
1
1
Loxia curvirostra Fringillidae
European Goldfinch
B/W
1
1
1
1
Carduelis carduelis Fringillidae
Parrot Crossbill
B/W
1
1
1
1
Loxia pytyopsittacus Fringillidae
European Greenfinch
B/W
1
1
1
1
Chloris chloris Fringillidae
Scottish Crossbill
B/W
1
1
1
1
Loxia scotica Fringillidae
Brambling
W
0
0
1
1
Fringilla montifringilla Fringillidae
Hawfinch
RV
0
0
0
1
Coccothraustes coccothraustes Fringillidae
Common Chaffinch
B/W
1
1
1
1
Fringilla coelebs Fringillidae
Eurasian Bullfinch
B/W
1
1
1
1
Pyrrhula pyrrhula Fringillidae
Common Redpoll
W
0
0
1
1
Acanthis flammea Fringillidae
Common Linnet
B/W
1
1
1
1
Linaria cannabina FRINGILLIDAE
Lesser Redpoll
B/W
1
1
1
1
Acanthis cabaret Fringillidae
Red-throated Loon
B/TM/W
1
1
1
1
Gavia stellata Gaviidae
Arctic Loon
B/TM/W
1
1
1
1
Gavia arctica Gaviidae
Common Loon
W
1
0
1
1
Gavia immer Gaviidae
Yellow-billed Loon
TM
1
0
0
1
Gavia adamsii Gaviidae
Eurasian Oystercatcher
B/W
1
1
1
1
Haematopus ostralegus Haematopodidae
Bank Swallow
B
1
1
0
0
Riparia riparia Hirundinidae
Barn Swallow
B
1
1
0
0
Hirundo rustica Hirundinidae
Common House-Martin
B
1
1
0
0
Delichon urbicum Hirundinidae
European Storm-Petrel
B/TM
1
1
1
0
Hydrobates pelagicus Hydrobatidae
Red-backed Shrike (rare)
V/TM
0
0
0
0
Lanius collurio Laniidae
Northern Shrike
W
0
0
1
1
Lanius excubitor Laniidae
Iceland Gull
W
1
0
1
1
Larus glaucoides Laridae
Mediterranean Gull (rare)
V
0
0
0
0
Larus melanocephalus Laridae
Little Tern
B
1
1
0
0
Sternula albifrons Laridae
Glaucous Gull
W
1
0
1
1
Larus hyperboreus Laridae
Black-headed Gull
B/W
1
1
1
1
Chroicocephalus ridibundus Laridae
Black Tern (rare)
TM
0
0
0
0
Chlidonias niger Laridae
Great Black-backed Gull
B/W
1
1
1
1
Larus marinus Laridae
Ring-billed Gull (rare)
V
0
0
0
0
Larus delawarensis Laridae
Roseate Tern
B
1
1
0
0
Sterna dougallii Laridae
Black-legged Kittiwake
B/W
1
1
1
1
Rissa tridactyla Laridae
Mew Gull
B/W
1
1
1
1
Larus canus Laridae
Lesser Black-backed Gull
B
1
1
0
0
Larus fuscus Laridae
Little Gull
B/W
1
1
1
1
Hydrocoloeus minutus Laridae
Common Tern
B
1
1
1
0
Sterna hirundo Laridae
Herring Gull
B/W
1
1
1
1
Larus argentatus Laridae
Sabine's Gull (rare)
TM
0
0
0
0
Xema sabini Laridae
Arctic Tern
B
1
1
1
0
Sterna paradisaea Laridae
Common Grasshopper-Warbler
B
1
1
0
0
Locustella naevia Locustellidae
Tree Pipit
B
1
1
0
0
Anthus trivialis Motacillidae
Meadow Pipit
B/W
1
1
1
1
Anthus pratensis Motacillidae
Rock Pipit
B/W
1
1
1
1
Anthus petrosus Motacillidae
Western Yellow Wagtail
V
1
0
1
0
Motacilla flava Motacillidae
Gray Wagtail
B/W
1
1
1
1
Motacilla cinerea Motacillidae
White Wagtail
B/W
1
1
1
1
Motacilla alba Motacillidae
Whinchat
B
1
1
0
0
Saxicola rubetra Muscicapidae
Spotted Flycatcher
B
1
1
0
0
Muscicapa striata Muscicapidae
European Robin
B/W
1
1
1
1
Erithacus rubecula Muscicapidae
European Pied Flycatcher
B
1
1
0
0
Ficedula hypoleuca Muscicapidae
Black Redstart (rare)
V
0
0
0
0
Phoenicurus ochruros Muscicapidae
Common Redstart
B
1
1
0
0
Phoenicurus phoenicurus Muscicapidae
Osprey
B
1
1
1
0
Pandion haliaetus Pandionidae
Crested Tit
B/W
1
1
1
1
Lophophanes cristatus Paridae
Coal Tit
B/W
1
1
1
1
Periparus ater Paridae
Great Tit
B/W
1
1
1
1
Parus major Paridae
Blue Tit
B/W
1
1
1
1
Cyanistes caeuleus Paridae
House Sparrow
B/W
1
1
1
1
Passer domesticus Passeridae
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
B/W
1
1
1
1
Passer montanus Passeridae
European Shag
B/W
1
1
1
1
Phalacrocorax aristotelis Phalacrocoracidae
Great Cormorant
B/W
1
1
1
1
Phalacrocorax carbo Phalacrocoracidae
Eurasian Capercaillie
B/W
1
1
1
1
Tetrao urogallus Phasianidae
Red-legged Partridge
B/W
1
1
1
1
Alectoris rufa Phasianidae
Gray Partridge
B/W
1
1
1
1
Perdix perdix Phasianidae
Common Quail
B
1
1
0
0
Coturnix coturnix Phasianidae
Ring-necked Pheasant
B/W
1
1
1
1
Phasianus colchicus Phasianidae
Wood Warbler
B
1
1
0
0
Phylloscopus sibilatrix Phylloscopidae
Willow Warbler
B
1
1
0
0
Phylloscopus trochilus Phylloscopidae
Comon Chiffchaff
B/TM
1
1
0
0
Phylloscopus colybita Phylloscopus
Green Woodpecker (rare)
V
0
0
0
0
Picus viridis Picidae
Great Spotted Woodpecker
B/W
1
1
1
1
Dendrocopos major Picidae
Horned Grebe
B/TM/W
1
1
1
1
Podiceps auritus Podicipedidae
Little Grebe
B/W
1
1
1
1
Tachybaptus ruficollis Podicipedidae
Great Crested Grebe
B/TM/W
1
1
1
1
Podiceps cristatus Podicipedidae
Northern Fulmar
B/W
1
1
1
1
Fulmarus glacialis Procellariidae
Great Shearwater
TM
1
1
1
0
Puffinus gravis Procellariidae
Sooty Shearwater
TM
0
0
1
0
Puffinus griseus Procellariidae
Manx Shearwater
B
1
1
1
0
Puffinus puffinus Procellariidae
Dunnock
B/W
1
1
1
1
Prunella modularis Prunellidae
Eurasian Coot
B/W
1
1
1
1
Fulica atra Rallidae
Spotted Crake
B
1
1
0
0
Porzana porzana Rallidae
Water Rail
B/W
1
1
1
1
Rallus aquaticus Rallidae
Eurasian Moorhen
B/W
1
1
1
1
Gallinula chloropus Rallidae
Goldcrest
B/W
1
1
1
1
Regulus regulus Regulidae
Red Phalarope
W/TM
0
0
1
1
Phalaropus fulicarius Scolopacidae
Black-tailed Godwit
W/TM
1
0
1
1
Limosa limosa Scolopacidae
Wood Sandpiper
B/TM
1
1
0
0
Tinga glacola Scolopacidae
Purple Sandpiper
W
1
0
1
1
Calidris maritima Scolopacidae
Curlew Sandpiper
TM
0
0
1
0
Calidris ferruginae Scolopacidae
Red Knot
TM/W
1
0
1
1
Calidris canutus Scolopacidae
Whimbrel
TM
1
0
1
1
Numenius phaeopus Scolopacidae
Dunlin
B/TM
1
1
1
1
Calidris alpina Scolopacidae
Bar-tailed Godwit
W/TM
1
0
1
1
Limosia lapponica Scolopacidae
Eurasian Curlew
B/W
1
1
1
1
Numenius arquata Scolopacidae
Ruff
TM
0
0
1
0
Philomachus pugnax Scolopacidae
Spotted Redshank (rare)
RM
0
0
0
0
Tinga erythropus Scolopacidae
Sanderling
TM/W
1
0
1
1
Calidris alba Scolopacidae
Common Sandpiper
B
1
1
0
0
Actitis hypoleucos Scolopacidae
Jack Snipe
W
0
0
1
1
Lymnocryptes minimus Scolopacidae
Common Redshank
B/W
1
1
1
1
Tinga totanus Scolopacidae
Little Stint
TM
0
1
1
0
Calidris minuta Scolopacidae
Ruddy Turnstone
W
1
0
1
1
Arenaria interpres Scolopacidae
Common Snipe
B/W
1
1
1
1
Gallinago gallinago Scolopacidae
Common Greenshank
B/W
1
1
1
1
Tinga nebularia Scolopacidae
Baird's Sandpiper (rare)
RV
0
0
0
0
Calidris bairdii Scolopacidae
Red-necked Phalarope
TM
1
0
0
0
Phalaropus lobatus Scolopacidae
Eurasian Woodcock
B/W
1
1
1
1
Scolopax rusticola Scolopacidae
Green Sandpiper
B/TM
1
1
0
0
Tinga ochropus Scolopacidae
Pectoral Sandpiper (rare)
V
0
0
0
0
Calidris melanotos Scolopacidae
Eurasian Nuthatch (rare)
RB
0
0
0
0
Sitta europaea Sittidae
Pomarine Jaeger
TM
1
0
1
0
Stercorarius pomarinus Stercorariidae
Long-tailed Jaeger
TM
1
0
1
0
Stercorarius longicaudus Stercorariidae
Parasitic Jaeger
B/TM
1
1
0
0
Stercorarius parasiticus Stercorariidae
Great Skua
B/TM
1
1
0
0
Stercorarius skua Stercorariidae
Sandwich Tern
B
1
1
1
0
Sterna sandvicensis Sternidae
Tawny Owl
B/W
1
1
1
1
Strix aluco Strigidae
Long-eared Owl
B/W
1
1
1
1
Asio otus Strigidae
Short-eared Owl
B
1
1
0
0
Asio flammeus Strigidae
European Starling
B/W
1
1
1
1
Sturnus vulgaris Sturnidae
Rosy Starling (rare)
V
0
0
0
0
Pastor roseus Sturnidae
Northern Gannet
B
1
1
1
0
Morus basanus Sulidae
Lesser Whitethroat
B
1
1
0
0
Sylvia corruca Sylviidae
Greater Whitethroat
B
1
1
0
0
Sylvia communis Sylviidae
Garden Warbler
B
1
1
0
0
Sylvia borin Sylviidae
Blackcap
B
1
1
0
0
Sylvia atricapilla Sylviidae
Red Grouse
B/W
1
1
1
1
Lagopuslagopus scottica Tetraonidae
Black Grouse
B/W
1
1
1
1
Lyrurus tetrix Tetraonidae
Rock Ptarmigan
B/W
1
1
1
1
Lagopus mu Tetraonidae
Eurasian Wren
B/W
1
1
1
1
Troglodytes troglodytes Troglodytidae
Redwing
W
1
1
0
0
Turdus iliacus Turdidae
Mistle Thrush
B/W
1
1
1
1
Turdus viscivorus Turdidae
European Stonechat
B/W
1
1
1
1
Saxicola rubicola TURDIDAE
Northern Wheatear
B
1
1
1
0
Oenanthe oenantha Turdidae
Ring Ouzel
B
1
1
0
0
Turdus torquatus Turdidae
Eurasian Blackbird
B/W
1
1
1
1
Turdus merula Turdidae
Fieldfare
W
0
0
1
1
Turdus pilaris Turdidae
Song Thrush
B/TM/W
1
1
1
1
Turdus philomelos Turdidae
Barn Owl
B/W
1
1
1
1
Tyto alba Tytonidae

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