The Torridon Hotel resort grounds have lots to offer keen birdwatchers. With the mix of woodland, burn, cattle pasture and seashore, there is always something to see. Autumn is an especially good time. Birds emerge more into the open after the breeding season and the slight coolness in the air makes them keener in their search for food. The adults need to recover energy and body weight to get them through the winter. The Alt Coire Roill, our very own spate burn, is a great habitat for bird life with its overhanging trees and insect life both in the water and the air. Over the last couple of weeks I have been lucky to see both a dipper and grey wagtail moving between stone and water after insects. Dippers are amazing water-and-pebble treaders, with round buoyant bodies. They dive and swim seeking out larvae and aquatic insects and sometimes small fish in our icy highland burns. The grey wagtail is a dapper insect-catcher both in the air and ducking into the water. Both are really worthy subjects for artists and photographers and you can find them wherever a burn or river runs through the land.

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