Wildlife Spotting In and Around Chapelton

With spring well and truly here and summer on its way, now is the perfect time to get outdoors and make the most of the good weather.

Chapelton may be home to over 250 people but the community is also a hub of local and fascinating wildlife which can be seen whilst in the town itself, along the Chapelton Trail or in neighbouring areas.

From wild flowers to minibeasts, here is some of the wildlife that you can spot in and around Chapelton this season.

Minibeasts

The perfect wildlife for small children to look for, minibeasts can be found at the edge of Chapelton in the community woodland area.

Slaters, slugs, beetles and bugs are all tiny residents that hide amongst the long grass, gorse bushes and dry stane dyke and can be easily spotted whilst carefully moving stones or plants.

Skylarks

Along the Chapelton trail, walkers can relax and listen to the birds that soar above. A gentle stroll equipped with binoculars provides the perfect opportunity to see skylarks which can often be seen across the fields in the distance.

Small and brown, this bird is slightly larger than a sparrow yet smaller than a starling, with a small crest that is raised when the bird is excited or alarmed, and a white-sided tail. The white rear edge of the bird is visible whilst it is in flight.

Pollinators

As the flowers become brighter throughout the warmer summer months, a variety of pollinators can be spotted in the flowers surrounding Chapelton. Colourful rhododendrons and certain tree species are havens for bumblebees and other pollinators including butterflies.

For a taste of local honey head along to one of the nearby farmer’s markets in Stonehaven or Aberdeen.

Dolphins

Those keen to travel a little further can spot dolphins at Torry Battery in Aberdeen.

The city’s Harbour remains one of the best places in the UK to view dolphins, with the RSPB’s Dolphin Watch Project reporting that visitors to Torry Battery have a nine in ten chance of seeing the marine animals feeding.

Bottlenose, white beaked and risso dolphins can often be seen at the city centre location with porpoises, minke whale and basking sharks also sighted in recent years.

Those interested in finding out more about wildlife local to Chapelton can join the Walking with Wildlife event on Sunday 20^th May. For more details, visit http://chapeltonnewtown.co.uk/event/walking-with-wildlife

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