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7 Jul 2021

Wildlife spotter’s guide: Brodie Castle

A large badger walks beside a long, moss-covered log in woodland, in very low light.

Badger

The large estate surrounding Brodie Castle is home to a rich variety of habitats, from formal gardens to ponds and natural woodland. Several trails and a couple of nature hides offer great opportunities to spot some wildlife during your visit.

Click on the pictures below to find out a little more about some of the species you may spot.

Please note that the entries are listed alphabetically, not in ‘likelihood-of-seeing’ order!

A large adult badger walks along a woodland leafy path, straight towards the camera.

A close-up of the top half of a barn owl, apparently on a perch. It has turned its head to the side slightly, giving it a somewhat quizzical expression. It has a white, heart-shaped face with two black eyes. It has pale brown feathers by its shoulders.

A buzzard soaring through a bright blue sky. Its large wings are fully stretched out, revealing the feathery tips. Its belly is pale, and it is looking down at the ground.

A brown, warty toad peeps out of a pile of orange autumn leaves.

Great spotted woodpecker clinging to the side of a white-barked tree with knobbly bits. It is facing up the tree. It has a red cap.

A grey heron stands among a reed bed, its lower body obscured by the grass. It has dark grey, shaggy feathers on its body. It has a white head with a strong black stripe running from above the eye to a crest down its neck. It has a very long, sharp orange beak.

A brown spiky hedgehog steps onto a fallen log, covered in moss, on a woodland floor. It is resting its chin slightly on the log.

A male and female mallard duck swim on a calm pond, with gentle ripples around them. The green-headed male is nearest the camera, with the brown female slightly further away.

A mute swan swims across a smooth loch. It is all white apart from its orange and black bill. Its neck makes an S shape, and it holds its wings slightly out from its body, making it appear even larger.

An otter emerges from a stream onto a grassy bank with buttercups. Its brown fur is wet and sleeked back.

A painted lady butterfly rests, with its wings spread out, on a rock in a field. It is predominantly orange with black and white markings at the tips of its wings.

A pine marten creeps along a woodland floor, its body very close to the ground and its nose smelling the leaves in front. It has a long busy tail, and a white bib.

A small bat sits on a stony surface, with its wings stretched out to either side and resting on the ground. It has a brown furry body and long pointed ears.

A large white sculpture of a bunny lies on its back in a walled garden with a number of daffodil beds.

A red admiral butterfly perches on a pink flower in Kellie Castle Garden, with a blue sky in the background.

A red squirrel stands towards the top of an old branch. Its ears are pricked and its large bushy tail lies behind it.

A close-up of a robin perching on top of a wooden post.

A roe deer stands in a flowery (possibly lavender) area with saplings. It has turned its head to face the camera. Its very large ears and white rump are clearly visible.

A sparrowhawk stands on a moss-covered stone, surrounded by fallen autumn leaves. It faces left but has turned its head to look directly at the camera. It has a brown and white striped tummy, with grey wings and back.

A small brown and white bird clings on to some rough bark on a tree trunk, facing up the tree. It has a long curved beak and very long toes to grip with.

You can also check out our little video below for a glimpse of some of the Brodie wildlife that comes out to play when many of the visitors are away ...

Brodie at night

I love this place, I leave no trace

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