WARNING - By their nature, text files cannot include scanned images and tables. The process of converting documents to text only, can cause formatting changes and misinterpretation of the contents can sometimes result. Wherever possible you should refer to the pdf version of this document. Cairngorms RPAC Habitat & Species Priority list Species / Distribution in Cairngorms / Habitat preference Atlantic salmon Salmo salar All rivers and tributaries. Spawn in upper reaches and tributaries, migrate to sea, return to rivers Barn owl Tyto alba Widespread but scarce. Angus Glens & lower Deeside primarily, expanding in Badenoch & Strathspey Lowland farmland mosiacs Birchwood moths: Kentish glory moth Endromis versicolora ; Cousin german Euschesis sobrina Widespread but scarce. Primarily Deeside and Badenoch & Strathspey, under recorded Moorland edge and open birchwood specialists. Dependant on regenerating birch in sunny locations. Black grouse Tetrao tetrix Scare on upland and forest edge areas Mosaic of pine and birch woodland (native and plantation) and scrub with understorey of heather and blaeberry, usually bordering on moorland. Wet areas. Bog specialist Dragonfly species: Azure hawker, Aeshna caerulea , Northern emerald,Somatochlora arctica , White-faced darter, Leucorrhinia dubia Widespread but scarce in uplands and lowlands Acidic bog pools and runnels in upland areas, bog woodland and sphagnum rich pools in lowlands. Capercaillie Tetrao urogallus Pine woodland, rare Mainly native pine forest and conifer plantations, with range of tree ages and densities. Good understorey of blaeberry with wet / boggy areas Common toad Bufo bufo Widespread Wetlands, rough grasslands, woods, gardens Crested tit Parus cristatus Conifer woods in Badenoch & Strathspey, scarce Native pine woods and conifer plantations Daubenton’s Bat Myotis daubentonii Widespread but scarce Riparian habitats. Roosts in riparian trees and bridges, feeds over water. Freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera Golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos Potentially widespread (but rare) in upland areas. Moorland, montane crags and upland native pine woods with access to large open hunting territories. Absent from much of the suitable habitat. Golden plover Pluvialis apricaria Widespread but uncommon in uplands Moorlands, blanket bogs, damp pastures and rough grasslands Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Scarce breeding bird & common winter visitor Rivers and lochs, uses riparian trees (and articifical nest boxes) for roosting and nesting sites. Hen harrier Circus cyaneus Potentially widespread (but rare) in moorlands. Breed on moorlands and peatlands requiring deep heather for nest sites. Absent from much of the suitable habitat. Juniper Juniper communis Widespread On farmland, grassland, moorlands and woodland sites Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Widespread but uncommon Open farmland with wet areas (arable, permanent pastures, rough grazing) and cattle grazing Mason bees (Osmia inermis & Osmia uncinata) Widespread but rare, Highland Perthshire and Badenoch & Strathspey Calcareous & species rich grasslands Mountain hare Lepus timidus Widespread but uncommon in uplands Upland grasslands, moorlands and hills Northern brown argus Aricia artaxerxes Widespread but uncommon In uplands and lowlands Lightly grazed calcareous grasslands with rockrose plants Northern damselfly Coenagrion hastulatum Rare, Badenoch & Strathspey and Deeside Shallow ponds or lochans with abundance of emergent vegetation adjacent or within woodlands Pearl bordered fritillary Boloria euphrosyne Widespread but uncommon Mostly (grazed) broadleaved woodland margins and clearings with grassy field layer and light covering of bracken. Plus moorland edge and rough grassland. Food plant – violets, usually south-facing. Pipistrelle spp Widespread Open woodlands, farmland, wetland and urban habitats Red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris Widespread Native pine woods and conifer plantations, but also broadleaved woods where no grey squirrel competition. Redshank Tringa totanus Widespread but uncommon Wet pasture and open farmland with cattle grazing Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus Widespread but uncommon Wetland / scrub mosaics, winter stubbles Ring ouzel Turdus torquata Widespread but uncommon in uplands Uplands River jelly lichen Coellema dichotomum Rare, restricted to parts of river Isla, Erict, North Esk and Don An aquatic lichen found in unpolluted rivers Scottish crossbill Loxia scotia Skylark Alauda arvensis Widespread but uncommon Open farmland (arable, grass or rough grazing), winter stubbles, and moorland. Swift Apus apus Widespread Variety of habitats, make use of buildings, present in most communities Tree sparrow Passer montanus Angus Glens and Lower Deeside, uncommon Twinflower Linnaea borealis Twite Carduelis flavirostris Upland and upland fringes Breeds on moorland and on in-by pasture & arable ground, uses winter stubbles Upland moth species Netted mountain moth, Macaria carbonaria , Northern dart, Xestia alpicola , Sword grass, Xylena exsoleta Widespread but rare. Deeside and Badenoch & Strathspey (under recorded) lowland raised bog, damp acidic moorland and upland blanket bog, wood/moorland edge Water vole Arvicola terrestris Widespread but scarce in uplands Uplands, ditches, burns & rivers, wetlands and other waterbodies Wildcat Felis sylvestris Widespread but scarce Upland and moorland edge, woodlands and rough grasslands Woolly willow Salix lanata Wood Ants Formica exsecta, F. aquilonia & F. lugubris Conifer woods in Badenoch & Strathspey and Deeside, uncommon Mostly undisturbed conifer forests and woods, with dappled light (amount of light required depends on specific species) Habitat / Distribution in Cairngorms / Notes Arable land & cereal field margins Lowland areas of Straths (uncommon) Limited area on lowland farms Aspen woodland [covering aspen hoverfly, blunt-leaved bristle moss, aspen bracket fungus & dark-bordered beauty moth] Widespread in Badenoch & Strathspey, local elsewhere In all types of woodland as individual stands or small groups and in some places dominant tree species Birch woodland Widespread Blanket bog Uplands, widespread Conifer plantations Widespread In relation to re-structuring, enhancing diversity, & improving woodland habitats Control of non native plant invasive species: Giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam Limited distribution, River Don and River Esk Mainly alongside water courses of all sizes. Drystane dykes Primarily Deeside & Angus Glens farmland feature Montane scrub Rare Upland areas Heather moorland/Upland heath Widespread Bearberry heath Arctostaphyllos uva-ursi Uncommon habitat in managed moorlands Native broad- leaved woodland Widespread but scarce Upland oak in particular plus ash, hazel, willow, wet woodland of alder. Native Scots pine woodland Widespread Reed beds and Fens Wipespead but localised Reedbeds are wetlands by dominated reeds, fens are low nutrient status associated with peat Riparian & wet woodland Widespread In upland and lowland areas along watercourses and waterbodies Rivers & burns Widespread Semi-natural species- rich grassland Widespread but scarce. Calcareous, acid and neutral – some larger fields and areas of habitat within in bye, more in uplands, remnants along river banks. Standing open water Widespread Lochs, lochans, ponds and pools Upland grassland Widespread Calcareous, species-rich acid grasslands and serpentine heath