Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve

15/06/2026

Introducing... Moth Mondays!

Having decided to improve our moth ID skills, Ian and I will be bringing you our favourite moths from each weekend's moth trapping session, in the hopes of showing off our local species.

This white ermine moth (Spilosoma lubricipeda) not only has the same fashion sense as Cruella de Vil, but is also a very common species, due to its love of plants such as nettle and dock.

14/06/2026

In the this week is Vipers Bugloss!

The word 'bugloss' comes from the greek word for Ox Tongue due to the fact the leaves of the plant resemble a rough tongue. 'Viper' may have come from the speckled stem of the plant that looks almost like the markings of a snake! You can see this Vipers Bugloss and many other wildflowers down at our pavillion by the Ice House! Keep an eye out for busy polinators while you're there!

Whats your favourite wildflower?

07/06/2026

This week's is on red squirrels!
Did you know that they have two or even three litters of kits per year?
We saw this busy parent-to-be collecting nest material just last week, which means they may have already raised one batch of young and are now going for round two! This is a good sign as it means that there are enough resources in the area to support these big families. Have you seen the squirrels near you doing this?

04/06/2026

24/05/2026

Forget its this week!

We have 5 Cygnets which have just hatched this week in the south loch down at Morton with one even catching a ride on their mums back!

Mute Swans are incredibly devoted parents and will do everything they can to protect their young.

Keep an eye out for these 3 and their siblings next time you're at the reserve!

21/05/2026

Damselflies are very good predators and will hunt other insects in mid air!

This one was feeding on a mosquito and had just caught it and landed on a blade of grass to eat it when I got the picture.

They eat mosquitoes, midges and other small flying insects.

17/05/2026

The unexpectedly exciting lifecycle of a damselfly is the this week!

Did you know damselfly nymphs inspired the Xenomorph's design in Ridley Scott's 1979 blockbuster "Alien"?

This is due to the fact that in their larval stage they are actually apex predators with extendable jaws (just like the aliens in "Alien") making them fearsome hunters with a 95% successful catch rate. They can be disinguished from dragonfly nymphs due to the 3 fin-like apendages on their tails which actually function like gills! However, it can take them almost 2 years to reach maturity and emerge from the water ready to take flight! Once they have left the water they live for a mere week or two in which they can reproduce, before dying.

There are currently lots of damselflies down at Morton Lochs as they begin to take flight. Look for their shiny wings which glimmer in the sun as they fly by!

(Pictured here is a Large Red Damselfly taken at Morton Lochs and a Damselfly Nymph taken during a pond dipping session.)

11/05/2026

Spotted some Marsh Marigold down at Morton Lochs. Also known as Kingscup these spring wildflowers are in the same family as the buttercup and like wet marshy ground and can even grow in standing water.

In springtime traditions across the UK Marsh Marigold was hung on people's doors as they believed it would ward off evil spirts! Here at Tentsmuir it is providing a good source of energy for bees and butterflies as they start to emerge.

10/05/2026

In the this week is the Great Spotted Woodpecker!

This handsome boy (distinguished from his lady counterpart by the red spot on the back of his head) is a regular visitor to Morton Lochs and can quite often be heard before they are seen.

These birds use their powerful beaks to hammer holes into tree trunks (sometimes at speeds of 40 times a second!) and extract larvae. They have extraordinarily long tongues that can extend up to 4cm and have to wrap around their skulls when not in use!

Always a treat to see their striking plumage down at the reserve!

09/05/2026

How many birds have you seen today?

We decided to celebrate the eBird and join millions of other folk around the world bird watching together on the Merlin app. The app is free and a great way to get to know which bird species are living in your area, so why not join in this afternoon?

These gadwall at Morton Lochs are just one of the many species that can be seen on the reserve!