Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve

Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve is an amazing wildlife reserve on the Fife coast in Scotland managed by NatureScot.

Please contact [email protected] for any questions, queries or feedback.

Wishing everyone a very happy with the absolute ray of sunshine that is the Canary Shouldered Thorn! Is it a leaf? Is ...
14/09/2026

Wishing everyone a very happy with the absolute ray of sunshine that is the Canary Shouldered Thorn! Is it a leaf? Is it a Pokemon come to life? We'll never know. This gorgeous moth only has one generation per year and appears just at the end of summer, blending in with the turning leaves of the deciduous trees it enjoys.

In the this week is the Little Grebe!These fluffy little guys are the UK's smallest Grebe species and can be seen acro...
13/09/2026

In the this week is the Little Grebe!

These fluffy little guys are the UK's smallest Grebe species and can be seen across the country. Little Grebes are diving birds, surviving on small fish and invertrebates they catch underwater. They are specially evolved to swim and rarely come on land as their feet are so set back on their bodies they struggle to walk!

They nest on floating beds made of aquatic plants and their chicks can be seen riding around on their parents backs!

In the # this week is the Fly Agaric mushroom!This fairytale fungus that looks like it grew out of the pages of Alice ...
06/09/2026

In the # this week is the Fly Agaric mushroom!

This fairytale fungus that looks like it grew out of the pages of Alice in Wonderland is a sure sign that autumn is on the way. They have a deep rooted history in folklore, thought to have even inspired the colours of Santa's suit! However, they also have a much more practical history having been used as a way to get rid of flies (hence the name).

Fly Agaric is also toxic to humans and should be admired from a distance!

Have you seen any mushrooms emerging over the past few weeks?

We've had a very exciting influx of Bedstraw Hawk-moth larvae on the dunes over the past two months! Found first on 14th...
04/09/2026

We've had a very exciting influx of Bedstraw Hawk-moth larvae on the dunes over the past two months! Found first on 14th July we've been recording more and more as the weeks go on.

This species is a migrant from mainland Europe and is recorded infrequently across the UK with numbers varying from year to year. This is the first time we have recorded them in such large numbers here at Tentsmuir!

The caterpillars darken as they grow meaning the larvae in the first picture will be close to burying itself to pupate underground!

Although there is thought to be temporary resident populations in parts of southern England, pupas don't often survive the UK winters due to low temperatures and high rainfall. Although they will likely not make it to adulthood its been very exciting to see them on the dunes!

Happy ! This week we have chosen this fabulous Hedge Rustic. Who doesn't love a brown moth? Closer inspection of many m...
31/08/2026

Happy ! This week we have chosen this fabulous Hedge Rustic. Who doesn't love a brown moth? Closer inspection of many moth species can reveal beautiful patterns and colours, and the Hedge Rustic is a great example. Did you know that despite their name this species actually prefer open grassland?

In the this week is the common buzzard!Buzzards are monogamous and can live for over 30 years in the wild. They mostly...
30/08/2026

In the this week is the common buzzard!

Buzzards are monogamous and can live for over 30 years in the wild. They mostly eat small mammals and carrion so despite their large wingspan (over a metre!) they have quite small feet.

Although they are now the most common bird of prey in the UK, buzzards used to be a rare sight due to intense persecution. However, due to legislative changes and conservation efforts they have made an incredible comeback!

We have seen lots of these juvenile buzzards across the reserve recently as they begin to fledge and start fending for themselves.

Have you seen many buzzards in your area?

It's ! Meet the Sallow Moth!This stunningly yellow moth has quite a fitting name as it is in fact, quite sallow. Howeve...
24/08/2026

It's ! Meet the Sallow Moth!

This stunningly yellow moth has quite a fitting name as it is in fact, quite sallow. However, this moth's caterpillar also feeds on willow trees which are part of the salix (or sallow) genus. So it's a sallow looking moth that also feeds on sallow!

On the wing for the majority of autumn we expect this will be a common find in our traps over the next few months!

We have had a very exciting visitor at Morton Lochs this weekend. This is the elusive Cattle Egret which is not a very c...
18/08/2026

We have had a very exciting visitor at Morton Lochs this weekend. This is the elusive Cattle Egret which is not a very common sight in Scotland and is now part of very few recordings here in Fife!

If you're planning a visit to try and catch a glimpse of this exciting species then please remember to park in the assigned car park, stick to designated paths and hides, and be considerate of other visitors.

Happy ! This week we chose the elegant Lesser Swallow Prominent moth, which gets its' refined shape and colours from c...
17/08/2026

Happy ! This week we chose the elegant Lesser Swallow Prominent moth, which gets its' refined shape and colours from camouflaging itself on birch trees, the chosen food of its' caterpillars. This moth looks very similar to the larger Swallow Prominent moth, but the white wedge on the upper part of the wing is a simple way to tell them apart. You might also notice the lovely tufts on its' back which is what makes them part of the 'Prominent' moth family (Notodontidae).

Hi all. The path to the Berry hide is now cleared and open. Thank you for your patience! Team Tentsmuir NNR
17/08/2026

Hi all. The path to the Berry hide is now cleared and open.

Thank you for your patience!

Team Tentsmuir NNR

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Tayport

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01382 553704

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