The Drey Inchberry

10/10/2026

I'm a little late with this, but here's some of the wildlife you can spot in the Scottish Highlands in October.

This is the month when winter migrants begin to show. I'm already seeing and hearing the wonderful honking of the pink-footed geese overhead flying in their tell-tale v-shape every morning - for me this is the sign that summer is over. A few swallows are still hanging around though.

Other migrants heading this way will be the winter thrushes. More blackbirds come to the UK in the winter, I often have 10+ in my garden. They are joined by redwings and fieldfares and hopefully waxwings too.

The red deer rut is underway. Not always easy to see, but head down the glens at dusk and you should spot the stags and will certainly hear their roaring. I remember back in 2016 sitting on a hill watching a mountain hare and listening to the roars echoing off the surrounding mountains, it was awesome!

My local red squirrels are mostly still absent and finding plenty of natural food, but walk through woods, especially in the mornings and you may well seen or hear one in the trees. Their ear tufts start to reappear this month too.

Birds such as long-tailed t**s and (hopefully!) crested t**s start to visit feeders in October as natural food becomes more scarce. I photographed long-tailed t**s in the trees at my squirrel site this week, still hunting for insects, but showing well.

Most of all this is the month when the tree leaves turn gold and orange. The woodland looks stunning. Head down Glen Affric or GlenStrathfarrar to experience an explosion of colour. We've even had our first snow of the winter on the Cairngorms!!

20/09/2026

Relevant for the whole of the Highlands 😄. I've had clients ask me how come I know driver I meet on single track roads 😂😂

ISLE OF SKYE TOURIST BOARD – VISITOR GUIDANCE No.23

▪️ THE HIGHLAND (WEE) WAVE ▪️

Visitors driving on Skye will quickly encounter one of the most important and least formally documented parts of Highland road etiquette:

The Wave.

This is not a large enthusiastic gesture.

It is not a royal wave.

It is not both hands in the air.

If both hands are in the air, something has already gone wrong.

The Highland Wave is a small acknowledgement between drivers, usually after somebody has pulled into a passing place, reversed half a mile, waited patiently, or otherwise prevented a minor diplomatic incident.

▪️HOW TO DO IT

The standard technique is simple.

Keep both hands on or near the steering wheel.

Raise one or two fingers approximately half an inch.

Lower them again.

That is enough.

If performed correctly, an entire conversation has taken place.

It means:

“Thanks.”

“No bother.”

“Seen you.”

“Appreciated.”

“Carry on.”

And occasionally:

“You took your time, but we’ll say no more about it.”

▪️THE FULL HAND WAVE

A full hand raised from the steering wheel indicates a higher level of gratitude.

This is appropriate when somebody has:

Reversed a considerable distance.

Waited for several vehicles.

Pulled partly into a ditch.

Moved sheep.

Or sacrificed a wing mirror for the greater good.

Do not overuse it.

Standards must be maintained.

▪️THE INDEX FINGER

A single raised index finger from the steering wheel is the classic Highland form.

It is economical.

Efficient.

Aerodynamic.

And requires almost no emotional commitment.

Visitors may initially mistake this for indifference.

It is, in fact, warmth.

Highland warmth.

▪️THE TWO-FINGER VARIANT

Two fingers may be raised where the driver wishes to convey slightly greater appreciation.

This is particularly common where the other person has stopped early enough to avoid forcing both vehicles into an unnecessarily complex reversing exercise.

Care should be taken with finger selection.

Certain arrangements have meanings not covered by Tourist Board guidance.

▪️THE HEAD NOD

Advanced practitioners may combine the finger wave with a very slight downward nod of the head.

This is approximately the Highland equivalent of an embrace.

Do not expect more.

▪️THE SMILE

Optional.

▪️THE OVER-ENTHUSIASTIC TOURIST

Visitors occasionally respond to a passing-place courtesy by:

Waving vigorously.

Grinning broadly.

Giving a thumbs-up.

Opening the window.

Shouting “THANK YOU!”

This is unnecessary.

You are not being rescued from the North Atlantic.

Someone has merely let you past.

A single finger will do.

▪️PASSING PLACE FAILURE

If another driver has reversed fifty yards to let you through and you fail to acknowledge them, the matter will not normally be pursued.

There will be no fine.

No points on your licence.

No formal complaint.

However, the other driver may quietly say:

“Well, there ye are.”

This is considerably worse.

▪️THE CAMPERVAN EXCEPTION

Campervan drivers are particularly encouraged to master the Highland Wave.

Especially if they have just been allowed past after travelling at 27mph for eleven miles while admiring the scenery.

In these circumstances, one finger may not be sufficient.

Consider two.

Possibly three.

Do not attempt a full apology through the rear window.

Just keep going.

▪️MEETING A LOCAL ON A SINGLE-TRACK ROAD

If you see another vehicle approaching:

Look ahead.

Identify the nearest passing place.

Work out which of you is closest.

Act early.

Do not stop nose-to-nose in the middle of the road and begin an international summit.

Once safely past, administer the wave.

The whole procedure should take considerably less time than discussing who had right of way.

▪️THE REVERSE WAVE

If somebody reverses for you, the Highland Wave should be slightly more pronounced.

They have surrendered distance.

You owe them recognition.

If they reverse uphill, in rain, with a trailer attached, a full hand is permitted.

Possibly even a smile.

Do not get carried away.

▪️MULTIPLE VEHICLES

If several cars allow you through in succession, repeat the wave for each vehicle.

Do not issue one large wave at the start and assume it covers the convoy.

This is not a season ticket.

Each driver has earned their own acknowledgement.

▪️VISITORS FROM CITIES

Drivers accustomed to urban roads may find the Highland Wave confusing.

In cities, lifting a hand from the steering wheel can indicate:

Thanks.

Anger.

Confusion.

Sarcasm.

Disbelief.

Or an approaching insurance claim.

On Skye, it usually just means:

“Cheers.”

Try not to complicate it.

▪️THE WAVE HIERARCHY

For reference:

One finger:
Standard thanks.

Two fingers:
Much appreciated.

Whole hand:
You’ve done me a proper favour.

Hand plus nod:
Deep respect.

Hand, nod and smile:
Rare.

May indicate kinship.

Any more than this and you are probably at a wedding.

▪️FINAL GUIDANCE

The Highland Wave is small because it does not need to be large.

Everybody knows what it means.

So when somebody pulls in, reverses, waits or otherwise helps you along a single-track road:

Lift a finger.

Give the nod.

Carry on.

And if you forget entirely, don’t worry.

Nobody will say anything.

They’ll just remember the car.

ISLE OF SKYE TOURIST BOARD

Maintaining Highland diplomacy one raised finger at a time.

03/09/2026

Wildlife to see in September

This is the start of a new series where I'll give a mention to what you might be lucky enough to see when visiting The Drey or other Highland locations in each month.

September can be a tricky month. Summer species are leaving, winter species are yet to arrive. However there's still wildlife around if you look hard enough.

Swallows are still here, some are raising their second brood before departing. Other birds moult in September so you may see fewer around. Food is plentiful for finches as crops reach maturity and are harvested. Crested t**s and long-tailed t**s will begin to visit feeders again.

Red squirrels are preparing for winter and can be seen sourcing and caching food including fungi, nuts and soft fruit. They may not visit feeding stations as often at this time though (mine have gone awol). The second brood of kittens will start showing in September too.

Male and juvenile ospreys can be seen fishing in lochs and the sea before leaving.

The pink-footed geese return in September. Listen out for their honking and the distinctive v-shape in the sky. They will congregate in harvested fields to eat their fill.

Once the fields are harvested check them for brown hares at dawn and dusk.

Salmon are making their way up the rivers to spawn and can be seen leaping up waterfalls if you're lucky. Best after rainfall.

23/06/2026

It was great to see The Drey featured in the latest edition of Outdoor Photography Magazine as one of their recommended Wild Hideaways.

I have very limited availability this summer but plenty for the autumn. Please visit the website for information, it would be lovely to see you here.

31/12/2025

I've not been particularly good at posting here, for which I apologise...

However, many thanks for following The Drey Inchberry and most especially to those of you who have stayed here. It's such a special place and I love sharing it with you.

2026 is looking busy already. I have my winter wildlife residential tours January and February and a number of bookings for March too. Please do check out the website if you'd like to come visit.

I'll end the year with some images of wildlife, all taken this year in my garden. I am privileged to have many species visiting. Hopefully all will be around in 2026 too!

All the best for 2026 x

14/09/2025

The Drey has proved popular over the summer months and is pretty much fully booked now until mid October. Many thanks if you've visited or are due to do so. Guests have enjoyed the peace, the wildlife and the comfort of the cabin (especially the beds!).

I still have some availability for my residential winter wildlife photography tours in January and February, I'll put the link in the comments below. I also offer red squirrel 3 night packages too outwith this period. I have 2 local red squirrel sites now - my deciduous squirrels and a brand new pinewood location. The latter is also available to rent, cabin guests receive a £5pp discount on the advertised tariff. Again, I'll put details in the comments below.

Here are a few photographs from the new pinewood site, showing the squirrels in both sunshine and showers. The heather is blooming at the moments and it's really pretty whatever the weather.

21/07/2025

(Soggy) Badger behind The Drey Inchberry at 8.20pm tonight.

24/06/2025

Hello! Apologies for the lengthy silence here. I hope you're having a great summer, we've had spells of lovely weather here in the Highlands this year which has been great!

I still have some availability in The Drey over the summer months, please do check the website for details. It's a beautiful, peaceful location surrounded by fields, woods and amazing wildlife. In the last week I've had 3 badgers at once in the garden, a brown hare (a first), swallows and tree sparrows nesting in my sheds, and so many other birds it's costing me a fortune in bird food 😍 But worth it.