Spring in the Angus Glens sees the arrival of summer migrants from southern Europe and Africa. The wheatears arrive in late March and early April, closely followed by the ring ousel, which flies to Angus from its wintering grounds in Morocco to breed in the glaciated corries of Glen Doll - the Angus Glens are the European stronghold for this species.
Dunlin and dotterel, along with the resident ptarmigan, return to the high plateau to breed among the dwarf vegetation and lichen while ravens are early nesters on the crags and have completed their clutches by early March.
By late March/early April, peregrine and twite have returned from their coastal wintering grounds to set up breeding territories. By May, the young ravens are on the wing and the golden eagles, which can sometimes be seen soaring high above the Glens, have young in the nest who will not fledge until late July.
June and July are the best time of year to see the flowering arctic alpine plants in Corrie Fee, where an outcrop of hornblende schist provides the nutrients required by these plants. Woolly and downy willows grow in Corrie Sharroch, while rarities such as the Purple Coltsfoot and Yellow Oxytropis can be found on the rocky outcrops within the Corrie.
A three-year study within Glen Doll Forest has shown that about a hundred red squirrels live there. Although elusive and shy within the forest, they may sometimes be seen at the feeding station at the new Glen Doll Ranger Base.
Crossbills frequent the forest throughout the year, with groups of up to forty seen on occasions.
Autumn heralds the start of the annual red deer rut, during which time the stags round up their harem of hinds on the hillsides, roaring loudly and mating with the hinds. The red deer calves are born within the corries during early June of the following year.
Autumn is also when large flocks of fieldfare and redwing arrive from Scandinavia to feast on the berries of the rowans which flourish in the lower reaches of the glens, while waxwings and twite may be seen in the Glens from November to January.
As winter progresses, the ptarmigan, mountain hares and stoats change their coats from brown to white so they can blend in with the snowy conditions.
