Loch Ness Centre to run 8-month wildlife watch to document animals and plants

Visitors to Loch Ness who often come in search of spotting something mysterious are being invited to help uncover its other secrets.

The Loch Ness Centre in Drumnadrochit is running an eight-month wildlife watch.

From March 29 to November 3, it will be conducting research to map and photograph the vibrant wildlife thriving around the world-famous water and is asking local residents and visitors to get involved.

• Watch: Mysterious noises and potential sightings reported during Monster hunt

• Worldwide interest continues during Loch Ness Monster hunt

• Explained: What sparked the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster?

Last summer, the revamped Loch Ness Centre hosted one of the largest hunts for Nessie which attracted global media attention.

Over the course of the weekend, thousands of people took part, searching for the elusive creature.

Results included an influx of mysterious sightings and unexplained noises, furthering the belief for some that something is out there waiting to be discovered.

As it launches its Wildlife Watch this spring, the centre is asking locals and visitors to join the search and document

the beauty and abundance of wildlife in and around the loch – whether it is otters, buzzards and kites, red squirrels, or eagles and ospreys.

Participants are being asked to report on what they see and when, alongside further details such as the weather conditions and the loch’s surface water condition, with all findings being logged for the final report in November. Where possible, watchers are being asked to take a photo of any findings.

Paul Nixon, general manager of the Loch Ness Centre, said: "We’re so excited to be launching our Wildlife Watch. "When talking about Loch Ness we instantly think of Nessie, yet there are so many other amazing creatures right on our doorstep here in Loch Ness.

"We can’t wait to see what people find and document, to give us a better understanding of what we share this amazing place with."

Anyone can take part. To record findings, watchers can fill in the form and attach images or videos at lochness.com/wildlife-watch.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.