Scotland 3/4/2010- 10/4/10
I have just returned from a family holiday in probably my favorite place in the UK. Fantastic for birding and other wildlife as well. We stayed in a place on the Ardnamurchan peninsular called Glenborrodale. It is a 10 minute ferry journey and an hour or so drive from Fort William. So it is a little bit out of the way with only some small shops around the area.
The week started really well birding wise with 2 Black Guillemots from the short crossing on the Corran ferry. A stunning bird in their summer plumage. The drive along Loch Linnhe revealed decent numbers of Great northern diver and Red breasted merganser.
The cottage we stayed in had red deer visiting the front lawn during the evening. And it also had a jetty which led out on to Loch Sunart. During the week off the jetty I had good views of Eider, Black guillemot, Rb merganser, Razorbill, nesting Shag and amazingly a female Hen Harrier being mobbed by gulls. As well as Otter, Seal, and a Dolphin type species( could have been Porpoise).
We also spent a day on the fantastic isle of Mull one of the best places for birds in my opinion. Had great views of the star species the White-tailed eagle as well as a soaring Golden eagle. Also on the island really good numbers of Great northern diver and a few Red throated diver. And one of my best memories of the week seeing Slavonian grebe in their summer plumage with a flash of gold on the side of the head. An awesome sight. Also had some time trying to digiscope Crossbill in the wind very difficult. But got a record shot anyway.
Later on in the week I had both Whooper swan and Pink footed goose over on their way back up north. Really great to see these birds on their migration thinking they might have spent the winter close to me in lancashire somewhere.
So for anyone who has never spent any time up in Scotland what are you waiting for. It's a fabulous place for not only birds but other wildlife also. A truly wonderful and wild place.
List
Mute swan
Whooper swan
Greylag goose
Canada goose
Shelduck
Wigeon
Teal
Mallard
Eider
Goldeneye
Rb merganser
Red throated diver
Great northern diver
Slavonian grebe
Manx shearwater
Shag
White-tailed eagle
Hen harrier
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Golden eagle
Kestrel
Peregrine
Oystercatcher
Curlew
Greenshank
Kittiwake
Bh gull
Common gull
Lbb gull
Gbb gull
Guillemot
Razorbill
Black Guillemot
Woodpigeon
Collard dove
Gs woodpecker
Swallow (1st of year)
Grey wagtail
Pied wagtail
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Wheatear
Blackbird
Song thrush
Redwing
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Goldcrest
Long tailed tit
Blue tit
Great tit
Coal tit
Rook
Carrion crow
Hooded crow
Raven
Starling
House sparrow
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin
Crossbill
The week started really well birding wise with 2 Black Guillemots from the short crossing on the Corran ferry. A stunning bird in their summer plumage. The drive along Loch Linnhe revealed decent numbers of Great northern diver and Red breasted merganser.
The cottage we stayed in had red deer visiting the front lawn during the evening. And it also had a jetty which led out on to Loch Sunart. During the week off the jetty I had good views of Eider, Black guillemot, Rb merganser, Razorbill, nesting Shag and amazingly a female Hen Harrier being mobbed by gulls. As well as Otter, Seal, and a Dolphin type species( could have been Porpoise).
We also spent a day on the fantastic isle of Mull one of the best places for birds in my opinion. Had great views of the star species the White-tailed eagle as well as a soaring Golden eagle. Also on the island really good numbers of Great northern diver and a few Red throated diver. And one of my best memories of the week seeing Slavonian grebe in their summer plumage with a flash of gold on the side of the head. An awesome sight. Also had some time trying to digiscope Crossbill in the wind very difficult. But got a record shot anyway.
Later on in the week I had both Whooper swan and Pink footed goose over on their way back up north. Really great to see these birds on their migration thinking they might have spent the winter close to me in lancashire somewhere.
So for anyone who has never spent any time up in Scotland what are you waiting for. It's a fabulous place for not only birds but other wildlife also. A truly wonderful and wild place.
List
Mute swan
Whooper swan
Greylag goose
Canada goose
Shelduck
Wigeon
Teal
Mallard
Eider
Goldeneye
Rb merganser
Red throated diver
Great northern diver
Slavonian grebe
Manx shearwater
Shag
White-tailed eagle
Hen harrier
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
Golden eagle
Kestrel
Peregrine
Oystercatcher
Curlew
Greenshank
Kittiwake
Bh gull
Common gull
Lbb gull
Gbb gull
Guillemot
Razorbill
Black Guillemot
Woodpigeon
Collard dove
Gs woodpecker
Swallow (1st of year)
Grey wagtail
Pied wagtail
Wren
Dunnock
Robin
Wheatear
Blackbird
Song thrush
Redwing
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Goldcrest
Long tailed tit
Blue tit
Great tit
Coal tit
Rook
Carrion crow
Hooded crow
Raven
Starling
House sparrow
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Siskin
Crossbill
Total Comments 4
Comments
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Great Johnny, glad you had a nice holiday!
Your own cottage with a jetty on your own loch, sounds idyllic - I'm reaching for my passport already!
The White Tailed and Golden Eagles must have been special - great photo's too.Posted 11-04-10 at 12:55 PM by alanjns
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Your post bought back some wonderful memories of Ardnamurchan,Loch Linnhe and Isle of Mull Jonny and I see from your pics that you had similar good weather too.......I'm so glad you had such a wonderful time......it's a very special spot isn't it!
The Golden Eagle,Otters and Slav Grebes were my highlights of our 2 weeks in the Highlands too!
Posted 11-04-10 at 01:12 PM by Twitcheruth
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Thanks for the comments Alan and Ruth. It was a great week the weather wasn't too bad at all just a couple of wet mornings. The cottage was really nice Alan it was in a really peaceful spot. I was up early out on the jetty every morning with scope and camera at the ready. It was total heaven but i've had to come back to reality with a bang today and back to work
Posted 12-04-10 at 04:01 PM by JONNY74
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Great report Johnny, you certainly saw plenty more than we did at this time last year.
This year we are giving it another go, staying on a campsite on the shore of Loch Sunart near Strontian. Last year we were stunned by the area and can hardly wait for our next trip in May.
If you have any Dolphin spotting tips, we would love to know, my wife must see some or she'll burst.
Dave..Posted 15-04-10 at 05:07 PM by Dave H
