Reliable site for Puffin and Black Guillemot.

[graeme782]

I'm travelling from the Manchester area up to Scotland next week. Does anybody have any sites on the west coast, between those two points, where i might catch up with both the aforementioned species.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Graeme.

[Jane Turner]

Anglesey is easy, but out of your way. Black Guille used to be possible at St Bees, though its a good 20 years since I tried. Hopefully one of the Cumbrian guys will notice this. How far up Scotland and how far west?

[border reiver]

Graeme

Where abouts in Scotland are you going? the mull of galloway has both species but it is a bit out of the way if you are not going to Dumfries & Galloway or Ayrshire.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/m/mullofgalloway/index.asp will give you an indication if it is worthwhile for you location wise etc

John

[graeme782]

As i've never been to Scotland i thought it was about time i made the journey. I'll be going to the Cairngorm area for a couple of days then thought i might do some of the west coast on the way back down.

Cheers.

[AStevenson]

A lot of puffins don't return to colonies until early April so they may scarce at some sites yet. Black guilles much easier on the west coast. If your going to the Cairngorms it'd be worth heading across to somewhere like the Wester Ross sealochs - Ullapool, Gairloch etc. or to NW Skye - black guilles should be around off any rocky coast and the Minch will have returning puffins ( Handa and the Shiant islands have very large colonies ) which should be feeding inshore. Black guillies also easy in harbours eg Oban, and along the Ayrshire coast (Ayr/Troon).

Cheers
,Andrew

[solwaybirder]

Anglesey is easy, but out of your way. Black Guille used to be possible at St Bees, though its a good 20 years since I tried. Hopefully one of the Cumbrian guys will notice this. How far up Scotland and how far west?
There are still a few Black Guillemot and a few Puffin at St, Bees view from the cliffs between the lighthouse and the bay.
Ian

[dan pointon]

Always Black Guillys by the river in Ayr town centre. Go past the big road bridge and scan the water/river walls.

[pandachris]

The west coast is beautiful but a lot of extra travelling time.

Here's a Black Guillemot on the Corran Ferry (nr Fort William) pier in early June 2005.

http://avengerpenguins.co.uk/v-web/gallery/UKBirds/BlackGuillemot

If it's just Puffin and BG that you're after, stick to the Cairngorm area then perhaps plan a weekend in Anglesey in early June - Ellin's Tower, South Stack for Puffins and Penmon Point near Beaumaris for BG. Both places that are worth a few hours of any birders time, with other interesting species likely to be in the area.

[pe'rigin]

Graeme,

If your crossing to Mull by ferry, the Black Guillmots are usually on the pier and in the water around. You should be able to very close views. Can't help you with the Puffins.

[graeme782]

Thanks everyone for your replies. As it turned out, i think i bit off a bit more than i could chew as far as the driving was concerned. As beautiful as the scenery is, especially surrounding the A9, i was really getting the arse with driving and i couldn't face the trip west. I had a great time in the Cairngorms, even got a tan, but i think i'll follow the advice offered by 'pandachris'.

Thanks again.

Graeme.