Ptarmigan? Dotterel?

[Barred Wobbler]

I'm planning on a trip north this weekend. Does anyone have any tips on sites for Ptarmigan & Dotterel?

[RobF]

I went up the Cairngorm in October 2005 and got Ptarms in the snow, though they weren't in full winter plumage. If you look at the OS map of Cairngorm theres an area marked Ptarmigan Hill - its a good place to look.

They might be a bit secretive as the females should be down on eggs, or have wee chicks.

Not sure about Dotties though, but the habitat on Cairngorm looked good for them.

Rob

[Barred Wobbler]

Thanks Rob.

I'm just "Freewheeling" for the weekend, no firm plans, fill the car on Friday early and point it north. I'll be finding digs as and where I happen to be, so the itinerary is wide open.

[Capercaillie71]

They might be a bit secretive as the females should be down on eggs, or have wee chicks.


Eggs are laid in mid-late May, so the hens should be sitting. Here's another thread on Ptarmigan sites:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=45623


Not sure about Dotties though, but the habitat on Cairngorm looked good for them.

Dotterel do breed on the plateau between Cairngorm and Ben Macdui (up to 30+ pairs in some years) but it can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. They also breed on Glas Maol by the Glen Shee ski centre, where there are also Ptarmigan.

A word of warning though - this week the weather here has been more like February than late May and I wouldn't really want to be on the high tops where it is almost certainly snowing at the moment.

[RobF]

Thanks for pointing that out Caper71, I thought they might only be a bit later than Red Grouse who have just passed peak hatch date down here.

You could always try the tops of the Durham Dales for Dotties, a bit closer to home!

Good luck,

Rob

[bitterntwisted]

Saw two Ptarmigan on Cairngorm on Saturday morning - one on the summit and one east of Ptarmigan Station. But the weather was absolutely grim - well below freezing and seriously heavy snow showers. My friend walked up from Tomintoul via Ben Macdui and saw several more Ptarmigan but only one Dotterel the whole way.

I know several people recommend climbing Carn Ban More from Achlean, south of Feshie Bridge, for all the montane specialists, as this does not suffer the disturbance that Cairngorm does. This is supposed to be a fairly strenuous walk, but isn't that part of the fun? Surely a drive-up Ptarmigan is not the same?

Graham

[Tim Allwood]

Carn Ban Mor

the walk's not that bad and the views are spectacular

and you'll get great views of both species Alan

Tim

[jpoyner]

I'm planning on a trip north this weekend. Does anyone have any tips on sites for Ptarmigan & Dotterel?

Weather conditions are currently unseasonably bad on the Cairngorms, with over a foot of Snow above 3000ft!

My plans to take a group up there for Dotterel this week are currently on hold as conditions are far too severe. With further snow all day today and tomorrow forecast it's not looking too good!
Should be ok though for Ptarmigan using the Ski road up from the car park, providing the cloud lifts. Today when I was there it was still below 2000ft.


Looks like the freezing level might lift by the weekend, but I'd certainly check with the Rangers office before attempting it.

John

[Barred Wobbler]

Thanks to everyone for all your comments. It looks like the weather may be the winner this weekend, better safe than sorry. There'll be other times and I don't really fancy seeing myself on the news.

The great thing about freewheeling is you can do what you want, at your own pace (or not).

I'll keep an eye on the forecast, but if summer doesn't arrive it looks like the game's off.

Thanks again everyone.B (:

[jpoyner]

Thanks to everyone for all your comments. It looks like the weather may be the winner this weekend, better safe than sorry. There'll be other times and I don't really fancy seeing myself on the news.

The great thing about freewheeling is you can do what you want, at your own pace (or not).

I'll keep an eye on the forecast, but if summer doesn't arrive it looks like the game's off.

Thanks again everyone.B (:

You never know, might be a good clear weather window over the weekend and the snow melts pretty fast at this time year. Wouldn't give up all hope! As I said, your best bet is to pop in to the Rangers office at the car park, they're very helpful and will give you the best advice at the time, including which route to take and where birds are best viewed from.

April was fantastic up here, with 22 deg C in Aviemore but it seems to have gone rapidly down hill. There was ice on my car again last weekend, and I got stuck on Barra last Monday in a force 9 gale!! But that's what makes Scotland......who wants wall to wall sunshine all the time anyway ;)?


John.

[Brendan T]

As Rob says, tops of the Northern Pennines could be worth a speculative try Alan, could be late passage and no-one really knows how many breed up there. Worth being careful wherever you go as its likely to be a sensitive time of year for the birds.

[Barred Wobbler]

No. I'll give it a miss Brendan. I was fancying a long weekend roaming around Scotland, picking up a couple of birds on the way, but winter's back so I'll give it a miss until next spring.

Thanks anyway.

[teamsaint]

1st of June on Cairngorm weather was beautiful with Ptarmigans and Snow Buntings showing well as well as Merlin and 6 Ring Ouzels. Unfortunately no Dotterel were seen

[Barred Wobbler]

Thanks for that teamsaint. Now where did I put that bottle of pills?