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Ptarmigan, Cairngorm and railway access (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter mcapper
- Start date
mountain man
Guest
Between the Cairngorm monstrosity and Carn Ban Mor surely there is no contest? Carn Ban Mor every time. I once did Braeriach from the Coire Cas car park via the Lairig Ghru. There were Dotterel and Ptarmigan, but didn't get Snow Buntings. That was a seriously tough walk, but then again I am a big soft southerner! 
Last edited:
Big Phil
Well-known member
tom mckinney said:I once did Braeriach from the Coire Cas car park via the Lairig Ghru. There were Dotterel and Ptarmigan, but didn't get Snow Buntings. That was a seriously tough walk, but then again I am a big soft southerner!
Kudos to you!. Braeriach is a mans hill. There is a corking little gorge that is a pig to clamber through in the rain and a morale sapping loss of height down into the midgie infested 'Ghru before the main ascent. Then if you overshoot the summit in the clag you plummet down a 600m near vertical drop back into the 'Ghru. Plus you get to do it all again on the way back (assuming you survived this far). Marvellous!.
I got whited out in a blizzard up there in June (!) about 7 years ago, and was up there in thick cloud after doing it from the Braemar side last June (a seriously long walk). I still haven't really seen what it looks like up there and just about the only birds I've ever seen on it are Snow Buntings at the summit!.
mountain man
Guest
Big Phil said:
That was where my mother decided to quit and head back to the car. It was an absolute killer and I'm very glad to have got that Munro in the bag! :flyaway:
Capercaillie71
Well-known member
Big Phil said:
Ah, the Chalamain gap - happy memories of 1988, I think it was. I've heard it's become much more dangerous recently, with boulder falls etc. More recently I climbed Braeriach via Glen Einich - a much nicer approach (though longer). The plateau is a magical place, especially the Wells of Dee (highest river source in Britain).
PS. Agree about Bynack More - a great hill. The hill to its east (Creag Mhor) is also fantastic - I've never felt the same degree of solitude anywhere in this country. It has the gravelly plateaus and granite tors that are typical of the higher Cairngorms, but nobody ever visits it because its not a munro and is miles from anywhere. I remember seeing Dotterel and displaying Dunlin there on a beautiful sunny summer's day.
DaveB
birding.daveb.co.uk
Accomodation and News?
Sorry to intrude!
Do any of you know of a good, reasonably priced B&B in the area.
We intend to travel up on the 24th March for the weekend and target birds are Capers, Ptarmigan, Crested Tit and Crossbills. Other birds such as raptors and Grouse would be bonus birds.
Ideally, the accomodation would be close to an area that holds one or more of these birds. Hopefully, having Crested Tit and Crossbill in the back garden (just dreaming). Brambling would also be nice.
Any ideas and advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Sorry to intrude!
Do any of you know of a good, reasonably priced B&B in the area.
We intend to travel up on the 24th March for the weekend and target birds are Capers, Ptarmigan, Crested Tit and Crossbills. Other birds such as raptors and Grouse would be bonus birds.
Ideally, the accomodation would be close to an area that holds one or more of these birds. Hopefully, having Crested Tit and Crossbill in the back garden (just dreaming). Brambling would also be nice.
Any ideas and advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Sandra (Taylor)
Well-known member
Accommodation
We've stayed in the area many times Dave. Granlea, a guest house in the village of Boat of Garten, has always been comfortable with good food although it has changed hands in the last couple of years. Try this link: oops, don't how to bring the e-mail address forward. Just put in Boat of Garten then accommodation and you will find it. The e-mail address is [email protected]. We have stayed on the chalet/lodge site in the forest - the last site before you reach the RSPB centre. Again, put in Loch.garten.lodges and that should find it. If you choose the right chalet - at the back of the site, it has a feeder on the window of the kitchen and this attracted a crested tit. Please PM me if you want more details. Not secret, but I don't want to bore others with the details which I've posted before! I can elaborate on crested tits and ptarmigan. Wonder if the caper watch will have started at the Centre?
Sandra
We've stayed in the area many times Dave. Granlea, a guest house in the village of Boat of Garten, has always been comfortable with good food although it has changed hands in the last couple of years. Try this link: oops, don't how to bring the e-mail address forward. Just put in Boat of Garten then accommodation and you will find it. The e-mail address is [email protected]. We have stayed on the chalet/lodge site in the forest - the last site before you reach the RSPB centre. Again, put in Loch.garten.lodges and that should find it. If you choose the right chalet - at the back of the site, it has a feeder on the window of the kitchen and this attracted a crested tit. Please PM me if you want more details. Not secret, but I don't want to bore others with the details which I've posted before! I can elaborate on crested tits and ptarmigan. Wonder if the caper watch will have started at the Centre?
Sandra
Carl Baggott
Well-known member
I love being up in the Cairngorms, and I have to agree that Braeriach is a man's mountain, however, my son, who was six at the time, still had the energy to ask me to play football when we returned to our tent in Glen More. We followed the route from the 'sugar bowl' carpark; through the Chalamain Gap; over the Lairig Ghru; past the Sinclair Hut, or what was left of it, and up the boulder strewn slopes to the summit. It was snowing as we reached the summit - fantastic memories!
As for the birds, I agree with others: once you get away from the crowds the specialist species can be found on all the high peaks in the area. I do, however, like Carn Ban Mor in May, as Dotterol seem to be easy to find up there. On our last visit we enjoyed good views of a pair between Sgor Gaoith and Sgoran Dubh Mor.
As for the birds, I agree with others: once you get away from the crowds the specialist species can be found on all the high peaks in the area. I do, however, like Carn Ban Mor in May, as Dotterol seem to be easy to find up there. On our last visit we enjoyed good views of a pair between Sgor Gaoith and Sgoran Dubh Mor.
JWN Andrewes
Poor Judge of Pasta.
Hoping to head up Carn Ban Mor the last week of April - too early for Dotterel?
James
James
Capercaillie71
Well-known member
JWN Andrewes said:
Probably. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if there was still extensive snow cover there at the end of the month. It will be more like winter up there than spring - make sure you are well equipped.
I was up in the hills in Deeside at the weekend and it's still very wintry with lots of snow (and probably more to come). I saw very few birds above about 400 metres, except for a few Red Grouse, Ravens and a pair of Ptarmigan. It looks like being a late spring on the hills.
JWN Andrewes
Poor Judge of Pasta.
Thanks chaps - If it looks at all iffy, weather wise I'll cry off, hit a distillery instead.
James
James
JWN Andrewes said:
Even taking the latter option, you could manage a Grouse or two.
mcapper
Registered User
Just bumping this back up the list (we leave for Scotland on Monday!)
Last minutes tips for what is around would be much appreciated. For example..
Any one seen any crossbills recently?
Any one have details of reliability of Lecht Ski Centre or Glenshee for Ptarmigan this time of year?
Current plan is to try for King Eider on the way up. Capercaille watch the next morning, then Carn Ban Mor, then the Speyside Wildlife Hide (long day!). Next morning second chance of Capercaille or head home via either Glenshee or Ruddons Point for a crack at Surf Scoter.
Three days, lots of miles, little sleep - buts hopefully lots of birds and a lifer or two!
Many thanks to everyone for any help. I shall certainly feed back on what we see.
Matthew
Last minutes tips for what is around would be much appreciated. For example..
Any one seen any crossbills recently?
Any one have details of reliability of Lecht Ski Centre or Glenshee for Ptarmigan this time of year?
Current plan is to try for King Eider on the way up. Capercaille watch the next morning, then Carn Ban Mor, then the Speyside Wildlife Hide (long day!). Next morning second chance of Capercaille or head home via either Glenshee or Ruddons Point for a crack at Surf Scoter.
Three days, lots of miles, little sleep - buts hopefully lots of birds and a lifer or two!
Many thanks to everyone for any help. I shall certainly feed back on what we see.
Matthew
Sandra (Taylor)
Well-known member
Most reliable for ptarmigan is on the steep pass to Applecross but this is quite a way from where you seem to be staying. We saw them easily up near the radio mast.
Sandra
Sandra
Julie10_10
Well-known member
I am planning to have a birdwatching week in Scotland in July and will be staying in the Abernethy area. I would like to try for some of Scotland's specialities, such as caper, cressie, crossbill and ptarmigan etc. Any advice on areas to try would be gratefully received.
I have read some the of previous messages and I wondered whether Carn Ban Mor would be worth walking for Ptarmigan.
Thanks Julie
I have read some the of previous messages and I wondered whether Carn Ban Mor would be worth walking for Ptarmigan.
Thanks Julie
Capercaillie71
Well-known member
Julie10_10 said:
Well known sites for Crested tit include the track to Loch Mallachie near Loch Garten and Loch an eilean at Rothiemurchus. I have never failed to see them at these two sites. There are probably easier sites for Ptarmigan than Carn Ban Mor - Cairngorm for example. Crossbill numbers and locations can vary greatly from year to year. July is a very difficult time of year to see capercaillie (as if there's an easy time!)- they tend to be on the ground among the heather and blaeberry and are moulting. As a result they will crouch down and hide in the vegetation rather than fly and will only flush if you happen to pass very close to one.
Your best bet with all these species is to ask around when you get there and see where they have been seen most recently.
mcapper
Registered User
Having originally started this topic, the results of my trip can be found at http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=57061
From talking to people and getting lots of helpful info on this thread (thanks everyone!), Carn Ban Mor seems like it would be a good bet for Ptarmigan with a well defined area at the top to look in. The scenery seems pretty good and you would have a good chance for Dotterel. However, it is a pretty long walk and constantly sloggging uphill. Still, if you have most of a day, it might be well worth it.
Given the time that I had, I opted for Cairngorm. If you take the path to the right of the ski lifts you can, without too much hassle get to Coire an Lochain, where we had excellent views of Ptarmigan. The scenery is still pretty good but from the accounts on this thread, not as good as Carn Ban Mor. It didn't take us long to do the walk (left at 12 and were heading back down the road by 3) and it wasn't at all strenuous (although that I suppose is a matter of opinion).
For Crested Tit, we did the track to Loch Mallachie but actually had one by the Osprey Centre Car Park. I'd agree that Loch an Eilean is a good spot as well, having seen them there on a previous trip.
Capercaille was easy - due to the dawn watch put on by the RSPB. I'd agree with Capercaille71 that you'll be very lucky to get one at that time of year though.
We had Scottish Crossbill in Grantown-on-Spey woods. I'd recommend trying Abernethy, Loch an Eilean and Grantown-on-Spey and hope to get lucky.
Good luck and enjoy your week (oh the luxury of a whole week!)
Matthew
From talking to people and getting lots of helpful info on this thread (thanks everyone!), Carn Ban Mor seems like it would be a good bet for Ptarmigan with a well defined area at the top to look in. The scenery seems pretty good and you would have a good chance for Dotterel. However, it is a pretty long walk and constantly sloggging uphill. Still, if you have most of a day, it might be well worth it.
Given the time that I had, I opted for Cairngorm. If you take the path to the right of the ski lifts you can, without too much hassle get to Coire an Lochain, where we had excellent views of Ptarmigan. The scenery is still pretty good but from the accounts on this thread, not as good as Carn Ban Mor. It didn't take us long to do the walk (left at 12 and were heading back down the road by 3) and it wasn't at all strenuous (although that I suppose is a matter of opinion).
For Crested Tit, we did the track to Loch Mallachie but actually had one by the Osprey Centre Car Park. I'd agree that Loch an Eilean is a good spot as well, having seen them there on a previous trip.
Capercaille was easy - due to the dawn watch put on by the RSPB. I'd agree with Capercaille71 that you'll be very lucky to get one at that time of year though.
We had Scottish Crossbill in Grantown-on-Spey woods. I'd recommend trying Abernethy, Loch an Eilean and Grantown-on-Spey and hope to get lucky.
Good luck and enjoy your week (oh the luxury of a whole week!)
Matthew
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