[schiffornis]

Hi all, I'm going to be staying at the Glen Nevis camp site nr Ben Nevis for a week in Mid June and was wondering if anyone could help me out with some good birding locations. Not really sure what is possible in than area having never been that way before. Would like to connect with some of the following (if possible):

Crested Tit
White-tailed and Golden Eagle
Osprey
Wood Warbler/Twite
Red-necked/Slav Grebe
Scot/Parrot Crossbill
Ptarmigan
Capper
Quail/Corncrake
Dotterel
Hen Harrier
Shearwaters/Petrels

Please feel free to drop me a PM if it is deemed necessary.

Kind regards

Andy (BSc (Hons) Ornithology)

[Ben Nevis]

Sorry to let you down but most of the species you list,shall not be found in the Fort William/Ben Nevis area.You need to go to Strathspey/Mid-Upper Deeside or the west coast of Scotland for most on your list.

[Apodemus]

As Ben Nevis says, you will be out of the area for some of those. However:

Crested tit - some in Glen Garry
Osprey - all over, just a case of being lucky
Ptarmigan - last I saw were on Druim Fada (Glen Loy), also on Carn Mor Dearg
Eagles x 2 - I'll PM you
Wood warblers - best place is the Sunart oakwoods

Definitely no capers or corncrake. Small Black grouse populations though.

Good birding locations - all over really, but Loch Sunart, Loch Garry, Leanachan bog, Loch Shiel are all good. Look for tysties under the pier on the far side if you go across the Corran ferry. And always, always, look for otters. If you are into butterflies, you're hitting the flight time for chequered skippers, which are showing nicely just now, and we're starting to get some pearl bordered friltillaries flying too. Maybe a touch early for mountain ringlet and scotch argus, but it has been warm so who knows?

[Gramayr]

Last time I went to Fort William we stayed at the Loch Lochie caravan park just down the Mallaig road. The only time we saw a Goldie was on the way home as we pulled out of the park - it was flying in the mists near to the top of Ben Nevis. Typical eh?