[amelia1730]

Sights............................

An otter twisting and diving in a sheltered bay, wrestling with a large fish, finally holding it in it's paws and munching, before diving for another. A red squirrel sitting in the middle of the road, it's glossy coat and tufty ears shining in the sun. Golden eagle soaring into the blue sky amongst the whispy clouds. Seals bobbing up and down in a loch. My first Crossbills, Wheatear, Hooded Crow and Raven (a magnificent fellow who swooped down from some trees in front of our car). Gannets plunge diving from cliffs near Ardnamurchan Point - fantastic! House Martins and swallows whizzing round and round our log cabin endlessly catching flies and the dreaded Scottish Mighty Midge! A Grey Heron on the beach of Loch Sunart staring into the shallow water for minutes on end before stabbing in the sand and then moving on with it's slow exaggerated gait. Stunning scenery around every corner and a view from our holiday home that will be etched in my mind forever............

Sounds..............

Cuckoos everywhere! A dawn chorus like I've never heard before. The weird sounds of Black Grouse on the road from Strontian to Polloch at dusk (11.15pm!). The strange barking screech of deer when we were walking on the beach at Tioram Castle. My heart breaking as I left to come home (corny but very, very true).....................

[delia todd]

Hi Amelia I see this is your first post, so may I welcome you on behalf of the Staff and Moderators.

Your report has brought back lovely memories for me too when I stayed near Strontian for a few days. A really lovely area.

So thanks for that

D

[Brian Stone]

I see a post count of 210 and have certainly seen Amelia around on BF.

I've also spent a few outstanding holidays on Ardamurchan and can relate to all you say. Where did you stay?

[peter hill]

going to this area in 5weeks time cant wait staying 6miles from the point 2nd trip top place

[amelia1730]

Hi Brian
I think Delia must be having one of her senior moments!
We stayed at Seaview Grazings www.seaviewgrazings.co.uk a cluster of log cabins overlooking Loch Sunart just as you enter Strontian village. Can't wait to go back - Sept/Oct maybe, when the midges have gone. I have been to so many lovely places in the world and seen lots of beautiful views but I couldn't believe that around every corner there was another sight as beautiful as the last. The wildlife is wonderful too of course! Felt very inadequate as a birder and seemed to spend the whole week saying "What was that!" Was miffed that I missed the sighting of both Pine Marten and Wildcat on the site during our week there.

Have a great time Peter.

[delia todd]

I think Delia must be having one of her senior moments!

Silly me.... I thought your name was familiar - it was your Blog count I read... so definitely an SM

D

[Farnboro John]

I notice you mention Red Squirrel on Ardnamurchan, and there is some dispute over their occurrence at least on the outer peninsula: so where exactly was it?

I have just got back from a few days on Ardnamurchan (see John's Mammals 2008 in Lists) and we got Otter on Mull and Wildcat on Ardnamurchan, but missed Pine Marten mostly due to weather. Midges were bearable - just. We will be back there as soon as possible, its a wonderful area!

John

[amelia1730]

Hi John

Have only just seen your post - for some reason I didn't get notification this time - so sorry for the delayed reply.

It was roughly in the area of the B8044 junction in Acharacle. We were on our way to Tioram castle. Heading in the direction of Tioram somewhere near to that junction was a small cluster of pine trees on the right and houses on the left. That's about all I can remember. Hope that helps.

Is that an unusual place to see one?

Regards

[Farnboro John]

Originally Posted by amelia1730

Hi John

Have only just seen your post - for some reason I didn't get notification this time - so sorry for the delayed reply.

It was roughly in the area of the B8044 junction in Acharacle. We were on our way to Tioram castle. Heading in the direction of Tioram somewhere near to that junction was a small cluster of pine trees on the right and houses on the left. That's about all I can remember. Hope that helps.

Is that an unusual place to see one?

Regards

Thanks Amelia

Maybe not. It was at Glenborrodale RSPB that the controversy arose and that is further out on the peninsula, so I guess that is what makes the difference. I was surprised though: in ten years of tazzing up and down Ardnamurchan I've never seen a Red Squirrel (to give that perspective, in the same time I've seen 5 Wildcats, 6 Pine Martens and 6 Otters in the area!)

John

[amelia1730]

Just read your Scotland trip report John. That campsite at Resipole (how do you pronounce it??) is a great spot - every time we passed it we said what a great place to wake up and cook breakfast! And otters too!! Saw my one and only otter in the bay West of the Natural History Centre.

[Farnboro John]

Originally Posted by amelia1730

Just read your Scotland trip report John. That campsite at Resipole (how do you pronounce it??) is a great spot - every time we passed it we said what a great place to wake up and cook breakfast! And otters too!! Saw my one and only otter in the bay West of the Natural History Centre.

Yep, that's one of the most reliable spots for Otter. Seen them twice there, two animals both times (different years).

I pronounce it Res-i-pole but I don't know if that's right. Its got to be closer than my first public shot at Acharacle which had one of the normally polite locals laughing their head off!

John

[Dave Kennedy]

Originally Posted by Farnboro John

Thanks Amelia

Maybe not. It was at Glenborrodale RSPB that the controversy arose and that is further out on the peninsula, so I guess that is what makes the difference. I was surprised though: in ten years of tazzing up and down Ardnamurchan I've never seen a Red Squirrel (to give that perspective, in the same time I've seen 5 Wildcats, 6 Pine Martens and 6 Otters in the area!)

John

My sister-in-law lives in Salen, Ardnamurchan. She's currently aboard a yacht in France, but should be back in a couple of weeks or so. I'll ask her if she has any hard info regarding red squirrels.

I met this fine fellow on the road through Glen Tarbert on the way to Strontian on 5th June 2008.

Regards,
Dave

[amelia1730]

Hi Dave

Good photo.

My husband and I saw a mighty fine specimen such as this trotting along pretty much in the same place, as we were leaving on the long drive home on the 7th June, but his mouth was stuffed full with breakfast! Totally ignored us and anyone else who passed! I wished I'd had the camera handy..........

Regards
Amelia

[Farnboro John]

We had a big cub exploring the road near Glenborrodale on our one and only night drive this year. I was pretty chuffed because I've honestly seen more Pine Martens in Scotland than Red Foxes, then you guys grip me off with close range daylight sightings and a great pic! He really wasn't interested in you was he Dave?

John

[Dave Kennedy]

Originally Posted by Farnboro John

We had a big cub exploring the road near Glenborrodale on our one and only night drive this year. I was pretty chuffed because I've honestly seen more Pine Martens in Scotland than Red Foxes, then you guys grip me off with close range daylight sightings and a great pic! He really wasn't interested in you was he Dave?

John

Trouble seeing foxes in Scotland? Tsk, tsk. Take a look at this guy in a suburban garden just south of Glasgow, on 20th May. If ever I saw a laid-back fox...........

The Ardnamurchan lad didn't even spare us a glance. Just a few yards further on he turned a metre or so off the road, and picked up a large piece of rather old backbone - sheep, I imagine, and a probable traffic victim. For the record, he was the first fox I had seen in Ardnamurchan over a series of visits spanning at least ten years.
Regards,
Dave

[Farnboro John]

Originally Posted by Dave Kennedy

Trouble seeing foxes in Scotland? Tsk, tsk. Take a look at this guy in a suburban garden just south of Glasgow, on 20th May. If ever I saw a laid-back fox...........

The Ardnamurchan lad didn't even spare us a glance. Just a few yards further on he turned a metre or so off the road, and picked up a large piece of rather old backbone - sheep, I imagine, and a probable traffic victim. For the record, he was the first fox I had seen in Ardnamurchan over a series of visits spanning at least ten years.
Regards,
Dave

Glasgow doesn't count, its a city! You know what I mean....... obviously from your second remark.

I saw a fox in Sutherland in 1993 in June that was only just moulting a winter coat thicker than an Arctic Fox's. That was the best and longest view I had up till this year's Ardnamurchan cub.

Great pix again.

John

[wolfbirder]

End of April/early May is a good time to go as you get the last remaining summer plummaged divers.

[Allen S. Moore]

It was good to read your Memories of Ardnamurchan. I suppose that the nearest that I have been to there were some mountains SW of Glenfinnan back in early May 1983. There was a great view of the Hebrides, from what I remember. One summit was covered in snow from a blizzard that hit the area when we were walking over to Glen Pean on May Day. Referring to the second subject of this thread, foxes, there were footprints crossing the snow close to a summit of the mountain SW of Glenfinnan.
Allen

[pandachris]

This brings back fond memories of our one visit to the area in June 2005. Trip report here if anyone else is interested ...

http://www.avengerpenguins.co.uk/Scotland2005.html

If I ever get my Morocco report written I'll make a start on this year's early June excursion to Mull and Aviemore. You really can't help loving the Highlands, can you?

[amelia1730]

pandachris

I actually printed your report off to take with us and used your lists as a guide to what we might see. Was hoping to match them but failed miserably!!

amelia1730

[Dave Kennedy]

Originally Posted by amelia1730

Hi Dave

Good photo.

My husband and I saw a mighty fine specimen such as this trotting along pretty much in the same place, as we were leaving on the long drive home on the 7th June, but his mouth was stuffed full with breakfast! Totally ignored us and anyone else who passed! I wished I'd had the camera handy..........

Regards
Amelia

Hi, Amelia,
I should have picked up on this before, but I paid no attention to the date. This was just two days after my fox, so the chances are high that this was the same fox.

Best wishes,
Dave

[amelia1730]

My thoughts exactly Dave!! I know it sounds daft, but, he had the same look about him!

[Dave Kennedy]

Originally Posted by Dave Kennedy

My sister-in-law lives in Salen, Ardnamurchan. She's currently aboard a yacht in France, but should be back in a couple of weeks or so. I'll ask her if she has any hard info regarding red squirrels.

Hi, Amelia,
My sister-in-law has finally returned from France. She tells me that there are definitely red squirrels in the area - she has seen them in Salen, Acharacle, and around Loch Ailort. She has no information about how far along the peninsula they occur.

Hope this helps.
Kindest regards,
Dave Kennedy

[Farnboro John]

I shall definitely keep an eye out for them next time I am up there, then!

John

[up4life]

had one of my best holidays ever here at fascadale,ardnamurchan back in july 2008.how i long to go back again!!!!!!