Hi, I'm looking to make a concerted effort to see in Britain all of the resident species I'm missing (Defining resident being a whole other can of worms)
Anyway I think I have the option of a 5 or 6 day trip to the highlands next year. either in mid april or the last week of may. With travel that probably means 3 or 4 days in the north of scotland/cairngorms. It can easily be multi-site if that makes sense.
The travel up and down can involve staying somewhere near the firth of forth or northumbria with limited birding opportunities there too.
I'm most interested in seeing the following species although I'm realistic about how hard some of them will be and don't expect to get all or even most of them.
Ptarmigan
Crested Tit
Capercailie
Golden eagle
White Billed diver
dotterel
Parrot/scottish crossbill (more interested in parrot than scottish)
Roseate Tern (more on the way up than in scotland)
Any scoter apart from common.
Pom or LT Skua
pine martin
I'd also be interested in seeing breeding plumage divers or grebes and an exciting supporting cast is always great. It's not like I see WTE or ospreys every day.
Anyone got info on whether april or may would be better (i know its a trade off between things like Dotterel and Divers with the different months)
I don't mind some walking but long solo hikes on bigger mountains than I'm used to probably won't be sensible. I'll have a car but not a 4by4
While I was on Mull a few years back I noticed a number of half day and day landrover trips. I'd be up for something like that but all the ones I've seen run to several hundred pounds to hire the whole van and I'll be a solo traveller. Does anyone know of any that you can book where you are part of a group rather than quoted a price for 6 people.
I'll have Birdguides and will probably want to factor in anything interesting and long staying that is around.
Anyway I think I have the option of a 5 or 6 day trip to the highlands next year. either in mid april or the last week of may. With travel that probably means 3 or 4 days in the north of scotland/cairngorms. It can easily be multi-site if that makes sense.
The travel up and down can involve staying somewhere near the firth of forth or northumbria with limited birding opportunities there too.
I'm most interested in seeing the following species although I'm realistic about how hard some of them will be and don't expect to get all or even most of them.
Ptarmigan
Crested Tit
Capercailie
Golden eagle
White Billed diver
dotterel
Parrot/scottish crossbill (more interested in parrot than scottish)
Roseate Tern (more on the way up than in scotland)
Any scoter apart from common.
Pom or LT Skua
pine martin
I'd also be interested in seeing breeding plumage divers or grebes and an exciting supporting cast is always great. It's not like I see WTE or ospreys every day.
Anyone got info on whether april or may would be better (i know its a trade off between things like Dotterel and Divers with the different months)
I don't mind some walking but long solo hikes on bigger mountains than I'm used to probably won't be sensible. I'll have a car but not a 4by4
While I was on Mull a few years back I noticed a number of half day and day landrover trips. I'd be up for something like that but all the ones I've seen run to several hundred pounds to hire the whole van and I'll be a solo traveller. Does anyone know of any that you can book where you are part of a group rather than quoted a price for 6 people.
I'll have Birdguides and will probably want to factor in anything interesting and long staying that is around.
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