Cheers John. Won't be a hardship looking for other species in the area:t:
Rich
Rich
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Griswold's Vacations 2018 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter ClarkWGriswold
- Start date
Paul Longland
Well-known member
Hi Rich
We went to Mull last week in April last year and despite the fact that the locals on Iona reported that there had been a few early arrival crakes we dipped totally as the majority had not arrived as we had had a couple of weeks of northerly winds. The drive down to the ferry though is well worth it if you like watching displaying hen Harriers!
We are going to give it another bash in May.
We went to Mull last week in April last year and despite the fact that the locals on Iona reported that there had been a few early arrival crakes we dipped totally as the majority had not arrived as we had had a couple of weeks of northerly winds. The drive down to the ferry though is well worth it if you like watching displaying hen Harriers!
We are going to give it another bash in May.
Paul Longland
Well-known member
Rich A quick PS.
The Pied billed Grebe is also kicking around at loch Feorlin again. It is a bit of a tricky one by all accounts but might be worth a go while you are in the area?
The Pied billed Grebe is also kicking around at loch Feorlin again. It is a bit of a tricky one by all accounts but might be worth a go while you are in the area?
Cheers Paul. I agree with you about the drive - brilliant. I'd noticed the Grebe had been seen, and am still a little undecided, but I think I'm going to concentrate on the Peninsula this time round.
Rich
Rich
Paul Longland
Well-known member
Look forward to hearing how you get on. we will be a couple of weeks behind you. Although based on Mull we will be hoping to take a day trip over to strontian and the peninsula
gordon hamlett
Well-known member
Hi Rich,
There used to be a small population of Cresties but I've not heard of any reports for about 15 years.
Corncrakes should be returning imminently so the drive/ferry to Iona is probably worth your while. Great drive anyway and plenty of time to bird from the car if you get stuck behind all the coaches <grin>. If you have the time, explore the Fidden area just to the south of the ferry. Good for migrants and a chance of CC there as well. One of my favourite areas of Mull, not least because we found a Gyr there. Not that it was accepted of course
Have a great trip,
Gordon
Hi Rich,
There used to be a small population of Cresties but I've not heard of any reports for about 15 years.
Corncrakes should be returning imminently so the drive/ferry to Iona is probably worth your while. Great drive anyway and plenty of time to bird from the car if you get stuck behind all the coaches <grin>. If you have the time, explore the Fidden area just to the south of the ferry. Good for migrants and a chance of CC there as well. One of my favourite areas of Mull, not least because we found a Gyr there. Not that it was accepted of course
Have a great trip,
Gordon
Cheers Gordon.
Hope you and Chris are well:t:
Rich
Been back a couple of weeks following our week on Mull over Easter. We were on Ardnamurchan overnight on Good Friday, and had Easter Saturday on the peninsular, but used it as a sight-seeing day rather than a wildlife spotting day, so didn't see a great deal.
Having said that the week on Mull was the best we have had in the last few years we've been going, with 3 stunning close encounters with otters, both eagle species throughout the week, good view of male Hen Harrier & a host of other supporting cast members
Whether we were lucky, or knew more about what to look for, I'm not sure.
There's a selection of photos on my Flickr page (link below), as I haven't got around to resizing them for BF as yet.
Richard
Having said that the week on Mull was the best we have had in the last few years we've been going, with 3 stunning close encounters with otters, both eagle species throughout the week, good view of male Hen Harrier & a host of other supporting cast members
Whether we were lucky, or knew more about what to look for, I'm not sure.
There's a selection of photos on my Flickr page (link below), as I haven't got around to resizing them for BF as yet.
Richard
Cheers Rich. I'll take a look at the photos later. We've had 2 White-Tailed Sea Eagles so far but no Goldies. The weather is ok but not so great for raptors.
Rich
Rich
Ardnamurchan - Day One
So we set off later than usual at 04:30. Two of our group had unfortunately had to drop out so only 3 of us were making the journey. A pretty uneventful trip up. At Loch Lomond there was bat flying over the loch which seemed a little odd. Also stopped at the Green Welly Stop in Tyndrum for a pretty decent beef and gravy roll, and then it was off to Fort William for supplies. First year tick added in the car park of The Green Welly Stop - Hooded Crow.
At Fort William the butchers which we have used in the past was closed:eek!: so all the sausages, haggis, bacon etc. had to come from Morrisons. Now it was down to the Corran Ferry. As Gordon mentioned in his book, a couple of Tysties were viewed from the ferry. Cost was £8.20 which was well worth it for the time saved. We then pulled in to let the ferry traffic past and watched a couple of Eiders and Rock Pipits. A couple of White Wagtails were also present.
From here it was off to the cottage stopping at Strontian to look for the Black Duck. No joy on the duck which didn't show all week when we looked. Wheatear, Mergansers, Mallards, Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, Curlew, Wheatear etc. were present but no Black Duck. Strontian has a small shop, hotel, café (nice fish and chips, friendly staff) and petrol station. Obviously the diesel was dearer but I think that's to be expected given it's location. It's also open on a Sunday which is useful to know.
Out of Strontian we drover over the hill to Polloch. The scenery here is truly breathtaking and passes Ariundel Oakwooh National Nature Reserve (tasty food here and friendly service). On Loch Doilean was a pair of Goosander and some trout were rising.
Strangely, we didn't see a single grouse all week despite it looking to be great habitat. Lots of Red Deer though.
So we set off later than usual at 04:30. Two of our group had unfortunately had to drop out so only 3 of us were making the journey. A pretty uneventful trip up. At Loch Lomond there was bat flying over the loch which seemed a little odd. Also stopped at the Green Welly Stop in Tyndrum for a pretty decent beef and gravy roll, and then it was off to Fort William for supplies. First year tick added in the car park of The Green Welly Stop - Hooded Crow.
At Fort William the butchers which we have used in the past was closed:eek!: so all the sausages, haggis, bacon etc. had to come from Morrisons. Now it was down to the Corran Ferry. As Gordon mentioned in his book, a couple of Tysties were viewed from the ferry. Cost was £8.20 which was well worth it for the time saved. We then pulled in to let the ferry traffic past and watched a couple of Eiders and Rock Pipits. A couple of White Wagtails were also present.
From here it was off to the cottage stopping at Strontian to look for the Black Duck. No joy on the duck which didn't show all week when we looked. Wheatear, Mergansers, Mallards, Ringed Plovers, Dunlin, Curlew, Wheatear etc. were present but no Black Duck. Strontian has a small shop, hotel, café (nice fish and chips, friendly staff) and petrol station. Obviously the diesel was dearer but I think that's to be expected given it's location. It's also open on a Sunday which is useful to know.
Out of Strontian we drover over the hill to Polloch. The scenery here is truly breathtaking and passes Ariundel Oakwooh National Nature Reserve (tasty food here and friendly service). On Loch Doilean was a pair of Goosander and some trout were rising.
Strangely, we didn't see a single grouse all week despite it looking to be great habitat. Lots of Red Deer though.
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So this is where we stayed:
http://glenhurichlodge.com/glenhurich-lodge-welcome
A superb place to stay. On arrival there seemed to be Willow Warblers singing from every tree. A pair of Buzzards drifted lazily overhead. The room sizes of the cottage was great and perfect for a couple of famillies or visiting birders. Having put some seed down Siskins quickly appeared. Regularly there were double figures throughout the week.
For car hire we went via Enterprise. £150 for the week which included 2 named drivers. Paul had taken out an excess insurance policy which covered me as well so we did not incur any extra costs. We also had a 10% (?) discount for being AA members. The car iteslf was due to be Octavia sized but we were "upgraded" to a Renault Kadjar. This was then referred to as "the Codger". To say it was painfully underpowered would be an understatement. Any overtaking of trucks/ tour buses etc. needed a VERY long straight.
Needing to stretch our legs we went for a walk down to Loch Shiel. More Siskins were around along with Herons, Teal, Mergansers etc. It was then time for a Dark Island from the Orkney Brewery and an early night.
http://glenhurichlodge.com/glenhurich-lodge-welcome
A superb place to stay. On arrival there seemed to be Willow Warblers singing from every tree. A pair of Buzzards drifted lazily overhead. The room sizes of the cottage was great and perfect for a couple of famillies or visiting birders. Having put some seed down Siskins quickly appeared. Regularly there were double figures throughout the week.
For car hire we went via Enterprise. £150 for the week which included 2 named drivers. Paul had taken out an excess insurance policy which covered me as well so we did not incur any extra costs. We also had a 10% (?) discount for being AA members. The car iteslf was due to be Octavia sized but we were "upgraded" to a Renault Kadjar. This was then referred to as "the Codger". To say it was painfully underpowered would be an understatement. Any overtaking of trucks/ tour buses etc. needed a VERY long straight.
Needing to stretch our legs we went for a walk down to Loch Shiel. More Siskins were around along with Herons, Teal, Mergansers etc. It was then time for a Dark Island from the Orkney Brewery and an early night.
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Paul Longland
Well-known member
Hi Rich
great looking digs. Seems your luck with hire cars in scotland doesn't get any better though. I had contemplated flying or taking train up and hiring a car when i got there for our upcoming trip to avoid the long shlepp but decided to stick with the Jag and the 8 hour drive rather than risk a hire nightmare. No doubt we will join you dipping the black duck again in a couple of weeks.
great looking digs. Seems your luck with hire cars in scotland doesn't get any better though. I had contemplated flying or taking train up and hiring a car when i got there for our upcoming trip to avoid the long shlepp but decided to stick with the Jag and the 8 hour drive rather than risk a hire nightmare. No doubt we will join you dipping the black duck again in a couple of weeks.
On the plus side, since coming back my Octavia has felt like the Millennium Falcon:-O
I'm certain the Black Duck will be dabbling away below the petrol station when you arrive Paul:t:
Rich
Day Two
Much less driving involved in this trip which made for a pleasant change. Today we headed down to Ardnamurchan Point Lighthouse. Kev heard a Gropper by the cottage but I'm afraid I'm really struggling to hear these now. It's lovely getting old:-O
At the top of the hill we noticed a small quarry so went for a wander. Not too much around except from some Ravens, Meadow Pipits and a pair of Greenshanks which were a little unexpected. This just goes to show I should have done a little more reading up on Ardnamurchan before heading up.
Leaving the quarry we then stopped at Garbh Eilean Hide. Fairly quiet to be honest. Mergansers and Common Seals were present though. Our actual plan was to walk up Ben Hiant, but the top was shrouded in cloud when we arrived. I should say that prior to this we stopped at the Natural History Centre and the coffee was very good. Kev reckoned the Scones were pretty good too.:eat: Every little bay on the way to Ben Hiant seemed to hold something of interest - Great Northern Divers, Red Throated Divers, Mergansers etc. Given the cloud we headed down to Kilchoan passing a few Yellowhammers on the way. A lovely little spot and we both thoroughly enjoyed watching a flock of c30 Twite flying down to a puddle to drink.
At Kilchoan itself we were treated to a superb view of an adult White-Tailed Sea Eagle drifting overhead. Plenty of Rock Pipits were also flying around.
Much less driving involved in this trip which made for a pleasant change. Today we headed down to Ardnamurchan Point Lighthouse. Kev heard a Gropper by the cottage but I'm afraid I'm really struggling to hear these now. It's lovely getting old:-O
At the top of the hill we noticed a small quarry so went for a wander. Not too much around except from some Ravens, Meadow Pipits and a pair of Greenshanks which were a little unexpected. This just goes to show I should have done a little more reading up on Ardnamurchan before heading up.
Leaving the quarry we then stopped at Garbh Eilean Hide. Fairly quiet to be honest. Mergansers and Common Seals were present though. Our actual plan was to walk up Ben Hiant, but the top was shrouded in cloud when we arrived. I should say that prior to this we stopped at the Natural History Centre and the coffee was very good. Kev reckoned the Scones were pretty good too.:eat: Every little bay on the way to Ben Hiant seemed to hold something of interest - Great Northern Divers, Red Throated Divers, Mergansers etc. Given the cloud we headed down to Kilchoan passing a few Yellowhammers on the way. A lovely little spot and we both thoroughly enjoyed watching a flock of c30 Twite flying down to a puddle to drink.
At Kilchoan itself we were treated to a superb view of an adult White-Tailed Sea Eagle drifting overhead. Plenty of Rock Pipits were also flying around.
Attachments
Day Two Contd.
From here it was down to Ardnamurchan Point and the lighthouse. Again, I can vouch for the coffee here, and the two Border Collies wandering around were simply gorgeous. This place is well worth the drive. Stunning:t:
From the Lighthouse itself there were plenty of Shag around along with year ticks in the form of Guillemots, Manx Shearwaters and a lone Fulmar.
Next it was off to Sanna. One of the reasons I wanted to get was that I'd recently read Night Falls on Ardnamurchan: The Twilight of a Crofting Family. Not a great read (IMO), but the descriptions of the location were enough to pique my interest. I can't imagine the road has changed at all since the family were crofting there, but there have been a few new homes/ holiday homes built. Easy to see why given the location. Not too much in the way of birds, though there were plenty of Wheatear and Ringed Plovers on the beach, which was short walk through the dunes with Skylarks and Stonechats on the dunes themselves. If ever I get back with the children I'll certainly be coming back here. It's one of those beaches that the West coast of Scotland seems to specialise in - beautiful white sand with crystal clear blue sea. I know Gordon mentions this particular beach in his book and he's absolutely right to. Absolutely gorgeous.
Decided it was now time to head back to the cottage. The roads on the peninsular are mostly single track with passing places so whilst distances are not great, it does take some time to get around. Not that this bothered us one bit:t: Slow was the Codger's preferred pace.
From here it was down to Ardnamurchan Point and the lighthouse. Again, I can vouch for the coffee here, and the two Border Collies wandering around were simply gorgeous. This place is well worth the drive. Stunning:t:
From the Lighthouse itself there were plenty of Shag around along with year ticks in the form of Guillemots, Manx Shearwaters and a lone Fulmar.
Next it was off to Sanna. One of the reasons I wanted to get was that I'd recently read Night Falls on Ardnamurchan: The Twilight of a Crofting Family. Not a great read (IMO), but the descriptions of the location were enough to pique my interest. I can't imagine the road has changed at all since the family were crofting there, but there have been a few new homes/ holiday homes built. Easy to see why given the location. Not too much in the way of birds, though there were plenty of Wheatear and Ringed Plovers on the beach, which was short walk through the dunes with Skylarks and Stonechats on the dunes themselves. If ever I get back with the children I'll certainly be coming back here. It's one of those beaches that the West coast of Scotland seems to specialise in - beautiful white sand with crystal clear blue sea. I know Gordon mentions this particular beach in his book and he's absolutely right to. Absolutely gorgeous.
Decided it was now time to head back to the cottage. The roads on the peninsular are mostly single track with passing places so whilst distances are not great, it does take some time to get around. Not that this bothered us one bit:t: Slow was the Codger's preferred pace.
Day Three
Today we headed down to Acharacle. On the way we stopped at the top of the hill overlooking Loch Doilean, Polloch and Loch Shiel in the distance. There was a mast here so we wandered up and then past in the hope of finding some grouse - not a sniff unfortunately but there was a quite distant herd of Red Deer. Coming back to the car Paul shouted "Buzzard...no Eagle... no Buzzard":-O He is not a birder to be fair. We all had a cracking view of and adult White-Tailed Sea Eagle being mobbed by a Raven. Both birds flying low to the ground. The Raven, itself a big bird (and my particular favourite), was tiny in comparison. Seeing them together emphasises how big the Eagle really is. I remembered the camera and grabbed three shots before they disappeared over the hill.
Today we headed down to Acharacle. On the way we stopped at the top of the hill overlooking Loch Doilean, Polloch and Loch Shiel in the distance. There was a mast here so we wandered up and then past in the hope of finding some grouse - not a sniff unfortunately but there was a quite distant herd of Red Deer. Coming back to the car Paul shouted "Buzzard...no Eagle... no Buzzard":-O He is not a birder to be fair. We all had a cracking view of and adult White-Tailed Sea Eagle being mobbed by a Raven. Both birds flying low to the ground. The Raven, itself a big bird (and my particular favourite), was tiny in comparison. Seeing them together emphasises how big the Eagle really is. I remembered the camera and grabbed three shots before they disappeared over the hill.
Attachments
Day Three Contd.
From the top of the hill we headed down to Strontian and on to Acharacle via Salen. Had a coffee and a cake in the local café (very nice) and went down to Loch Shiel. A very distant diver was beyond my ID skills. I thought BTD but may well have been wrong. A few Red Breasted Mergansers were on the loch and some Tufted Duck by the bridge.
Next we took a B Road which, looking at Gordon's book, was probably Kentra Bay. We walked out to the point and set the scope up. This was the first of only two times that we really got caught in a downpour. Must say that I hardly noticed though as in the bay was a winter plumaged Black Throated Diver, and a little further beyond the rocks, four more Black Throated Divers. Two of which in summer plumage:t: Not a bad distraction to be honest. In the bay opposite the small car park on returning was a further winter plumaged Black Throated Diver. Decided to head back to the cottage for a relaxing evening watching Ash vs The Evil Dead, before a relatively early start the following day.
From the top of the hill we headed down to Strontian and on to Acharacle via Salen. Had a coffee and a cake in the local café (very nice) and went down to Loch Shiel. A very distant diver was beyond my ID skills. I thought BTD but may well have been wrong. A few Red Breasted Mergansers were on the loch and some Tufted Duck by the bridge.
Next we took a B Road which, looking at Gordon's book, was probably Kentra Bay. We walked out to the point and set the scope up. This was the first of only two times that we really got caught in a downpour. Must say that I hardly noticed though as in the bay was a winter plumaged Black Throated Diver, and a little further beyond the rocks, four more Black Throated Divers. Two of which in summer plumage:t: Not a bad distraction to be honest. In the bay opposite the small car park on returning was a further winter plumaged Black Throated Diver. Decided to head back to the cottage for a relaxing evening watching Ash vs The Evil Dead, before a relatively early start the following day.
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