Birding in Argyll (1 Viewer)

[Adam W]

I've just booked a holiday near Lochgilphead in Argyll for the first week of June. Its not a birding holiday as such(at least thats what the other half thinks) but i would like to get some birding in while i'm there, i'm particulary hoping for Golden Eagle and Black Guilemot, i'd be grateful for any advice.

Cheers Adam.

 

[JTweedie]

Would there be a chance of you getting to Mull? You're not too far from Oban where you get the ferry to Mull, if you manage to get over there then you'll have some of the best birding you'll experience in the British Isles. According to google maps, it's 36.4 miles and you can get to Oban in 52 minutes.

Black Guillemot is very likely in Oban, and possibly in Lochgilphead too.

 

[Adam W]

Would there be a chance of you getting to Mull? You're not too far from Oban where you get the ferry to Mull, if you manage to get over there then you'll have some of the best birding you'll experience in the British Isles. According to google maps, it's 36.4 miles and you can get to Oban in 52 minutes.

Black Guillemot is very likely in Oban, and possibly in Lochgilphead too.

Not sure i'll convince her to take the boat trip to Mull so was thinking more on the mainland. I'll certainly be visting Oban so should hopefully get the Black Guilemots at least.

 

[JTweedie]

That's a shame, you could easily do a day trip there and back.

Seeing Golden Eagles will probably be down to luck more than anything, the whole of Argyll is one of their strongholds, but it's a vast area.

 

[delia todd]

If you don't find Black Guillemot in the harbour at Lochgilphead, you're almost bound to see them somewhere along the coast down to Tarbert or West Loch Tarbert.

As for Goldies, the beautiful drive round Knapdale, should get you one.

This Opus article may give you some ideas too.

D

 

[JDatchens]

Not sure i'll convince her to take the boat trip to Mull so was thinking more on the mainland. .

It's only about 40 minutes in a fairly small channel on a pretty big ferry with lots of scenery to look at all the way and it doesn't even look like the sea, much less feel like it! It's well worth making a (long) day of it and going over to Iona (about 10 minutes) where you can go off and listen for Corncrakes while the rest of the family look at the Abbey.o

The drive from Craignure to Fionnphort (I may have got the spelling a wee bit wrong as I'm too lazy to look it up) is scenic and there's a good chance of seeing Golden Eagle along the way. If you're lucky!:t:

 

[Adam W]

Thanks for the help everyone:t:

 

[saluki]

Thanks for the help everyone:t:

Hi Adam,

I used to live about six miles north of Lochgilphead, I'll PM you with some info when I have a minute. In the meantime have a look here:

http://www.argyllbirdclub.org/

For the immediate area around Lochgilphead click on 'Birdwatching in Argyll', then Mid Argyll.

Closest place for black guillemots would be the harbour at Ardrishaig, a few miles from Lochgilphead, Lochgilp itself is a small, muddy estuary, better habitat for waders (though not in June!) than auks. There's a chance of eagles at Knapdale but there's now an 'eagle walk' on Kintyre - I've not visited yet but my uncle had eagles up there last year.

Cheers
Jonathan

 

[Adam W]

Thanks Jonathan.

 

[Hotspur]

Hi, Ive just returned from Islay & Kintyre and there were Black Guillemots inshore everywhere plus all three divers, Pintail, Common Scoter, Otter, Long-tailed Duck, Red-breasted Merganser. As I passed Lochgilphead I had 3 Slavs close in plus a number of Black Guilles. On Islay - a short ferry ride away Chough were easy plus Greenland White-front and Barnacle Geese seen on a walk from Port Ellen to Laphraoig. I know these will have gone but I wasnt even birding as such. Apparently Golden Eagles on Islay are easiest in the NW but scanning of the ridges from my survey boat failed to turn anything up. The whole area looks immense for Eagles but I drew a blank.

 

[Adam W]

Well at least the Black Guilemots should still be there and maybe the odd diver aswell.
It will be my 3rd time trying for Eagles in recent years, i havent succeded yet but this should be the best area i've been to for them.

 

[Seatallen]

It really is being in the right place at the right time for Golden Eagles. I looked for years before I finally hit lucky. I can second the trip to Mull from Oban- my OH gets sea sick at the very hint of water but even he was fine.

 

[Quercus]

.......and maybe the odd diver aswell.

You should see a few Black throats and Red throats on Loch Fyne, I've even seen a full breeding plumage Great Northern up there in June

 

[Adam W]

You should see a few Black throats and Red throats on Loch Fyne, I've even seen a full breeding plumage Great Northern up there in June

Thanks, fingers crossed.