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Need advice please... (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Dean Shaw
- Start date
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
Does Arran have anything you won't get more easily on Mull?
What about signing up for a bird watching tour? Relatively cheap and the guides are very knowledgable.
Rich
Rich
We stayed in Kilchoan which is a short ferry ride to Tobermory.
Here is a report which might be of help
Bird Report
Kilchoan Ardnamurchan Scotland
Spent a pleasant week in Kilchoan a very small, peaceful village at western end of the Ardnamurchan Peninsula in Scotland opposite Mull. Completely unspoilt area with wonderful views of the Inner Hebrides. Great birdwatching opportunities as evidenced by the number of birdwatchers seen. Most likely they had come for the Sea Eagles, Golden Eagles and Sea watching from Ardnamurchan Lighthouse the most westerly point of mainland Britain. The Tourist Information at Kilchoan is a useful starting point. All interesting sightings are posted each day. Sea Eagles and Golden Eagles were reported most days within a 6 mile radius of Kilchoan. A word of warning.The road to Kilchoan from the Corran ferry is narrow and winding. If you travel this far you would be better staying at Kilchoan. All best birdwatching is then within the 6 mile radius.We only traveled 50 miles all week from Kilchoan.
Accommodation
Stayed in the Kennels a comfortable, warm cottage with fantastic views to Mull and out to sea. Gannets, Shearwaters, Auks, Skuas, Hen Harrier etc. all seen from the front porch.
Kilchoan
A throwback to a forgotten era. A variety of habitats from surrounding hills, the Sound of Mull, Marshland, rough pasture, woodland and rocky beaches. Birds were in evidence throughout the area all week at any time of day. Almost 60 birds were seen within the environs of the village alone.
The Mingary pier
Look out for any fishing boats. Attracted a following of Great Skuas, Gannets, Greater Black Backed Gulls, Herring Gulls and Lesser Black Backed Gulls. Manx Shearwaters most days. Blackhead Gull, Common Gull, Shag[common], Cormorant, Red Breasted Merganser, Mallard, Eider, Red Throated Diver, Razorbill, Guillemot and Shelduck seen.
Pier Road
Our cottage overlooked the fields and a lot of the birds were seen from the front window. Hen Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, Kestrel, Buzzard, Common Snipe[common], Rock Pippit[very common], Meadow Pippit, Wheatear, Twite, Linnet, Lapwing[common], Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, Spotted Flycatcher, Robin, Song Thrush[very common], Blackbird, Wren, Wheatear, Starling, House Sparrow, Skylark, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldfinch[very common], Greylag Goose, Common Sandpiper, Cuckoo, Hooded Crow, Carrion Crow, Raven, Wren, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Feral Pigeon.
Main Road to 'Camping Site Road'
A great area to see low flying Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins in great numbers. Spotted Flycatcher, Bullfinch, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Gray Wagtail, Shelduck, Mallard.
Camping Site Road
Well worth the trudge up the hill to the end of the road. A Corncrake was heard on the Saturday we arrived [next to the camp site]. The Cuckoo was very visible and audible most days. Yellowhammers were seen and heard along the road. Also Spotted Flycatcher, Linnet, Willow Warbler, Reed Bunting, Goldfinch.
Just Outside Kilchoan
A Golden Eagle was seen above the hills to the North West of Kilchoan. Stonechats common on the edges of the village.
Seawatching
The prime site was clearly the Lighthouse which has a brilliant viewing platform. Great, Arctic and Pomeranian Skuas were seen on the Tuesday. A passing place for 100's if not 1000's of Manx Shearwaters either flying past or resting on the water close in. All common Auks and Gannets can be seen here too. Fascadale Point is good too. Lots of Kittiwakes, Manx Shearwaters, Auks and Gannets passing. Black Guillemot seen as well.
Other Birds
Curlew and Redpoll near Kilmory
Here is a report which might be of help
Bird Report
Kilchoan Ardnamurchan Scotland
Spent a pleasant week in Kilchoan a very small, peaceful village at western end of the Ardnamurchan Peninsula in Scotland opposite Mull. Completely unspoilt area with wonderful views of the Inner Hebrides. Great birdwatching opportunities as evidenced by the number of birdwatchers seen. Most likely they had come for the Sea Eagles, Golden Eagles and Sea watching from Ardnamurchan Lighthouse the most westerly point of mainland Britain. The Tourist Information at Kilchoan is a useful starting point. All interesting sightings are posted each day. Sea Eagles and Golden Eagles were reported most days within a 6 mile radius of Kilchoan. A word of warning.The road to Kilchoan from the Corran ferry is narrow and winding. If you travel this far you would be better staying at Kilchoan. All best birdwatching is then within the 6 mile radius.We only traveled 50 miles all week from Kilchoan.
Accommodation
Stayed in the Kennels a comfortable, warm cottage with fantastic views to Mull and out to sea. Gannets, Shearwaters, Auks, Skuas, Hen Harrier etc. all seen from the front porch.
Kilchoan
A throwback to a forgotten era. A variety of habitats from surrounding hills, the Sound of Mull, Marshland, rough pasture, woodland and rocky beaches. Birds were in evidence throughout the area all week at any time of day. Almost 60 birds were seen within the environs of the village alone.
The Mingary pier
Look out for any fishing boats. Attracted a following of Great Skuas, Gannets, Greater Black Backed Gulls, Herring Gulls and Lesser Black Backed Gulls. Manx Shearwaters most days. Blackhead Gull, Common Gull, Shag[common], Cormorant, Red Breasted Merganser, Mallard, Eider, Red Throated Diver, Razorbill, Guillemot and Shelduck seen.
Pier Road
Our cottage overlooked the fields and a lot of the birds were seen from the front window. Hen Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, Kestrel, Buzzard, Common Snipe[common], Rock Pippit[very common], Meadow Pippit, Wheatear, Twite, Linnet, Lapwing[common], Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Blackcap, Spotted Flycatcher, Robin, Song Thrush[very common], Blackbird, Wren, Wheatear, Starling, House Sparrow, Skylark, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldfinch[very common], Greylag Goose, Common Sandpiper, Cuckoo, Hooded Crow, Carrion Crow, Raven, Wren, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Feral Pigeon.
Main Road to 'Camping Site Road'
A great area to see low flying Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins in great numbers. Spotted Flycatcher, Bullfinch, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Common Sandpiper, Gray Wagtail, Shelduck, Mallard.
Camping Site Road
Well worth the trudge up the hill to the end of the road. A Corncrake was heard on the Saturday we arrived [next to the camp site]. The Cuckoo was very visible and audible most days. Yellowhammers were seen and heard along the road. Also Spotted Flycatcher, Linnet, Willow Warbler, Reed Bunting, Goldfinch.
Just Outside Kilchoan
A Golden Eagle was seen above the hills to the North West of Kilchoan. Stonechats common on the edges of the village.
Seawatching
The prime site was clearly the Lighthouse which has a brilliant viewing platform. Great, Arctic and Pomeranian Skuas were seen on the Tuesday. A passing place for 100's if not 1000's of Manx Shearwaters either flying past or resting on the water close in. All common Auks and Gannets can be seen here too. Fascadale Point is good too. Lots of Kittiwakes, Manx Shearwaters, Auks and Gannets passing. Black Guillemot seen as well.
Other Birds
Curlew and Redpoll near Kilmory
Just found some that cover some islands around Mull, thanks for the tip.
Thanks for this.
These sites are useful Dean:
http://www.mullbirds.com
http://www.skye-birds.com
And these books are a great read/help:
Gordon Hamletts Best Birdwatching Sites: Scottish Highlands. Go for the 2nd edition with more coverage of the islands
Bird Watching on Mull and Iona: A Pocket Guide with Maps
I'll be on Skye in May so will post anything of interest.
Have a great trip.
Rich
http://www.mullbirds.com
http://www.skye-birds.com
And these books are a great read/help:
Gordon Hamletts Best Birdwatching Sites: Scottish Highlands. Go for the 2nd edition with more coverage of the islands
Bird Watching on Mull and Iona: A Pocket Guide with Maps
I'll be on Skye in May so will post anything of interest.
Have a great trip.
Rich
Superb, hope you have a great time, thanks Rich.
Hi Dean,
If the birding isn't everything, I'd recommend spending a day on Arran as it's a fantastic island. As Nutcracker suggests, you may not see any species that you can't find elsewhere, but the scenery is stunning and you can drive round the island in about two and a half hours. You'd have a good chance of Black Guillemot and Golden Eagle as well as Red Deer and Red Squirrel and the roads are fairly quiet. Red-throated Divers are numerous.
www.arranbirding.co.uk is a useful website.
Dave W
If the birding isn't everything, I'd recommend spending a day on Arran as it's a fantastic island. As Nutcracker suggests, you may not see any species that you can't find elsewhere, but the scenery is stunning and you can drive round the island in about two and a half hours. You'd have a good chance of Black Guillemot and Golden Eagle as well as Red Deer and Red Squirrel and the roads are fairly quiet. Red-throated Divers are numerous.
www.arranbirding.co.uk is a useful website.
Dave W
I would like to see Arran, thanks for the advice.
The ferries can produce some great wildlife viewing.
