Scotland advice please 😀 (1 Viewer)

[Josh1234]

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scottish advice please... 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

I have a rapidly approaching,
3 and a half days in the Scotish highlands.

My priorities are mostly the Scottish specialities. Probably Ptarmigan being the main one as I've climbed up Cairngorm and not seen any and scoped Glen Shee and not seen any. 😪

My questions to those in the know...

Is there anywhere more reliable for Ptarmigan? Applecross?

Does this very rough, very rapidly thrown-together itinerary seem efficient regarding species/timing/distance? Or are there better places to visit? (With the exception of Applecross, those listed are all places I've visited before).

Any help appreciated but not to stress, I'm gonna have a great time regardless. 👍😀

...
Day 1 - Grantown/Garten etc (Crested Tits, Crossbill, Dippers etc).

Day 2- Tomintoul - Grouse(s) Burghead/Lossiemouth- Ducks/Divers/Gulls

Day 3- Strathdearn - Eagles/ Udale Bay- Scaup etc

(Half day) 4- Applecross- Ptarmigan

Thanks in advance! 😃

 

[KenM]

As you say… you’re gonna have a great time looking as I always have….best of luck hunting! that’s what it’s all about, winning or losing.👍

 

[YuShan]

I have climbed many of the Scottish Munroes and found Ptarmigans to be fairly common near the summits. However, if I really wanted to see one with "limited" effort (though you still need to be relatively fit!), I would still advice Mt Cairngorm and Ben Macdui, because you can easily reach quite high elevations by car and not having to climb too much on foot, so you have enough energy and time to walk around at the summits. But also because the area is basically a large sub-arctic plateau with very good chances to encounter multiple good things.

When you spend enough time roaming there, there is a good chance to see Ptarmigan. But not only that: there is also good chance to encounter Dotterel (listen to their calls and check the grassy slopes) and Snow Bunting, which can be conspicuous and confiding in breeding season. I've also seen Ring Ouzel, even on the parking lot. So it is a rewarding area where you can see multiple good species.

I have visited the area multiple times, though that is mostly ~12 or so years ago (end of June). The map drawn below is based on my visits at the time. You can walk the circular loop with the extension to Ben Macdui, but often I walked just the left hand side on the map (from parking lot to Ben Macdui and back) because that is where I have seen the most things, especially towards the Ben Macdui summit. You'll still need some luck of course.



For Crested Tits, Abernethy Forest is good. Streams in the area are also good for Dippers.

 

[jim30]

I'd echo the comments re Abernethy forest for Crested Tits. There is a lovely walk through the forest from Nethy Bridge visitor centre, and there is a great feeder station with bench inside the woods - its a peaceful place and the last time I was there in Feb, a Crested Tit was happily munching away on the feeder station. Its a truly wonderful place for a walk too!

 

[delia todd]

Hi Jim and a warm welcome to you from all the Staff and Moderators.

I'm sure you will enjoy it here and I look forward to hearing your news.

 

[kb57]

I had a few ptarmigan on the way up Lochnagar a couple of years ago - on the route from Spittal of Glenmuick up Clais Rathadan, specifically as I recall between Meikle Pap and the main Lochnagar ridge.
Very popular and busy walk though, including some idiots with uncontrolled dogs ignoring signs to keep them on leads, so best to start early if you were to try this option.

 

[Andy Lakin]

If you do go to Ben Macdui there is an obvious pull in area half way up as the road starts to climb properly where I have had both Black Grouse and Ring Ouzel while looking down into the valley. I had very brief but very close views of a pair of Black Grouse right at the side of the road as I drove up one year. The forests on your way up are worth stopping at for crossbills and cresties. From what I can gather it is a lot trickier to bag all the target species nowadays so I wouldn't be disappointed if you don't get all your targets.
Good luck
Andy

 

[Farnboro John]

If you do go to Ben Macdui there is an obvious pull in area half way up as the road starts to climb properly where I have had both Black Grouse and Ring Ouzel while looking down into the valley. I had very brief but very close views of a pair of Black Grouse right at the side of the road as I drove up one year. The forests on your way up are worth stopping at for crossbills and cresties. From what I can gather it is a lot trickier to bag all the target species nowadays so I wouldn't be disappointed if you don't get all your targets.
Good luck
Andy

I assume Andy means the lower car park (it's not just big it's massive) and I agree its a good place from which to scope for Black Grouse.

I've also found the walk from the ski centre to Stob Coire an T-Sneachda (see map at post #3 above) much easier than going up to the tops and a lot shorter than the very long hike to Ben Macdui: the corrie contains (or contained when I was last there) Ptarmigan and Snow Bunting.

John

 

[Andy Lakin]

I assume Andy means the lower car park (it's not just big it's massive) and I agree its a good place from which to scope for Black Grouse.

I've also found the walk from the ski centre to Stob Coire an T-Sneachda (see map at post #3 above) much easier than going up to the tops and a lot shorter than the very long hike to Ben Macdui: the corrie contains (or contained when I was last there) Ptarmigan and Snow Bunting.

John

I've not been for years so forgot that parking area was so big, doh! Just had a brief look at the SOC app Where to Watch Birds in Scotland which I downloaded ages ago but haven't used yet, it looks fantastic for accurate information on sites and what you may see.