Western Scotland birding (1 Viewer)

[LittleBitOfBreadNoCheese]

Repeated last spring's visit to west Lomondside yesterday where I was delighted to find the Cuckoo pair in the same trees as before. I also counted at least three separate Tree Pipits and a Whinchat plus supporting appearences by tons of Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Stonechats. A Jay flew past me into the trees then a bit later one perched on a fence post quite out in the open which was unusual for me.

 

[JTweedie]

Whereabouts did you go? Accessible without a car?

 

[LittleBitOfBreadNoCheese]

I've PM'd further details, prefer not to post exactly where the breeding Cuckoos are.

 

[YuShan]

The West Highlands are wonderful! I don't live there, but have trekked/ hiked/ camped there a lot. My best adventure was backpacking from Milngavie to Cape Wrath, by following the West Highland way to Fort William and then continuing on the the Cape Wrath Trail in April/ May 2019. This was a 543 km trek that took me just over 3 weeks. Camping in a small tent all the way.


Route map. I walked from south to north.

Cuckoos and Willow Warblers waking me up in the morning. I've seen Red Grouse (abundant), a Black Grouse lek, and Ptarmigans on a mountain pass. Red- and Black-throated Divers on the lochs sometimes. A few times I had Golden Eagle overhead. Also seen a White-tailed Eagle.


Dipper on Oykel River.


Ptarmigan when crossing a pass near Beinn Uidhe. I was surprised to seen them this low, as the pass was only 623m elevation. Perhaps they were lower because there were still patches of snow around.


Black-throated Diver at surprisingly close range on Loch a Garbh-bhaid Beag


My camp spot at Sandwood Bay on the last evening. I saw Gannets diving in the sea and a White-tailed Eagle flew past my tent!

This has got to be the best hike in all of the UK!

 

[delia todd]

OMG!!! I'd have loved to have done a walk like that when I was fitter.

Well done and thanks so much for sharing a little of your adventure YS

 

[LittleBitOfBreadNoCheese]

The West Highland Way is great but it gets very busy around Milngavie to Carbeth unless you start very early in the day. My last birding up there I passed a group of young German lads with a blaring radio on, seems to rather miss the whole point?

 

[YuShan]

The West Highland Way is great but it gets very busy around Milngavie to Carbeth unless you start very early in the day. My last birding up there I passed a group of young German lads with a blaring radio on, seems to rather miss the whole point?

Yes, the West Highland Way is crowded, so start early. On most of the Cape Wrath Trail there is almost nobody.

 

[JTweedie]

That's really good going - around 25 km a day!

As for the West Highland Way I think it gets much better once you're north of Crianlarich. It really opens up and feels wilder, although there's probably not as much wildlife around as there should be.

 

[JTweedie]

There was a Stone Curlew near Inchinnan today. I've no car so I haven't been to see it. But this was only the third record in the Clyde area.

 

[LittleBitOfBreadNoCheese]

Walked to Muirshiel Country Park this morning, it involves a long 2h* walk up a narrow lane and today it rained the entire morning. This is working farmland and there is almost no room to pass a pedestrian so if anyone attempts it prepare to do a lot of hopping into the ditch especially for the wide tractors!

On the way I was treated to Grasshopper Warblers, Reed Buntings, Stonechats, Buzzards, Meadow Pipits and Ravens where I found what must be an entire new family. At the visitor centre I only added a Great Spotted Woodpecker above the feeders at the back of the building, there were also some Swallows nesting there. There are a number of short-ish trails in the park but I only tried one on the way back as I'd done quite a bit of walking anyway.

I had hoped for more, like Wheatear and maybe even Hen Harrier but sadly not today.

*doing it in 2h requires you to not stop at the RSPB reserve on the way!

 

[JTweedie]

I've not been up there since I gave up my car, much to my regret. Perhaps a bike would be handy?

On other matters, I was just thinking that over the past few days I've seen more Swifts than I've seen for the last three years put together. I suspect it's just luck of looking up at the sky at the right moment when they pass over, but I'd like to think maybe they're having a better year than normal.

 

[JTweedie]

I don't know about everyone else, but after the sunshine of last week, it's starting to feel autumnal. Leaves are changing colour, many have already fallen. It feels cooler. And some of our birds are being more vocal, particularly the Robins. A few days ago I had a group of Blue Tits and Coal Tits twittering in the trees across from my flat, and along with the call of the Chaffinch and the Great Tit, these are the sounds of winter.

 

[Green Sandpiper]

MAde the mistake yesterday of going out with only a shirt and fleece. Discovered within an hour just how very autumnal it was.

 

[EK_Birds]

The bright sunshine that is currently beaming down is an outright lie 😂

 

[MJB]

MAde the mistake yesterday of going out with only a shirt and fleece. Discovered within an hour just how very autumnal it was.

Absolutely nae underpants...? Next time, use a doonie-bag...!
MJB

 

[JTweedie]

There was a Jay or two around RSPB Lochwinnoch recently. It's not a bird I've ever seen there although I'm sure some have been seen over the years by others there. But a great sighting nonetheless.

People down south seem to take Jays for granted, but it's not a very common bird here, certainly not in the places I visit.

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