I've sorted through the photos I took and have got a selection available for the "trippers". If you want me to email them I'll need your email addresses (send me a PM).

There are 37 images that I've cropped ready, which total 5MB, so i'll probably send them in a few emails. Just let me know if you want them. I can also run off some prints but will need to go and buy some photo paper first!

Well that was blast,everyone back safe and well in gm after a whirwind bit of birding,the jury,s still out on one find,giving pete an excuse to shoot back up to scotland as soon as he can,I,ve had to take my socks off to count my 'lifers' admitedly
quite a few 'tarts ticks' but youv,e got to get them somtime.The offical trip listers are no doubt scribing as I type so you,ll have to wait for the 'report' but thanks to pete for showing us the area in such detail.

cheers geoff

Paul,best pack some sarnies and a flask just in case,i,m sure they won,t go to waste

see you int morning geoff

god i wish i knew about this site a good few months ago ive allways wanted to go up north. looking forward to reading your reports when you lucky people get back. have a pint for me.

Are we all packing butties for the journey up / afternoon or will we be stopping off for food somewhere? I assume we'll be going somewhere in th evening to eat (pub?)

Pete will be contacting all those who have replied to us as wanting to go, in the imminent future with dates and details and unless one or two drop out we now have sufficient participants, so thank for all the interest. Any changes or available places that come up in the future will be advertised here.

Any future correspondance from those already having pledged their interest should be directed to Pete Berry.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar at 18:39, 2008-06-20

Hi All,

I'm pretty interested in coming along for the weekend, sounds like a few good birds could be found. Keep me informed of dates etc when you have them, as I may be abroad sometime early next year too and don't want to double book.

Sue and I are interested. We struggle to go on Saturday trips because of committments with kids, but a weekend would make it worthwhile for us to make appropriate arrangements.

We have a decent size car that could be used.

Crested Tits and Ptarmigans won't be on our itinery for this trip nor will pub meetings I'm afraid, Pete's post is more to test the water to see who would be interested in such a trip where upon firm arrangements can be made. First come first served basis.

Now the full Scottish Breakfast square sausage etc sounds good, The Guiness is always one to tempt me, but bird wise???

Whats the chances of Crested tits and Ptarmingan always like to get these on a winter Scottish trip, and me thinks we might be to low for them.

Sounds like a good trip but need to get scillies 2008 out of the way before planning for next year.

General meeting in local pub to discuss trip sounds like a promising plan.

keep birding.

Ian and I are thinking of running a Gt. M/c Birders 3 day trip to Scotland next Feb.(2009) going on a Friday and returning Sunday,sharing cars .
Brief ITINERY.
Day One. Drive up to SW Scotland birding at various freshwater lochs,etc,also looking for Red Kite(good numbers in the area) and weather permitting trying for Golden Eagle.Finish at the Hen Harrier roost(good spot for Barn Owl and Merlin as well)
Day Two. Spend the day birding round Loch Ryan and Luce Bay,where we should see all 3 species of Diver,Long Tailed Ducks,1000+ Scaup,Slav Grebes,Brent Geese,Black Guillemots etc.etc.We should also see Pinkfeet, Greylag and hopefully the wintering flock of Whitefronts,and Whooper Swans and maybe a White Winged Gull..We should also see Twite as up to 500 winter at Loch Ryan.
Day Three. Will be spent travelling back,hopefully mopping up any species missed.We will try for Crossbill as well which can be numerous in some years.We will finish off at Mersehead RSPB reserve which has several thousand Barnacle Geese,plus good numbers of wintering duck including Pintail,Wigeon and Teal.
Cost of Hotel will be £60 for two nights B&B,two people sharing a room(with full Scottish Breakfast),plus cost of shared petrol,and evening meals(and Guinness!!).
If there are enough people interested I will fix up a firm date for the trip,and will need £20 deposit(non returnable)to reserve the hotel.Please let either Ian or myself know if you are interested,and if you are prepared to use your car.Pete Berry
ps the Hotel is called the Tigh Na Mara at Sandhead and has a web site,it is only two miles from the Hen Harrier roost,and 8 miles from Loch Ryan.

-- Edited by pete berry at 13:38, 2008-05-28