We stayed in a hotel called the Holly Tree, it's a bit pricey and has a pool and sauna but we had some vouchers which reduced the cost a bit.
The Black Guillemot was not only easily visible from the shore, it was visible from the armchair in our room so as it's a lifer for me I could say it was an "armchair tick"!
Dean Macdonald said
Mon Apr 26 10:22 PM, 2010
Matt Potter wrote:
Neil McCall wrote:
Just been for a few days to Argyll area and also spent one night on Speyside to try for a few specialities, not a solid birding bash though.
Stayed at Kentallen (between Oban and Fort William) - a couple of Black Guillemot easily visible from shore also Cuckoo, Great Northern Diver and Shag.
Loch Ruthven - 5 Slavonian Grebe and 2 Red-Throated Diver
Loch Garten - obvious Osprey also Capercaillie lekking very close to osprey hide
Tulloch Moor - superb male Black Grouse seen on second visit around 09.30 a.m.
Didn't go up Cairngorm for the Ptarmigan and missed both eagles (we'd hoped to see White-Tailed on the Argyll coast rather than travel to Mull for guaranteed sightings), also according to locals Crested Tit have become scarce due to the hard winter so we missed them too.
Where did you stay at Kentallen? We were going to stay in a cottage there! Looks a niceplace though on the shores of the loch!
Matt, We stayed in a cottage in Kentallen, just off the A828. Lovely place, very quiet. We had Redstarts on the garden wall every day I've just done google maps, something i couldn't do when we went(20 yrs ago!) and there it is. White cottage with a lovely old church, full of bats, next door. I remember the dusk walks down the lane being buzzed by the bats as if it was yesterday. Cheers Dean.
Matt Potter said
Mon Apr 26 11:32 AM, 2010
Neil McCall wrote:
Just been for a few days to Argyll area and also spent one night on Speyside to try for a few specialities, not a solid birding bash though.
Stayed at Kentallen (between Oban and Fort William) - a couple of Black Guillemot easily visible from shore also Cuckoo, Great Northern Diver and Shag.
Loch Ruthven - 5 Slavonian Grebe and 2 Red-Throated Diver
Loch Garten - obvious Osprey also Capercaillie lekking very close to osprey hide
Tulloch Moor - superb male Black Grouse seen on second visit around 09.30 a.m.
Didn't go up Cairngorm for the Ptarmigan and missed both eagles (we'd hoped to see White-Tailed on the Argyll coast rather than travel to Mull for guaranteed sightings), also according to locals Crested Tit have become scarce due to the hard winter so we missed them too.
Where did you stay at Kentallen? We were going to stay in a cottage there! Looks a niceplace though on the shores of the loch!
Neil McCall said
Sun Apr 25 10:14 PM, 2010
Just been for a few days to Argyll area and also spent one night on Speyside to try for a few specialities, not a solid birding bash though.
Stayed at Kentallen (between Oban and Fort William) - a couple of Black Guillemot easily visible from shore also Cuckoo, Great Northern Diver and Shag.
Loch Ruthven - 5 Slavonian Grebe and 2 Red-Throated Diver
Loch Garten - obvious Osprey also Capercaillie lekking very close to osprey hide
Tulloch Moor - superb male Black Grouse seen on second visit around 09.30 a.m.
Didn't go up Cairngorm for the Ptarmigan and missed both eagles (we'd hoped to see White-Tailed on the Argyll coast rather than travel to Mull for guaranteed sightings), also according to locals Crested Tit have become scarce due to the hard winter so we missed them too.
Paul A Brown said
Thu Feb 11 9:21 AM, 2010
Hi matt my girlfriend as just got back from Fort William where she had ptarmigan between Beinn na Caillich and Mam na Gualainn, and at Aonach Mor. She had a single golden eagle at Kinlochleven and three golden eagles together at Strotian, Pollach, Loch Doilet. Hope this is of use to you Paul.
Matt Potter said
Wed Feb 10 11:04 PM, 2010
Anne Wilkinson wrote:
I dont know much about the birding in the area you are visiting but if you can get to the Cairngorms you can easily see most of your targets. Ptarmigan can usually be seen from the Ski Centre Car Park. Scan the slopes and if you dont see them, take the mountain railway up to the top cafe and scan from the balcony.
There is a Black Grouse lek on Tulloch Mhor just above Loch Garten. Follow the signs to the RSPB Osprey Centre then take the next two RH turns. This will bring you out onto open moorland and you will see a screen erected by the RSPB where you can view the lek. But of course you need to be there early in the morning.
Crested tits breed in the Abernethy Forest but at this time of year they are best seen on garden feeders at places like Nethy Bridge, Grantown on Spey and even in the grounds of hotels such as the Hilton at Coylumbridge!
I have seen Golden eagle in the Cairngorms - but only once. Everyone goes up the Findhorn Valley to get them but it is very hit and miss. According to my guide book to Birding in the Scottish Highlands, there is a good chance of seeing them along the ridges of Glen Roy and above Loch Arkaig. And if you are climbing - well there's a chance anywhere.
Good luck. I'll be up in the Highlands myself in March.
Hi Anne,
Thats fantastic, thanks so much. I have noted the Black Grouse site on my OS map. We will probably have a wander round the forest at Loch Garten for Crested Tit.
You are the second person to mention the ski car parks for Ptarmigan and I have also noted Findhorn Valley, which again it has been recommended.
Thanks once again!
Matt
Anne Wilkinson said
Tue Feb 9 8:56 PM, 2010
I dont know much about the birding in the area you are visiting but if you can get to the Cairngorms you can easily see most of your targets. Ptarmigan can usually be seen from the Ski Centre Car Park. Scan the slopes and if you dont see them, take the mountain railway up to the top cafe and scan from the balcony.
There is a Black Grouse lek on Tulloch Mhor just above Loch Garten. Follow the signs to the RSPB Osprey Centre then take the next two RH turns. This will bring you out onto open moorland and you will see a screen erected by the RSPB where you can view the lek. But of course you need to be there early in the morning.
Crested tits breed in the Abernethy Forest but at this time of year they are best seen on garden feeders at places like Nethy Bridge, Grantown on Spey and even in the grounds of hotels such as the Hilton at Coylumbridge!
I have seen Golden eagle in the Cairngorms - but only once. Everyone goes up the Findhorn Valley to get them but it is very hit and miss. According to my guide book to Birding in the Scottish Highlands, there is a good chance of seeing them along the ridges of Glen Roy and above Loch Arkaig. And if you are climbing - well there's a chance anywhere.
Good luck. I'll be up in the Highlands myself in March.
Matt Potter said
Tue Feb 9 4:21 PM, 2010
I am planning on a trip this weekend in Scotland to go climbing with Mrs P, but we may we go and do a bit of birding should time permit.
Any of you any good, reliable sites for Golden Eagle, Crested Tit, Ptarmigan, Black Grouse etc?
We will be in the Glen Coe/Fort William area so Aviemore isnt out of the question!
Ta in advance!
Matt
The Black Guillemot was not only easily visible from the shore, it was visible from the armchair in our room so as it's a lifer for me I could say it was an "armchair tick"!
Matt,
We stayed in a cottage in Kentallen, just off the A828. Lovely place, very quiet. We had Redstarts on the garden wall every day
Cheers Dean.
Where did you stay at Kentallen? We were going to stay in a cottage there! Looks a niceplace though on the shores of the loch!
Stayed at Kentallen (between Oban and Fort William) - a couple of Black Guillemot easily visible from shore also Cuckoo, Great Northern Diver and Shag.
Loch Ruthven - 5 Slavonian Grebe and 2 Red-Throated Diver
Loch Garten - obvious Osprey also Capercaillie lekking very close to osprey hide
Tulloch Moor - superb male Black Grouse seen on second visit around 09.30 a.m.
Didn't go up Cairngorm for the Ptarmigan and missed both eagles (we'd hoped to see White-Tailed on the Argyll coast rather than travel to Mull for guaranteed sightings), also according to locals Crested Tit have become scarce due to the hard winter so we missed them too.
Hi Anne,
Thats fantastic, thanks so much. I have noted the Black Grouse site on my OS map. We will probably have a wander round the forest at Loch Garten for Crested Tit.
You are the second person to mention the ski car parks for Ptarmigan and I have also noted Findhorn Valley, which again it has been recommended.
Thanks once again!
Matt
There is a Black Grouse lek on Tulloch Mhor just above Loch Garten. Follow the signs to the RSPB Osprey Centre then take the next two RH turns. This will bring you out onto open moorland and you will see a screen erected by the RSPB where you can view the lek. But of course you need to be there early in the morning.
Crested tits breed in the Abernethy Forest but at this time of year they are best seen on garden feeders at places like Nethy Bridge, Grantown on Spey and even in the grounds of hotels such as the Hilton at Coylumbridge!
I have seen Golden eagle in the Cairngorms - but only once. Everyone goes up the Findhorn Valley to get them but it is very hit and miss. According to my guide book to Birding in the Scottish Highlands, there is a good chance of seeing them along the ridges of Glen Roy and above Loch Arkaig. And if you are climbing - well there's a chance anywhere.
Good luck. I'll be up in the Highlands myself in March.