Trip to Mull & Iona, Scotland. 28^th to 31^st May 2019

28^th May

   A trip to see the eagles on Mull was arranged back in March with accommodation, ferries & White Tailed Eagle trip booked and with the weather not looking too bad we set off. A 5-30am start with Bob K driving, Kevin C, Steve B and myself on board with a very full boot headed up the M6. At Tebay services I was unfortunate enough to put vinegar in my coffee, mistaking the container for milk, it was a costly error. Passing through Glasgow, onto Dumbarton and stopping for a comfort break near Loch Lomond the weather was quite nice. As we neared Oban we turned off the main road and headed for Glasdrum N.R. to search for a very rare butterfly, the Chequered Skipper. The sun began to shine as we searched the area and it wasn`t long before Steve B found the first of many nice looking Chequered Skipper`s. A real joy to watch and photograph these dainty butterfly`s, also present were lots of Small Pearl Bordered Fritillarys. We all had a really nice hour trying to get some good pictures of the butterfly`s, including Kevin C with his new equipment! We pressed onto Oban and enjoyed fish & chips near the harbour. Our sailing time was 17-10hrs so we had to be on the quayside by 16-40hrs, we made this time easily and were told that the ship was sailing early? After a trip to the quayside office to talk to a most unapologetic lady, who told us that Everybody had been informed about the early sailing apart from the people stood in the queue alongside us, we were placed on the 19-40hrs sailing to Craignure, Mull. We all adjourned to the local Weatherspoons hostelry and enjoyed a few beers! We boarded the ferry and in 50 minutes we were on Mull heading for Duart Castle to possibly see Marsh Fritillary. The 2 hour delay getting to Mull cost us any chance of seeing the butterfly`s though. A Goshawk and Hen Harrier made up for the disappointment though. We finally reached our tented accommodation at 21-15hrs as the cold wind blew under the tent sides, so this is Glamping then. After an abortive attempt to light some form of fire we all went to bed. A trip to the toilet at 04-00hrs by myself and catching a glimpse of a freezing Steve B with a blanket around himself whilst stood up, stamping his feet to get warm just reminded of how cold it was!

29^th May

   The early morning comments about the overnight conditions cannot be printed here, but after a good breakfast of bacon & eggs and numerous cups of tea, we headed along to Ulva to meet our boatman Martin for the White Tailed Eagle trip. The driving conditions on Mull are a real joy with nearly all the roads being single track one`s so, a more leisurely approach to driving has to be made. Our boatman, Martin (originally from Burnley) has been organising these trips out for quite a few years now and understands the eagles requirements very well. As we headed out along the loch he pointed out 2 White Tailed Eagle`s, then threw a fish into the sea and within 20 seconds the eagle came and gathered it. The photo opportunitys had to be seized as it happened with the bird only 15 yards from our boat. It was fantastic! We headed out towards the open sea and saw lots of seabirds, seals and a couple of Otters. Another pair of White Tailed Eagle`s flew over us on the way back and more close encounters were had, quite stunning really! Back on dry land we headed for what Steve B described as A trip over the tops. It was typical Scottish highland with Ben More the centrepiece, we saw quite a few fellow birders around waiting for a sighting of Golden Eagle`s, we managed a distant bird, but later we were treated to two birds near their eyrie, now that was a real treat! We also managed to see 2 male & 1 female Hen Harrier along with a beautifully marked Whinchat that sat and posed for us. A cracking day`s birding finished off with a nice meal and a couple of pints in The Craignure Arms We all seemed to sleep better by all wearing woolly hats!!

 

 

 

30th May

   A reasonable night`s sleep was followed by more bacon & eggs and numerous cups of tea, before heading out to catch the ferry to Iona at Fionnphort, which is situated at the extreme west of Mull. The drive from Craignure can take over an hour but we managed to stop at a few locations to enjoy Black Throated Diver, Siskin, and Hen Harriers on the way. The weather had turned a little wet by now which might have dampened our spirits as we wanted to see the Iris bed loving Corncrakes that breed on Iona. We first tried to see/ hear the Corncrakes behind the Fire Station on Iona as the rain lashed down without any success. Next stop was on the seaward side of the world famous Abbey on Iona (£9 to look around) guess what? Iris beds have been removed so, after searching around us, we noticed a sign telling us that this is the area where the Corncrakes breed. We began to explore this damp under/over foot area (complete with a few Iris beds) and were soon rewarded with at least 2 calling birds. Unfortunately we didn`t see any but the rain was getting to us all, so we adjourned to a welcoming café for some sustenance & tea. As the rain began to ease on the way back via Glen More we again called into admire the pair of eagles still present, what cracking bird Golden Eagles are. A family party of 5 Ravens were also noted wheeling about in their perfect habitat. We called into Grasspoint on our way back to Craignure and managed to see a Cuckoo perched on the wires above our car, talk about being close. At the end of the road a White Tailed Eagle was seen and on the way back a fairly young stag Red Deer gave brilliant views in the failing light. After checking the weather forecast for Friday we all decided that our best course of action was to head for home, we had all had enough of this Glamourous Camping for the time being. The trip to the pub for food and beer had us all in good spirits after a cracking break in Mull, seeing both eagle species native to Britain. Between us we managed to get the fire going by various Boy Scout methods back in the tent and Steve B decide to dry his socks out by placing them on top of the fire stove, luckily he managed to reach them as they began to smoulder causing the smoke alarm to wake us all up, talk about hot footing it!

31^st May

  After our standard breakfast the rain could be heard belting it down, tidying and packing our gear into the car began in earnest and we were soon away to catch the ferry back to Oban at 08-10hrs, thankfully no delays or re-scheduling taking place. We followed the reverse route towards home calling for a couple of breaks and it was still raining, only stopping around Lancaster as we hit the regular Friday afternoon traffic. We reached home around 18-00hrs. I must thank Bob K for doing all the driving and the rest of the crew for gelling as well as we did in what can only be described as poor accommodation.

Dave O.

  

Checking the weather forecast we decided that going to the east of the Cairngorms was the best idea. So we headed to the Glenshee Ski Centre, on the highest A-road in the U.K. Here conditions were bright & dry but pretty windy.

Stopping on the road before the ski centre and scanning the slopes we managed to add Ring Ouzel to the holiday list in the shape of a singing male. We took the 'easy' option of the ski lift, even though the operators were unsure whether to open it in the strong winds. Despite this we got to the top of Cairnwell and started to explore. It was soon apparent that conditions were deteriorating, the winds (later we were told it was gusting to 70mph!!) nearly sweeping us off our feet. Not a nice feeling given we were close to drops down the slopes of over 930m! But we ploughed on and first heard and then saw a Ptarmigan, our target species. Mountain Hares were also seen. It was soon after that, that a ranger appeared to tell us that they were evacuating the tops due to the conditions being extremely dangerous. We, being the fittest, were last to be taken down the long track to the ski base in a fab all-terrain buggy. That was an experience in itself!

After a complimentary cuppa in the base station cafe we headed off, agreeing that this was a great adventure and one of the highlights of the holiday so far.

Today was a much wetter day up here, drizzle, heavy rain and dull, but most of the time we managed to bird in the drier spells. We started at Lochindorb where we caught up with all the usual speclies there, including Black-throated Diver, Red Grouse, Curlew, Common Sandpiper and even a breeding Snipe stood on a post! Next we headed up to Nairn and its harbour. We joined a few birders, two of whom were acquaintances from back in Cheshire, amazing! Offshore only Eider and Common Scoters were noted, so we moved on. 

Next stop was the Black Isle, to the Udale Bay area. At the hide several late Pink-footed Geese were seen as well as Red-breasted Mergansers, Ringed Plovers, Dunlin and Curlew. Moving to the other side of the bay we watched lots of Eiders offshore but most surprising find was a Red Kite on a fence post eating a dead rabbit.

Unfortunately the best find of the day has to be withheld as it is a rare breeding species, but details will be passed on to the county recorder.

A trip up to Spey Bay today with lots of good birds seen. An Osprey came in to fish on 3 separate occasions spooking everything in sight! Also seen were lots of Arctic Terns, a Sandwich Tern, Eider, Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser, Guillemot, Red-throated Diver, Kittiwake, Common Scoter and Gannet. Inland a few Yellowhammers and lots of Linnets.

A couple of days on the shore of Loch Tay produced good views of Goshawk and Black-throated Diver. My first Chiffchaff of the year and a few flocks of Fieldfare passing through. Red Kites around Stirling on the journey.

Final full day of the holiday started with a trip to Loch Ruthven RSPB where we saw 5 Slavonian Grebes, a brood of 5 Tufted Ducks and 2 Swifts. Later after a bit of dragonflying we headed down the Findhorn Valley. On the way we saw 3 Red Kites and then within 3 minutes of arriving at the end Carys picked up an adult Golden Eagle which I managed to get in the scope. Several Buzzards flew over, flushing a pair of Peregrines from their nesting crag. A Kestrel and later a Sparrowhawk completed a real raptor-fest today! Not a bad end to another great holiday up in The Highlands.

Not a lot on the bird front today. A Tree Pipit at Dell Woods, Nethy Bridge and Common Crossbills at Uath Lochans being the pick of the bunch. The Crossbills were heard, not seen, so Common was the safe ID option but as always up here they could have been something more interesting!

At the end of Loch Fleet at the mound is an osprey nest, and osprey regularly feed in the lochan on the west side of the A9 there. We saw 4 different birds there on the 1st June this year.
We always visit Loch Fleet when we go up there, dolphins often come into the loch at high tide as well.
Good luck with the rest of your visit

Out again mainly doing insect things but a great supporting cast of birds! Headed up onto Meall Liath near Dalwhinnie through Caochan Woods. On the way up saw a hulk of a female Goshawk, what a cracker! Other sightings included a couple of Common Crossbills, lots of Siskins, a Goldcrest, Grey Wagtails and lots of Meadow Pipits. Late afternoon we popped in to a well known Osprey site on Loch Insh where we saw 3 Ospreys near the nest, adult and young.

I presume you will be nipping back for the Great White Egret at Newchurch Common. Unlucky timing. .

Cheers, John

Up in The Highlands again on holiday, later than usual but a welcome break all the same. Our first half day, yesterday Thursday, was a drizzly afternoon staying local. First port of call was Loch Garten RSPB where we saw an Osprey even though they failed this year. But our main target took a wee bit longer. We scanned the distant trees for ages & Carys eventually found a Crested Tit picking at lichen. Also seen here were a nice Spotted Flycatcher, lots of Siskins, a Treecreeper and a family of Goldeneye. A walk along the Mallachie Trail nearby added a Common Sandpiper sitting 10 feet up in a tree calling!! Not a bad start and hopefully signs of things to come!

Day 6 of the Scottish holiday saw us visit the West coast as we always do on one day. We started at Loch Maree but with the bad news that for the second year running no White-tailed Eagles had bred on the loch. In the past they even had a webcam on them so it was a well publicised location. But the info in the visitor centre at Benn Eighe was that a pair were at Sheildaig to the South. So we headed down there & sure enough after a short wait a magnificent White-tailed Eagle flew in with prey, giving fabulous views. Next we drove up to Red Point near Gairloch. The winds were so ferocious on this exposed headland that Great Skuas were flying over the car! Then on up to Gruinard Bay which held at least 5 summer plumaged Great Northern Divers & a Red-throated Diver too, as well as Black Guillemots and Ravens. Finally up to Ullapool for fish & chips by the harbour where after an extensive search I found the long-staying juvenile Glaucous Gull. A great day as ever way out west!

The rest of my holiday was spent in Kingussie, with time spent exploring the RSPB's Insh Marshes reserve, nearby Ruthven Barracks (the ruin itself is a wonderful place to stand and survey the habitat below it) and the various habitats on the opposite side of Kingussie. An afternoon, two full days and a couple of hours on the morning of the day I travelled home spent watching the wildlife. Highlights:

Insh Marshes / Ruthven Barracks

Willow warbler*
Sedge warbler
Spotted flycatcher
Long-tailed tit
Coal tit
Pied wagtail
Meadow pipit
Tree pipit
Reed bunting
Starling pair nesting in an old great spotted woodpecker nest
House martin
Sand martin
Swallow
Jackdaw everywhere
Great spotted woodpecker
Swift
Lapwing (including a couple of pairs with young)
Redshank
Snipe (drumming)
Oystercatcher (including a couple incubating, with one seen turning her eggs)
Curlew
Teal
Mallard (with young)
Greylag geese (with a few goslings, too)
Moorhen
Grey heron
Red-legged partridge
Buzzard
Osprey

With the usual woodland birds (song thrush, goldfinch, blue tit, blackbird, etc) seen around the woodlands.

As well as lapwing with young, others were behaving in a very agitated manner; one individual, in the space of a couple of minutes, dive-bombed a jackdaw, a redshank, another lapwing, and then, repeatedly, an incubating oystercatcher. It bombed, she ducked, it bombed, she ducked. She won.

A fantastic reserve, this, that's extremely quiet (I think on the first morning there I had the whole place to myself), which a great range of habitat (marsh, old birch / rowan woodland, upland heath, meadow, river) to explore.


Kingussie

Around the village itself and walking around it for a few miles on the side opposite to the reserve, you have lots of different habitats, including the fast flowing river Spey, pine woodlands, birch woodlands, meadows and moorland, which yielded a good variety of different species:

Goldcrest
Willow warbler*
Chiffchaff (two heard in a pine wood, the only ones I encountered in Scotland)
Coal tit
Long-tailed tit
Siskin
Lesser redpoll
Goldfinch
Chaffinch
Pied wagtail
Grey wagtail
Meadow pipit
Dipper
Robin newly fledged
Wheatear
House martin
Sand martin
Swallow
Mistle thrush
Great spotted woodpecker
Cuckoo (one being mobbed by meadow pipits)
Swift
Common sandpiper
Red grouse
Buzzard

I'm also fairly sure I heard crested tits; the sound I heard was not one I'd encountered before, and matched the description given in my book. I listened when I got home, and while I *think* it was the same sound, I'd heard so many sounds since then that I can't say with 100% certainty.

*Willow warbler, along with chaffinch, was by far and away the most encountered small passerine (with the possible exception of the hirundine species); I even saw one singing away on the open moors. Contrasted interestingly with the almost complete lack of chiffchaffs; also odd to be somewhere where I didn't see a single magpie.

A wonderful few days up here; was extremely sad to leave. I've never seen an osprey before, and another highlight was watching a mixed group of siskin, redpoll and goldfinch feeding at the top of a pine; the detritus from the cones was snowing down, and something must have spooked them, because eventually around 25 birds all simultaneously exploded out in all directions; was fabulous to see. Also plenty of other wildlife seen, which will be mentioned in the appropriate thread.

I thoroughly recommend a trip up here.

Apparently nearly all of the White-tailed Eagles recently introduced to the east coast have gradually made their way over to the west coast, where the earlier introductions were made. So you are more likely to see them in the central highlands.

Always good to see them, wherever they are - much more impressive in real life than on film where you never get a true impression of their size.

Had an hour to kill before a plane from Inverness this week so drove over the Farr Road to Findhorn and then to the head of the valley. Highlight was a possible Golden Eagle being mobbed by a pair of very pale buzzards above the hill to the north of the car park - as there were up to four birds in the air and at around 2000ft up I can't claim a definite eagle - [good job I turned round every so often!] Loads of Red Grouse from the Farr Road and only a few weeks before all the migrants will be back too!

Also Iceland and Glaucous Gulls still in Thurso rivermouth.

-- Edited by Pete Welch on Friday 2nd of March 2012 10:22:43 PM

03-11/06/2011 Scottish Highlands and Aviemore/Loch Garten

Had a great week in the Scottish Highlands on a family holiday where we stayed in a little hamlet near Ullapool overlooking Loch Broom. We were lucky with the weather which was mostly clear and we managed to get lots of walking done in the mountains and around lochs.
I really recommend a short trip on a boat to Handa Island for pretty much every kind of seabird you can think of in Britain. Also Ben Eighe and Inverpolly nature reseves are great for eagle and diver sightings (all species recorded in the same reserve although white tailed sightings are rarer than at, say, Mull).
Sadly I was a bit too late for Loch Garten 'Caper Watch' which ends in May and didnt see Capercaillies. Also didn't spot Ptarmigan and Crested Tit despite my best efforts.

Osprey - 3 different sightings - Loch Garten Osprey centre, Inverpolly nature reserve and one flew over the car near Pitlochry well south of the highlands on the main road to Perth from Aviemore.

Red Throated Diver - both near Aviemore on small lochs and on the loch just south of Stac Pollaidh mountain which I climbed !
Black Throated Diver - 2 sightings Loch Maree and Loch Broom
Great Northern Diver - on the sea at Lochinver bay
Cuckoo - Lots around and relatively easy to locate and see, lots more heard - we had one on a post just outside our cottage where we stayed near Ullapool.
Wheatears - everywhere! and Chaffinches were literally everywhere up there - easily the most common bird.
Greenshank - Loch Maree
Hooded Crows - as common as carrion crows in manchester.
Red Breasted Merganser
Peregrine

Handa Island:
Great Skuas
5 Arctic Skuas
Black Guillemot
Raven
Eiders

Loch Maree (Ben Eighe nature reserve):
Golden Eagle over the mountains and loch
Black Throated Diver on loch
Red Grouse

A great holiday but wish I had a bit more time to devote to birding. Must go back soon and must say I am jealous of Joe's thread below.

Cheers

Rob

Ian McKerchar wrote:

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Hi Joe, nice trip.

Any Crossbill up there could more feasibly be any one of three species and without good views or vocalisations then identification down to species level is practically impossible. With regards the hovering Buzzard, it is a common trait of Common Buzzard too so a hovering Buzzard doesn't necessarily indicate a Rough-legged I'm afraid

---

Yea, I agree crossbills are a bit of tricky one up there! Didn't realise buzzards did the kestrel flapping thing. Probably is normal buzzard then, it looked like one, it was only the behavior that got me
cheers,
Joe

Late report from last week. Just back from the Highlands having stayed with birding relatives and got out all days with phenomenal very un-scottish weather.

Flew up on friday night, and set alarms for 0500 on saturday morning to go looking for black grouse cocks lekking with the RSPB at Corrimony near glen affric. We went on a minibus up the track there, and stopped about 10 feet from the lek getting better views than i'm ever likely to get again ! Its incredible that the RSPB take you actually this close, i'd recommend it to anyone heading up that way! Other sprcies were meadow pipits, wheatears and "crossbills" (I can't tell the difference, but i'm guessing Scottish just because of location ). Headed for breakfast in Cannich, and then headed up the glen to climb some hills. Got cracking views of Ptarmigans () just beginning to get their summer plumage, with two females and a male, one giving absolutely astonishing views! Also of note was the liberal spreading of short eared owl pellets, all of which were found well above 3000ft which I always thought a bit high up for them. Anyway, in the dark driving home got woodcock and tawny owl.

Next day hit the mountains again but in the cairngorms, juat up glen feshie. Got red grouse on the path, and then on the tops stunning summer plumage golden plovers() as well as wheatear and mipits on the decent and a flypast ring ouzel. At the carpark got a gorgeous female merlin! on the way home, stopped at a private site and got slavonian grebes in summer plumage. Slav so close i could've touched it!

Headed out to Glen Strathconon to look for eagles on monday, but driving rain and wind kept the eagles down, but did get both goosander and RB Merganser. Went onto Tollie Red Kite feeding station and got fantastic views of both buzzard and kite feeding off the table. Two birds were tagged, both last year's birds from the black isle, which is good news as the kites are persecuted heavily up there. Driving back through inverness got RB merganser again, this time much closer in.

Went out again to the cairngorms in search of capercaillie (0400 in morning!), osprey, peregrine and the slavonian grebe (again!). Got capers, even the female! Limited sucess with the ospreys, saw them whilst eating our breakfast (not many places you can say that about!), but when we headed out to the fish farm it favours (rothimurchus) but we couldn't see it catch anything, although it did go over a few times. There were some really obliging sand martins too. Also tried for cresties at an old nesting hole, but no such luck, they obviously wern't nesting there this year. Had more slav grebe as well as willow warbler, chiffchaff and blackcap.

A trip to glenfindhorn for more ouzels, some eagles, dippers and other moorland birds. Got fleeting views of dippers and of ouzel, the wind was so strong they were deep in the cracks in boulders! Still, some grouse landed right in front of me and so got cracking views. They're much tamer up in the highlands, can't thing why... Finally, on the way back along the glen there was a "raven" about 30ft above us. it flew against a hill, and it was clear that it was pretty big for a raven, and also had a golden head! Definitely an eagle, a superb view !

Spent a final day down on the coast looking for waders, gulls and terns. Went north to the cromarty firth, and got Sandwich terns, LBB Gull, GBB Gull, Shag, yellowhammer, redshank and best of all 16 purple sandpiper, some in summer moult . Had to sadly head home on the plane after this, but in the airport saw a buzzard hovering like a kestrel would, possibly a rough legged buzzard? Anyway, a good end to a fantastic trip! In total got 74 species, including 1 lifer for me.

Tony Coatsworth wrote:

---

Not sure how you miss WT Eagle - they are as big as a barn door :)

I went a few years ago and one flew the length of the island in about 3 wing-beats. It was at least twice as big as a Greylag Goose which it put up.

---

They are indeed as big as a barn door but when there are several big hills in front of you and the bird its quite easy! It was in the Findhorn valley that we missed it, we only found out after driving up to the furthest car park up the Findhorn valley were several people had seen it. Unluckily for us it had been hidden by the hillsides from our spot!

-- Edited by Simon Johnson at 22:37, 2007-05-20

The (only?) way to do them is by call - get hold of The Sound Approach for an understanding of how it all works. But if you really want to get Scottish and Parrot on your list then take some recording equipment with you, get the calls recorded and then run it through one of the many sonogram programmes available for free on the internet. I've been dabbling with recording and sonograms for a while and it's pretty straightforward once you get your head around the basics. The Ron Summers paper in BB from January 2002 was pretty enlightening - 74% of Crossbils in Abernethy turned out to be Parrot and only 8% Scottish - arrgghh!

Not sure how you miss WT Eagle - they are as big as a barn door :)

I went a few years ago and one flew the length of the island in about 3 wing-beats. It was at least twice as big as a Greylag Goose which it put up.

great trip simon up in the cairngorms for 2 days in a couple of weeks birding so hope to get the scottish specialities then..

cheers
jason

Thankfully managed to get good scope views. Think they breed in the wood at the B&B we stay in, had up to 5 birds with the male even singing! Have seen Parrot crossbill once in the same wood years ago and that was when there were alot more crossbills about (that was scoped too). Haven't heard any outcome of the dna testing that they were on about so its not been scrubbed of the list just yet!