Trip report – west and north Scotland
13th April 2009
Dates: 7th to 13th April 2009
Destination: west and north Scotland
Purpose of trip:
The purpose of my trip was my regular annual visit to the region to see bird and mammal species that are not found on a regular basis in Essex or East Anglia.
Primary target areas:
The primary target areas for wildlife watching were:
Perthshire: Glen Quoich and Loch of the Lowes SWT reserve
Speyside: Rothiemurchus, Loch an Eilean, Loch Morlich, Loch Insh, Loch Mallachie, Loch Garten RSPB reserve
Black Isle: Udale Bay RSPB reserve, Jemimaville
Moray Firth: Chanonry Point
Wester Ross: Dundonnell, Little Loch Broom, Gruinard Bay
Getting there and getting around:
I used my own car for the whole trip.
On the nights of 10th and 13th April, I stayed at Travelodges in Dunfermline and Perth.
On the nights of 11th and 12th April, I stayed at a bed and breakfast in the village of Boat of Garten on Speyside.
Weather:
The weather was bright and sunny for the whole of my trip but very cold and frosty in the mornings.
Highlights:
The following summarises the notable wildlife species seen on my trip, many of the birds being first records for 2009.
Travelling north: 16 Red Kites between Beaconsfield and Oxford on the M40 …. motorway birdwatching at its best!
Vane Farm RSPB reserve, Fife: still large numbers of wintering Pink-footed Geese
Letham Pools, Fife: Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper …. but unfortunately no sign of the long-staying Green-winged Teal
Dunkeld to Amulree: Roe Deer
Glen Quoich: Black Grouse, Brown Hare
Loch of the Lowes SWT reserve: Osprey, Goldeneye, Red Squirrel
Lochindorb: Black-throated Diver, Red Grouse
Dulnain Bridge: Dipper, Grey Wagtail
Rothiemurchus (Speyside Wildlife trip): Pine Marten, Wood Mouse
Loch Garten RSPB reserve: Osprey, Capercaillie, Goldeneye, Red Squirrel
Spey valley near Dulnanin Bridge: Pink-footed Geese
Loch Morlich: Red-throated Diver
Loch Insh: Osprey, Goldeneye, Common Sandpiper
Udale Bay RSPB reserve: still large numbers of wintering Pink-footed Geese
Jemimaville: still groups of wintering Slavonian Grebe, Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Eider and Red-breasted Merganser
Tore to Maryburgh: Red Kite
Chanonry Point: Bottle-nosed Dolphin, Red-throated Diver, Sandwich Tern
Dundonnell: Golden Eagle, Common Buzzard, Red Deer
Little Loch Broom: Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver …. but unfortunately no sign of the reported White-billed Diver
Gruinard Bay: Great Northern Diver
Disappointments:
The main disappointment was failing to track down a single Crested Tit in the Caledonian pine forests of Speyside despite extensive searching at several locations.
Destination: west and north Scotland
Purpose of trip:
The purpose of my trip was my regular annual visit to the region to see bird and mammal species that are not found on a regular basis in Essex or East Anglia.
Primary target areas:
The primary target areas for wildlife watching were:
Perthshire: Glen Quoich and Loch of the Lowes SWT reserve
Speyside: Rothiemurchus, Loch an Eilean, Loch Morlich, Loch Insh, Loch Mallachie, Loch Garten RSPB reserve
Black Isle: Udale Bay RSPB reserve, Jemimaville
Moray Firth: Chanonry Point
Wester Ross: Dundonnell, Little Loch Broom, Gruinard Bay
Getting there and getting around:
I used my own car for the whole trip.
On the nights of 10th and 13th April, I stayed at Travelodges in Dunfermline and Perth.
On the nights of 11th and 12th April, I stayed at a bed and breakfast in the village of Boat of Garten on Speyside.
Weather:
The weather was bright and sunny for the whole of my trip but very cold and frosty in the mornings.
Highlights:
The following summarises the notable wildlife species seen on my trip, many of the birds being first records for 2009.
Travelling north: 16 Red Kites between Beaconsfield and Oxford on the M40 …. motorway birdwatching at its best!
Vane Farm RSPB reserve, Fife: still large numbers of wintering Pink-footed Geese
Letham Pools, Fife: Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper …. but unfortunately no sign of the long-staying Green-winged Teal
Dunkeld to Amulree: Roe Deer
Glen Quoich: Black Grouse, Brown Hare
Loch of the Lowes SWT reserve: Osprey, Goldeneye, Red Squirrel
Lochindorb: Black-throated Diver, Red Grouse
Dulnain Bridge: Dipper, Grey Wagtail
Rothiemurchus (Speyside Wildlife trip): Pine Marten, Wood Mouse
Loch Garten RSPB reserve: Osprey, Capercaillie, Goldeneye, Red Squirrel
Spey valley near Dulnanin Bridge: Pink-footed Geese
Loch Morlich: Red-throated Diver
Loch Insh: Osprey, Goldeneye, Common Sandpiper
Udale Bay RSPB reserve: still large numbers of wintering Pink-footed Geese
Jemimaville: still groups of wintering Slavonian Grebe, Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Eider and Red-breasted Merganser
Tore to Maryburgh: Red Kite
Chanonry Point: Bottle-nosed Dolphin, Red-throated Diver, Sandwich Tern
Dundonnell: Golden Eagle, Common Buzzard, Red Deer
Little Loch Broom: Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver …. but unfortunately no sign of the reported White-billed Diver
Gruinard Bay: Great Northern Diver
Disappointments:
The main disappointment was failing to track down a single Crested Tit in the Caledonian pine forests of Speyside despite extensive searching at several locations.