Trip report - north and west Scotland
24th June 2014
Dates: 16th to 23rd June 2014
Destination: north and west 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.
In addition, weather permitting, I hoped to be able to take some photos of northern landscapes.
Primary target areas:
The primary target areas for wildlife watching and/or landscape photography were:
Perthshire: Loch of the Lowes SWT reserve
Speyside: Insh Marshes RSPB reserve, Loch Insh, Loch Garten/Loch Mallachie RSPB reserve, Uath Lochans, Forest Lodge, Dulnain Bridge
Inverness area (south): Findhorn valley, Loch Ruthven
Sutherland and Wester Ross: Loch Fleet, Loch Stack, Loch Laxford, Kyle of Durness, Balnakeil Bay, Tarbet, Scourie Bay, Kylesku, Point of Stoer, Loch Assynt, Little Loch Broom, Gairloch-Melvaig, Loch Maree, Shieldaig-Applecross-Toscaig
Skye
Ardnamurchan peninsula and Morven
Getting there and getting around:
I travelled up to Glasgow by Virgin Trains on 16th June 2014 and returned on 23rd June 2014 having obtained an extremely good value advance return ticket for £42. As usual, I booked my return ticket via redspottedhanky.com and by using Tesco clubcard vouchers on this website, my ticket cost me nothing .... a bargain!
In Glasgow, I hired a car from the afternoon of 16th June 2014 to the afternoon of 23rd June 2014 from Alamo for £76.79 reduced by 10% cashback to £69.11.
On the nights of 16th and 17th June 2014, I stayed at Travelodges in Glenrothes and Inverness.
On the night of 18th June 2014, I again stayed at Hillside bed and breakfast in Durness.
On the night of 19th June 2014, I stayed at The Auld Alliance bed and breakfast in Gairloch.
On the nights of 20th and 21st June 2014, I stayed at The Skye Picture House bed and breakfast at Ard Dorch just outside Broadford.
On the night of 22nd June 2014, I again stayed at Heatherbank Guesthouse just outside Strontian.
This is a summary of my itinerary and route:
16th June 2014: Glasgow – Glenrothes
17th June 2014: Glenrothes – Loch of the Lowes – Insh Marshes – Uath Lochans – Loch Insh – Milton Loch – Loch Garten/Loch Mallachie – Forest Lodge – Dulnain Bridge – Findhorn valley – Loch Ruthven – Inverness
18th June 2014: Inverness – Loch Garten/Loch Mallachie – Loch Ruthven – Loch Fleet – Loch Stack – Loch Laxford – Kyle of Durness – Balnakeil Bay – Durness
19th June 2014: Durness – Balnakeil Bay – Loch Laxford – Tarbet – Scourie Bay – Kylesku – Stoer peninsula and Point of Stoer – Loch Assynt – Little Loch Broom – Gairloch
20th June 2014: Gairloch – Melvaig – Loch Maree – Shieldaig – Applecross – Toscaig – Broadford Bay – Ard Dorch
21st June 2014: Ard Dorch – Loch Airnort – Loch Sligachan – Loch Portree – The Storr – Staffin Bay – Duntulm – Uig – Skeabost – Trumpan – Loch Dunvegan – Neist Point – Loch Bracadale – Drynoch – Glen Brittle and Loch Brittle – Loch Sligachan – Broadford – Loch Slapin – Elgol – Broadford – Ard Dorch
22nd June 2014: Ard Dorch – Broadford – Sleat peninsula (Tarskavaig loop road) – Broadford – Kyle of Lochalsh – Invergarry – Spean Bridge – Loch Arkaig – Fort William – Corran ferry – Strontian – Lochaline - Strontian
23rd June 2014: Strontian – Glen Coe – Tyndrum – Crianlarich – Loch Lomond - Glasgow
Weather:
After the first 2 days which were very hot and sunny, the weather during the rest of my trip was the usual typical Scottish mix of sun, cloud, drizzle and rain.
Highlights:
During my trip, I was able to record 105 bird species and 11 mammal species. Mammals included Pine Marten (1 at Strontian), Otter (1 at Milton Loch in Boat of Garten and 2 together at Ord on Skye) and Red Squirrel (1 at Loch of the Lowes and 1 at Loch Garten).
Trip list - north Scotland
With regard to the birds, I was able to add 13 species to my 2014 list.
The major disappointment, like my 2013 trip, was failing to see a Golden Eagle or White-tailed Eagle despite some patient waiting and watching at a number of locations.
The following summarises the notable wildlife species seen on my trip:
Loch of the Lowes: Osprey, Cuckoo, Goosander, Great Crested Grebe, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Common Redstart, Willow Warbler, Swallow, Sand Martin, Bullfinch, Siskin, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Red Squirrel, Red Deer (no sign of Beaver which is now being reported regularly from this site)
Insh Marshes: Common Snipe, Lapwing, Curlew, Heron, Common Buzzard, Swallow, Roe Deer
Uath Lochans: Goldeneye, Tree Pipit, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bank Vole
Loch Insh: Osprey
Milton Loch: Heron, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Willow Warbler, Otter
Loch Garten-Loch Mallachie: Goldeneye, Common Sandpiper, Common Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, Willow Warbler, Treecreeper, Siskin, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Jay, Red Squirrel (no Crested Tit this year)
Loch Garten-Nethy Bridge: Crested Tit
Forest Lodge: Common Redstart, Willow Warbler, Siskin (no Crested Tit this year)
Dulnain Bridge: Common Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail
Findhorn valley: Dipper, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Common Tern, Kestrel, Swallow, House Martin, Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Warbler, Wheatear, Red Deer, Brown Hare, Rabbit
Farr road: Red Grouse
Loch Ruthven: Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Common Sandpiper, Heron, Little Grebe, Swallow, Sand Martin, Cuckoo, Willow Warbler, Reed Bunting, Roe Deer (no Slavonian Grebe this year)
Tore near Inverness: Red Kite
Loch Fleet: Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, Shelduck, Teal, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Heron, Swallow, Common Seal, Stoat
Lock Stack: Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver, Common Sandpiper
Loch Laxford: Greenshank, Oystercatcher, Curlew, House Martin, Stonechat, Hooded Crow
Kyle of Durness: Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, Oystercatcher, Rock Dove, Common Buzzard, Wheatear
Durness: Gannet, Fulmer, Shag, Sandwich Tern, Rock Dove
Balnakeil Bay: Red-throated Diver, Gannet, Razorbill, Sandwich Tern, Rock Dove, Swallow, Sand Martin, Linnet (no sign of reported Citrine Wagtail)
Tarbet: Great Skua, Arctic Skua, Great Northern Diver, Red-throated Diver, Black Guillemot, Shag, Kittiwake, Fulmar, Eider, Common Sandpiper, Rock Dove, Twite, Wheatear, Raven
Scourie Bay: Oystercatcher, Wheatear, Common Buzzard
Kylesku: Shag, Arctic/Common Tern, Oystercatcher, Common Seal, Red Deer
Point of Stoer: Gannet, Great Skua, Shag, Guillemot, Kittiwake, Fulmar, Oystercatcher, Wheatear, Rock Pipit
Loch Assynt: Osprey, Goosander
Dundonnell: Raven, Red Deer
Little Loch Broom: Common Sandpiper, Red-breasted Merganser, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Common Redshank
Gairloch: Twite, Wheatear
Gairloch-Melvaig: Common Sandpiper, Rock Dove, Twite, Wheatear, Cuckoo, Swallow, House Martin, Common Buzzard, Hooded Crow, Stonechat
Loch Maree (Slattadale): Black-throated Diver, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Sandpiper, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Swallow, Grey Wagtail
Shieldaig-Applecross: Black-throated Diver, Black Guillemot, Eider, Cormorant, Heron, Oystercatcher, Swallow, Wheatear, Stonechat, Rock Pipit, Common Buzzard, Hooded Crow
Applecross-Toscaig: Common Seal
Broadford Bay: Great Skua, Red-breasted Merganser, Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Heron, Cormorant, Sand Martin
Ard Dorch: Rock Dove
Loch Ainort: Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, Shag, Oystercatcher, Heron, Stonechat, Hooded Crow, Atlantic Grey Seal
Staffin Bay: Great Skua, Rock Dove, Oystercatcher, Wheatear, Swallow
Flodigarry: Wheatear, Stonechat
Kilmuir: Raven, Linnet, Skylark, Chiffchaff, Wheatear, Hooded Crow, Common Buzzard
Linicro: Wheatear, Common Buzzard
Trumpan: Corncrake (3 calling males), Gannet, Shag, Skylark, Wheatear, Linnet, Raven
Trumpan-Stein: Rock Dove
Loch Dunvegan: Arctic/Common Tern, Shag, Heron, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Greylag Goose, Raven, Common Seal
Neist Point: Black Guillemot, Guillemot, Razorbill, Gannet, Fulmar, Wheatear, Rock Pipit
Loch Bracadale: Arctic/Common Tern, Gannet, Cormorant, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Heron, Raven, Common Buzzard
Loch Brittle: Red-throated Diver, Black Guillemot, Gannet, Shag, Common Sandpiper, Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, Cuckoo, Wheatear, Sand Martin, Lesser Redpoll
Glenbrittle-Carbost: Cuckoo
Broadford-Elgol: Common Sandpiper, Heron, Greenshank, Rock Dove, Cuckoo, Wheatear, Swallow, Common Buzzard, Raven
Broadford: Grasshopper Warbler
Sleat peninsula (Tarskavaig loop road): Rock Dove, Shag, Heron, Common Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Cuckoo, Wheatear, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Swallow, Stonechat, Whinchat, Lesser Redpoll, Common Buzzard, Raven, Hooded Crow, Otter
Loch Arkaig: Red-breasted Merganser, Common Sandpiper, Willow Warbler, Reed Bunting
Strontian: Pine Marten
Strontian-Lochaline: Gannet, Red-breasted Merganser, Arctic/Common Tern, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Heron, Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Wheatear, Stonechat, Siskin, Common Buzzard, Hooded Crow, Red Deer
Corran ferry: Black Guillemot, Eider
Destination: north and west 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.
In addition, weather permitting, I hoped to be able to take some photos of northern landscapes.
Primary target areas:
The primary target areas for wildlife watching and/or landscape photography were:
Perthshire: Loch of the Lowes SWT reserve
Speyside: Insh Marshes RSPB reserve, Loch Insh, Loch Garten/Loch Mallachie RSPB reserve, Uath Lochans, Forest Lodge, Dulnain Bridge
Inverness area (south): Findhorn valley, Loch Ruthven
Sutherland and Wester Ross: Loch Fleet, Loch Stack, Loch Laxford, Kyle of Durness, Balnakeil Bay, Tarbet, Scourie Bay, Kylesku, Point of Stoer, Loch Assynt, Little Loch Broom, Gairloch-Melvaig, Loch Maree, Shieldaig-Applecross-Toscaig
Skye
Ardnamurchan peninsula and Morven
Getting there and getting around:
I travelled up to Glasgow by Virgin Trains on 16th June 2014 and returned on 23rd June 2014 having obtained an extremely good value advance return ticket for £42. As usual, I booked my return ticket via redspottedhanky.com and by using Tesco clubcard vouchers on this website, my ticket cost me nothing .... a bargain!
In Glasgow, I hired a car from the afternoon of 16th June 2014 to the afternoon of 23rd June 2014 from Alamo for £76.79 reduced by 10% cashback to £69.11.
On the nights of 16th and 17th June 2014, I stayed at Travelodges in Glenrothes and Inverness.
On the night of 18th June 2014, I again stayed at Hillside bed and breakfast in Durness.
On the night of 19th June 2014, I stayed at The Auld Alliance bed and breakfast in Gairloch.
On the nights of 20th and 21st June 2014, I stayed at The Skye Picture House bed and breakfast at Ard Dorch just outside Broadford.
On the night of 22nd June 2014, I again stayed at Heatherbank Guesthouse just outside Strontian.
This is a summary of my itinerary and route:
16th June 2014: Glasgow – Glenrothes
17th June 2014: Glenrothes – Loch of the Lowes – Insh Marshes – Uath Lochans – Loch Insh – Milton Loch – Loch Garten/Loch Mallachie – Forest Lodge – Dulnain Bridge – Findhorn valley – Loch Ruthven – Inverness
18th June 2014: Inverness – Loch Garten/Loch Mallachie – Loch Ruthven – Loch Fleet – Loch Stack – Loch Laxford – Kyle of Durness – Balnakeil Bay – Durness
19th June 2014: Durness – Balnakeil Bay – Loch Laxford – Tarbet – Scourie Bay – Kylesku – Stoer peninsula and Point of Stoer – Loch Assynt – Little Loch Broom – Gairloch
20th June 2014: Gairloch – Melvaig – Loch Maree – Shieldaig – Applecross – Toscaig – Broadford Bay – Ard Dorch
21st June 2014: Ard Dorch – Loch Airnort – Loch Sligachan – Loch Portree – The Storr – Staffin Bay – Duntulm – Uig – Skeabost – Trumpan – Loch Dunvegan – Neist Point – Loch Bracadale – Drynoch – Glen Brittle and Loch Brittle – Loch Sligachan – Broadford – Loch Slapin – Elgol – Broadford – Ard Dorch
22nd June 2014: Ard Dorch – Broadford – Sleat peninsula (Tarskavaig loop road) – Broadford – Kyle of Lochalsh – Invergarry – Spean Bridge – Loch Arkaig – Fort William – Corran ferry – Strontian – Lochaline - Strontian
23rd June 2014: Strontian – Glen Coe – Tyndrum – Crianlarich – Loch Lomond - Glasgow
Weather:
After the first 2 days which were very hot and sunny, the weather during the rest of my trip was the usual typical Scottish mix of sun, cloud, drizzle and rain.
Highlights:
During my trip, I was able to record 105 bird species and 11 mammal species. Mammals included Pine Marten (1 at Strontian), Otter (1 at Milton Loch in Boat of Garten and 2 together at Ord on Skye) and Red Squirrel (1 at Loch of the Lowes and 1 at Loch Garten).
Trip list - north Scotland
With regard to the birds, I was able to add 13 species to my 2014 list.
The major disappointment, like my 2013 trip, was failing to see a Golden Eagle or White-tailed Eagle despite some patient waiting and watching at a number of locations.
The following summarises the notable wildlife species seen on my trip:
Loch of the Lowes: Osprey, Cuckoo, Goosander, Great Crested Grebe, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Common Redstart, Willow Warbler, Swallow, Sand Martin, Bullfinch, Siskin, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Red Squirrel, Red Deer (no sign of Beaver which is now being reported regularly from this site)
Insh Marshes: Common Snipe, Lapwing, Curlew, Heron, Common Buzzard, Swallow, Roe Deer
Uath Lochans: Goldeneye, Tree Pipit, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bank Vole
Loch Insh: Osprey
Milton Loch: Heron, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Willow Warbler, Otter
Loch Garten-Loch Mallachie: Goldeneye, Common Sandpiper, Common Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, Willow Warbler, Treecreeper, Siskin, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Jay, Red Squirrel (no Crested Tit this year)
Loch Garten-Nethy Bridge: Crested Tit
Forest Lodge: Common Redstart, Willow Warbler, Siskin (no Crested Tit this year)
Dulnain Bridge: Common Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail
Findhorn valley: Dipper, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Common Tern, Kestrel, Swallow, House Martin, Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Warbler, Wheatear, Red Deer, Brown Hare, Rabbit
Farr road: Red Grouse
Loch Ruthven: Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Common Sandpiper, Heron, Little Grebe, Swallow, Sand Martin, Cuckoo, Willow Warbler, Reed Bunting, Roe Deer (no Slavonian Grebe this year)
Tore near Inverness: Red Kite
Loch Fleet: Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, Shelduck, Teal, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Heron, Swallow, Common Seal, Stoat
Lock Stack: Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver, Common Sandpiper
Loch Laxford: Greenshank, Oystercatcher, Curlew, House Martin, Stonechat, Hooded Crow
Kyle of Durness: Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, Oystercatcher, Rock Dove, Common Buzzard, Wheatear
Durness: Gannet, Fulmer, Shag, Sandwich Tern, Rock Dove
Balnakeil Bay: Red-throated Diver, Gannet, Razorbill, Sandwich Tern, Rock Dove, Swallow, Sand Martin, Linnet (no sign of reported Citrine Wagtail)
Tarbet: Great Skua, Arctic Skua, Great Northern Diver, Red-throated Diver, Black Guillemot, Shag, Kittiwake, Fulmar, Eider, Common Sandpiper, Rock Dove, Twite, Wheatear, Raven
Scourie Bay: Oystercatcher, Wheatear, Common Buzzard
Kylesku: Shag, Arctic/Common Tern, Oystercatcher, Common Seal, Red Deer
Point of Stoer: Gannet, Great Skua, Shag, Guillemot, Kittiwake, Fulmar, Oystercatcher, Wheatear, Rock Pipit
Loch Assynt: Osprey, Goosander
Dundonnell: Raven, Red Deer
Little Loch Broom: Common Sandpiper, Red-breasted Merganser, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Common Redshank
Gairloch: Twite, Wheatear
Gairloch-Melvaig: Common Sandpiper, Rock Dove, Twite, Wheatear, Cuckoo, Swallow, House Martin, Common Buzzard, Hooded Crow, Stonechat
Loch Maree (Slattadale): Black-throated Diver, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Sandpiper, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Swallow, Grey Wagtail
Shieldaig-Applecross: Black-throated Diver, Black Guillemot, Eider, Cormorant, Heron, Oystercatcher, Swallow, Wheatear, Stonechat, Rock Pipit, Common Buzzard, Hooded Crow
Applecross-Toscaig: Common Seal
Broadford Bay: Great Skua, Red-breasted Merganser, Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Heron, Cormorant, Sand Martin
Ard Dorch: Rock Dove
Loch Ainort: Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, Shag, Oystercatcher, Heron, Stonechat, Hooded Crow, Atlantic Grey Seal
Staffin Bay: Great Skua, Rock Dove, Oystercatcher, Wheatear, Swallow
Flodigarry: Wheatear, Stonechat
Kilmuir: Raven, Linnet, Skylark, Chiffchaff, Wheatear, Hooded Crow, Common Buzzard
Linicro: Wheatear, Common Buzzard
Trumpan: Corncrake (3 calling males), Gannet, Shag, Skylark, Wheatear, Linnet, Raven
Trumpan-Stein: Rock Dove
Loch Dunvegan: Arctic/Common Tern, Shag, Heron, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Greylag Goose, Raven, Common Seal
Neist Point: Black Guillemot, Guillemot, Razorbill, Gannet, Fulmar, Wheatear, Rock Pipit
Loch Bracadale: Arctic/Common Tern, Gannet, Cormorant, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Heron, Raven, Common Buzzard
Loch Brittle: Red-throated Diver, Black Guillemot, Gannet, Shag, Common Sandpiper, Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, Cuckoo, Wheatear, Sand Martin, Lesser Redpoll
Glenbrittle-Carbost: Cuckoo
Broadford-Elgol: Common Sandpiper, Heron, Greenshank, Rock Dove, Cuckoo, Wheatear, Swallow, Common Buzzard, Raven
Broadford: Grasshopper Warbler
Sleat peninsula (Tarskavaig loop road): Rock Dove, Shag, Heron, Common Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Cuckoo, Wheatear, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Swallow, Stonechat, Whinchat, Lesser Redpoll, Common Buzzard, Raven, Hooded Crow, Otter
Loch Arkaig: Red-breasted Merganser, Common Sandpiper, Willow Warbler, Reed Bunting
Strontian: Pine Marten
Strontian-Lochaline: Gannet, Red-breasted Merganser, Arctic/Common Tern, Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Heron, Spotted Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Wheatear, Stonechat, Siskin, Common Buzzard, Hooded Crow, Red Deer
Corran ferry: Black Guillemot, Eider