DAY 1
We flew out of Luton early doors on Tuesday 05/02 and after kindly being picked up by Matt we started preceedings. After a bit of a hiccup with the car we arrived in Fort William, our base for the next few days. We set out late afternoon for a quick look around for stuff and I was well chuffed to see my first ever Otter, (all be it distantly) eating a fish in the centre of Loch Linnhe. There were also a Shag, a few Red Breasted Merganser and several common waders.
The next day's weather looked extremely promising so this was the day we earmarked to head for the Isle of Mull in the hope of lots of great birds but in particular, both Golden & White Tailed Eagles.
DAY 2
So the next day (06/02) we set out via Strontian for the Black Duck which Dave did see fairly well in flight, however the view I had was just not tickable as it flew directly away from me at distance. After this and enjoying another Otter & a brief, showy Dipper, expertly spotted from the car by Dave, we headed on to the ferry to Mull.
We arrived on Mull to see yet another Otter and then enjoy what was a truely sexy breakfast roll consisting of fried egg, black Pudding and a lorne sausage (a flat Scottish square Sausage)..im dribbling thinking about it as I type this!
We first headed to a bay consisting of mudflat and a good view towards the hills/mountains in the centre of the island. We were enjoying the birds on offer when I turned around to see the unbelievable sight of a low flying adult White Tailed Eagle. Errrm Wow! We continued to watch it slowly drift over the bay and out of sight, what a start!
We then continued along the road and it wasn't too long before we came across by our first Golden Eagle in front of us high over the mountains. We then had a second bird briefly lower down flying across the road a little way in front us a further few miles along the road.
We continued on seeing our first Great Northern Diver of the day, a Kestrel and my first ever true Rock Doves, a flock of around 15 birds flying past.
Loch Na keal was the next area to explore and apparently was an especially good area for White Tailed Eagles and sea birds too. It didn't disappoint.
It wasn't long before we were enjoying good numbers of Great Northern Divers, Shags, Slavonian Grebes, Red Breasted Mergansers and several Black Guillemot. Half way along I spotted a High-flying Golden Eagle right over my head this was followed by a further 2 adult White Tailed Eagles. 3 Eagles in the air at the same time, incredible! While I was excitedly enjoying the amazing views of the Eagles Dave and Matt hilariously had got stuck in the car, the ensuing scrambles were arguably as entertaining as the Eagles! Below are Dave James' great images of the Golden Eagle (top) and the White Tailed Eagles (middle & bottom).
Further along we continued to see more of the same stuff on the water with the addition of 3 Razorbill. The shoreline held several Rock Pipit and a few common waders, as well as the best view yet of an amazingly showy Otter. Below is one of Matt Whitelocke's brilliant shots of the Otter, followed by my best effort of it and of one of the Rock Pipits.
A brilliant day on Mull with the weather being so kind to us, coupled with amazing views of Eagles, Otter, Divers etc. On the way back, we again tried for the Black Duck at Strontian without sucess, however the sunset over Loch Sunart was stunning and we also added a further sighting of an Otter at dusk eating a large fish on a distant boulder.
DAY 3
The next day (07/02) it was decided we would head to Cairngorm to look for Ptarmigan. Our original plan was to go for them at Glenshee, another known area for them. However the weather meant that Glenshee's accessibility was more than dodgy so Cairngorm it was! Between Fort William and Cairngorm, near to Loch Laggan, our luck continued as a male Black Grouse flew up close to the road, swifly followed by a second. Both birds amazingly perched up in the tops of nearby trees in full view, right by a large lay-by area to park. Perfect! They both showed so well for a number of minutes, affording great views. It appears that these birds were getting grit from the road.
After a while we arrived at Cairngorm and with clear conditions, we headed right, out of the car Park and into the Northern Corries around the side of Cairngorm itself. After several good pieces of advice from other walkers, it appeared that we were heading in the right general direction for Ptarmigan. It wasn't long before we found good numbers of Red Grouse. I have to say I didn't expect to see them so high up on the mountain.
Soon, we discovered in the distance several photographers stomping round on one of the slopes. Dave then found what they were stalking...at least 7 pure white Ptarmigan hunched up on the hill. Brilliant! We had good yet distant views for a few minutes when suddenly the call of 2 more could be heard very close by. This is such a bizarre sound and I liken it too pulling a bendy plastic straw up and down. I soon spotted one fly up and there it was on the nearby mountain side, a stunning male sitting right out along with a female. The other nearby calling bird however failed to show. The male then sat there for ages, giving good views between the boulders.
After this it was back to the car park to enjoy a Guinness and some chips, beans and cheese which went down rather well! We finally enjoyed some great views of Snow Buntings feeding on seed put out on the picnic benches.
After a stop of at Loch Morlich we headed for our organised Pine Marten and badger watch. Sadly it was a complete no show with the 'highlight' being Matt's brief view of a mouse!!
DAY 4
Friday (08/02) was spent exploring between Fort William and Malaig, further north. We started in Fort William itself looking through some gulls. While we saw nothing spectacular (other than a brief, distant Otter sighting) it was great to get close views of the Gulls as well as a smart Hooded Crow, a bird very routine for Matt up there, but for us a very good bird to see.
After this we headed to Malaig through amazing scenery, stopping off for good scans of the sea between the islands of Eigg/Rum and the mainland. There were plenty of Great Northern Diver, Shags, a few Razorbill & Guillemot, Eider, a couple of female Long Tailed Duck, Red Breasted Mergansers and several Rock Pipit.
Malaig help nothing spectacular, in fact very few gulls really, however there was a smashing little group of Eider in the harbour and what gulls there were showed really well including a brute of a Great Black Backed Gull with it's face covered in a recent victim's blood!
The return journey produced more of the same birds plus a few Red Throated Diver. A further stop at Stontian failed to gain the Black Duck again, however we did find a young White Tailed Eagle flying across the loch, perching and then watched a couple of failed attempts to catch prey! A quieter day but we still saw some great stuff.
Day 5
So, of what had so far been a fantastic week we headed into our last day (09/02). It promised to be a good one too with a fairly early start we would head to the Black Isle/Inverness area.
We firstly headed to Dingwall on the edge of the Black Isle and a place that had played host to a Ringed Billed Gull for the last 10 or so years. It had been reported relatively frequently over the winter and was a lifer for Dave and I and therefore a must see.
It frequented a tiny boating lake in the centre of the town and was known to come to bread. The nearby Tesco was the obvious first stop for a few loaves to entice in the hungry yank. Sadly though after an hour or so, despite the good numbers of gulls, it failed to appear. It was decided we would press on and come back later on in the day.
Next we headed to Chanonry Point, via the tiny harbour of Avoch nearby, getting goods views of several Long Tailed Duck and Slavonian Grebe.
Chanonry produced decent views of at least 4 Bottle Nosed Dolphin (Dave James' photo below), and decent numbers of Long Tailed Duck, Eider, Shag, Common Scoter and Red Breasted Merganser.
On to the Cromarty Firth, there was a very similar suite of birds out on the water, with the addition of several large rafts of 'proper Scaup', probably numbering at least 300 birds in total. I say proper Scaup as this is a bird I would almost exclusively see on an inland reservoir or gravel pit, as opposed to their true marine setting.
Nearby Udale Bay was the next stop with a visit to the RSPB hide overlooking the mudflats. All the typical birds were present including good numbers of Knot, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, Bar Tailed Godwit, Shelduck & Wigeon. We were aware of a recent American Wigeon here and we then got the news while we were actually there, that it was there this morning! After a short search through the many Wigeon out on the mud, I managed to find the drake American Wigeon, it showed well but distantly for a short while before flying east with the other Wigeon. Real stroke of luck!
It was now mid afternoon and was time to head back to Dingwall for the Ring Billed Gull via the local chippy for some great fish & chips.
Approaching the lake once again there were a few gulls loafing about including what looked like an adult Common Gull. On closer inspection though Dave realised it was in fact the eagerly anticipated Ring Billed Gull, bloody get in!!
It showed better than we could ever have wished for, give us fly-pasts, coming to bread and sitting on perches for ages. My third lifer of the trip and a brilliant end to the birding. Below are my best efforts.
We finished off the trip and the day too with another go for the Pine Martens. Again we left the woods with not a sniff of any Martens again, however good views of 2 Badgers and several Red Deer were had.
Sadly we had come to the end of our trip, but what a brilliant trip it had been! Must say a big thank you to Matt for being brilliant company, guide and driver for the week.
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