Scotland May 2007 Trip List
BirdsGreat Northern Diver: On the sea and coastal lochs in Ardnamurchan and on Mull Black Throated Diver: 2 on Lochindorb and 1 over the Kilchoan ferry Red Throated Diver: A pair in the Sound of Mull from Ormsaigbeg campsite Little Grebe: A single bird on Lochindorb Fulmar: Viewed from Ardnamurchan Point and on the Whale Watching Trip Manx Shearwater: Good numbers of birds from the Sound of Mull, Ardnamurchan Point and on the Whale Watching Trip Balearic Shearwater: A single bird over the Sound of Mull in squally weather Gannet: Common over the sea Shag: Common around the coast Cormorant: Seen at Ardnamurchan Point Grey Heron: Common throughout Mute Swan: A pair near Salen on Mull Greylag Goose: Common in Ardnamurchan and on Mull Shelduck: Seen at a few coastal locations Mallard: Common throughout Wigeon: Several on Loch Garten and Lochindorb Teal: Pairs on Loch Garten and near Dervaig on Mull Tufted Duck: Several birds on Loch Garten Eider: The majority of birds were seen around the coast of Mull Goldeneye: Several pairs on Loch Garten Goosander: Single female bird on Loch Morlich Red Breated Merganser: Often seen in pairs on sea lochs Osprey: Only from the RSPB hide at Loch Garten White Tailed Sea Eagle: Several birds on Mull, mainly at nest sites Golden Eagle: A pair over Forest Lodge and a pair at a nest site on Mull Goshawk: Male bird over Forest Lodge Buzzard: Common throughout in small numbers Hen Harrier: A single male near Loch Beg on Mull Peregrine: Single bird at Ardnamurchan Point Merlin: Single bird over moorland in the highlands of Ardnamurchan Kestrel: Seen on several days at various sites Red Grouse: Small numbers round Lochindorb Black Grouse: Viewed lekking on Tulloch Moor and in the woods at Forest Lodge on a couple of occasions Capercaillie: Two males viewed from the RSPB hide near Loch Garten early in the morning, one male flying at close quarters at Forest Lodge and a female by the roadside near Forest Lodge on two separate occasions Red Legged Partridge: On farmland in the Spey Valley Pheasant: Fairly common throughout Corncrake: Many heard on Iona (up to 8 birds) and one seen extremely well in a garden on Iona Coot: Small numbers on lochs in the Spey Valley Oystercatcher: Very common on rocky coastal areas Ringed Plover: On mud near Kilchoan in Ardnamurchan Golden Plover: Several birds along the shore of Loch Na Keal Turnstone: A bird on Iona Lapwing: Fairly common throughout Dunlin: Seen at several coastal sites Redshank: Small numbers at coastal sites Common Sandpiper: Very common around the coast Curlew: Common, mainly coastal Whimbrel: A single bird along the shore of Loch Scridain Snipe: A single calling bird on the moors on the northern coast of the Ardnamurchan Peninsula Great Skua: Single birds from the lighthouse and from the Whale Watching Trip Arctic Skua: Low numbers of birds from the lighthouse and from the Whale Watching Trip Pomarine Skua: Two birds at the lighthouse and singles over the Sound of Mull Long Tailed Skua: Up to 14 birds over the sea from the lighhouse during squally weather Black Headed Gull: Seen throughout, mostly in the Spey Valley Herring Gull: Common throughout Lesser Black Back Gull: Small numbers in several coastal locations Great Black Back Gull: Seen throughout coastal areas Common Gull: Common throughout Kittiwake: Common offshore around Ardnamurchan and Mull Sandwich Tern: Seen from the lighthouse over the sea Common Tern: Small numbers around the ferry terminous at Fionphort, around the coast of Iona and over Loch Na Keal Arctic Tern: Small numbers around the ferry terminous at Fionphort, around the coast of Iona and over the Cairns of Coll Razorbill: Common over the sea Guillemot: Common over the sea Puffin: From the lighthouse and on the Whale Watching Trip Black Guillemot: Singles from the boat, on Loch Spelve, from the lighthouse and breeding birds at the Corran Ferry terminous Rock Dove: Suspected true Rock Doves on Iona and Mull around the coast Stock Dove: Occasional throughout Woodpigeon: Common throughout Collared Dove: Common throughout Cuckoo: Good numbers throughout the holiday in all areas Tawny Owl: Heard from Coylum Bridge and Craignure campsites Swift: Occasional birds seen throughout Great Spotted Woodpecker: Few birds near Aviemore and on Mull Skylark: Seen on moorland Swallow: Common throughout Sand Martin: Occasional birds mainly around the Spey Valley House Martin: Seen mainly around human habitation Tree Pipit: Common throughout Meadow Pipit: Very common throughout Rock Pipit: Several around rocky coastlines Pied Wagtail: Common throughout Grey Wagtail: Occasional in the Spey Valley and on Mull Dunnock: Fairly common Sedge Warbler: Several in the correct habitat in Ardnamurchan and on Mull Whitethroat: Reasonable numbers in Ardnamurchan and on Mull Blackcap: A couple of single birds heard Garden Warbler: Single singing bird near Glenborrodale Willow Warbler: Very common throughout Chiffchaff: Few birds recorded in the Spey Valley Wood Warbler: Good numbers at Glenboorodale Oak woods and limited number in Oak woods on Mull Goldcrest: Mainly in pine woods in the Spey Valley and occasional on Mull Spotted Flycatcher: A single bird at Glenborrodale Stonechat: Seen in the correct habitat throughout the holiday Whinchat: Common on moorland Wheatear: Very common in Ardnamurchan and on Mull Redstart: Mainly in mature pines in the Spey Valley Robin: Extremely common throughout Blackbird: Very common throughout Ring Ouzel: One male near the campsite at Ormsaigbeg Song Thrush: Common throughout, especially so in Ardnamurchan and on Mull Mistle Thrush: Fairly common around pine woods Coal Tit: Several seen in pine woods Great Tit: Common throughout Blue Tit: Occasional throughout Crested Tit: One or two pairs at Forest Lodge only Treecreeper: Several in Abernethy Forest and a single bird singing at Glenborrodale Wren: Fairly common throughout Yellowhammer: Several birds around the Spey Valley Reed Bunting: A single bird driving towards Ardnamurchan Point Chaffinch: Very common Siskin: Common in the Spey Valley, less so on the west coast Greenfinch: Fairly common throughout Bullfinch: Occasional birds in the Spey Valley Lesser Redpoll: Recorded in low numbers around with birch trees on moorland in all areas visited Twite: Small flocks on the Arnamurchan Peninsula including round the campsite Linnet: Occasional birds in Ardnamurchan and on Mull House Sparrow: Fairly common throughout Starling: Fairly common throughout Jay: One seen at the roadside on the journey home Magpie: Very few records especially on the west coast Raven: Good numbers in Ardnamurchan and on Mull Rook: Fairly common throughout Carrion Crow: Common further east and south Hooded Crow: Good numbers especially further west Jackdaw: Common throughout MammalsRed Squirrel Several sightings in woodland in the Spey Valley Red Deer Occasional sightings throughout Roe Deer Occasional sightings in the Spey Valley Badger Viewed from the Speyside Wildlife Hide Otter A single Dog Otter at Ormsaigbeg plus six or seven animals on the sea lochs of Mull Mink One dreaded Mink was sighted swimming round the edge of Loch Beg Bank Vole Viewed from the Speyside Wildlife Hide Wood Mouse Viewed from the Speyside Wildlife Hide Rabbit Good numbers in the Spey Valley with lesser numbers elsewhere Common Seal Several coastal sights Grey Seal Seen less often than Common Seal Harbour Porpoise Sound of Mull Minke Whale Single poor sighting in the entrance to the Sound of Mull
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