Banavie Locks
The day started here where eight of us met. After enjoying coffee and cake in the beautiful sunshine we went for a wander along the canal and sharp eyes found both a Rock Pipit and a Pied Wagtail feeding young in their nests in the canal wall. Golden Eagles were spotted circling over the far distant hills and a Sedge Warbler was singing from the canal scrub.
Watching a Rock Pipit feeding young (Mary Galloway)
Fassfern
We went here to find Wood Warbler - sadly we couldn't find any but we did get Tree Pipit and Garden Warbler - another tick for the list! We had our lunch in the sunshine before heading to the ponds where we saw some Mallards swimming and another Tree Pipit sang from a nearby treetop.
Arisaig
Here we heard a Greenshank in the bay. We took a circular walk around the bay and woodland. Whitethroats were seen and a Redstart heard but we couldn't spot it. On the small Loch nan Eale a Whooper Swan and Moorhen were seen. In the evening we had a very nice meal in the Arisaig Hotel. The next morning would be very busy!
Fassfern
We went here to find Wood Warbler - sadly we couldn't find any but we did get Tree Pipit and Garden Warbler - another tick for the list! We had our lunch in the sunshine before heading to the ponds where we saw some Mallards swimming and another Tree Pipit sang from a nearby treetop.
Arisaig
Here we heard a Greenshank in the bay. We took a circular walk around the bay and woodland. Whitethroats were seen and a Redstart heard but we couldn't spot it. On the small Loch nan Eale a Whooper Swan and Moorhen were seen. In the evening we had a very nice meal in the Arisaig Hotel. The next morning would be very busy!
Whitethroat (Philip Wilson)
Knoydart
Our day trip to Knoydart started with the very fast 0900 boat trip from Mallaig to the pier in Knoydart where we were met by the full-time ranger - Finlay Greig. Two more Highland SOC members joined us for the day. There are three rangers on Knoydart - two seasonals and Finlay. We walked through the village of Inverie and then along a woodland path where Mary heard a Wood Warbler which was very exciting! A bit further along there were three Wood Warblers in full song. Our path took us along the back of Inverie House where a Nuthatch was calling. At the campsite we stopped for lunch at the cabin - lucky shelter from the rain! Behind the cabin was a small patch of trees where a Garden Warbler sang. After lunch we walked through the campsite where Twites were feeding on seedheads and at the river a Common Sandpiper called - our first sighting of this bird on the weekend - a real treat. Just past the river we heard a "Chirrup" call which we were not sure about and then we spotted a Chaffinch! It turns out that the Knoydart Chaffinches do not call "Pink" - they speak a different language. Alex then took us on a narrow, marshy track leading through stunted trees to open fields on the hillside. He assured us it was the place to see Whinchat and amazingly a male was atop the wall and gave us good views. It was an amazing day and our final list included 72 species which included 65 on Knoydart.
Our day trip to Knoydart started with the very fast 0900 boat trip from Mallaig to the pier in Knoydart where we were met by the full-time ranger - Finlay Greig. Two more Highland SOC members joined us for the day. There are three rangers on Knoydart - two seasonals and Finlay. We walked through the village of Inverie and then along a woodland path where Mary heard a Wood Warbler which was very exciting! A bit further along there were three Wood Warblers in full song. Our path took us along the back of Inverie House where a Nuthatch was calling. At the campsite we stopped for lunch at the cabin - lucky shelter from the rain! Behind the cabin was a small patch of trees where a Garden Warbler sang. After lunch we walked through the campsite where Twites were feeding on seedheads and at the river a Common Sandpiper called - our first sighting of this bird on the weekend - a real treat. Just past the river we heard a "Chirrup" call which we were not sure about and then we spotted a Chaffinch! It turns out that the Knoydart Chaffinches do not call "Pink" - they speak a different language. Alex then took us on a narrow, marshy track leading through stunted trees to open fields on the hillside. He assured us it was the place to see Whinchat and amazingly a male was atop the wall and gave us good views. It was an amazing day and our final list included 72 species which included 65 on Knoydart.
It wasn't all hard birding! (Sue Sykes)
Monday Morning - Traigh.
Most of the group had departed but four of us explored the bays around Traigh and notched up Dunlin, Lapwing, Ringed Plover and Skylark and a second visit to the Arisaig circular walk threw up Spotted Flycatcher and an excellent view of a Redstart - with a wonderful photo taken!
Most of the group had departed but four of us explored the bays around Traigh and notched up Dunlin, Lapwing, Ringed Plover and Skylark and a second visit to the Arisaig circular walk threw up Spotted Flycatcher and an excellent view of a Redstart - with a wonderful photo taken!
Redstart ( Philip Wilson)
Ruairidh Edmonds
RSS Feed
