Highland Birds
  • Sightings
    • 2024 >
      • August 2024
      • July 2024
      • June 2024
      • May 2024
      • April 2024
    • 2020 >
      • January 2020
      • February 2020
      • March 2020
      • April 2020
      • May 2020
      • June 2020
      • July 2020
      • August 2020
      • September 2020
      • October 2020
      • November 2020
      • December 2020
    • 2019 >
      • January 2019
      • February 2019
      • March 2019
      • April 2019
      • May 2019
      • June 2019
      • July 2019
      • August 2019
      • September 2019
      • October 2019
      • November 2019
      • December 2019
    • 2018 >
      • January 2018
      • February 2018
      • March 2018
      • April 2018
      • May 2018
      • June 2018
      • July 2018
      • August 2018
      • September 2018
      • October 2018
      • November 2018
      • December 2018
    • 2017 >
      • January 2017
      • February 2017
      • March 2017
      • April 2017
      • May 2017
      • June 2017
      • July 2017
      • August 2017
      • September 2017
      • October 2017
      • November 2017
      • December 2017
    • 2016 >
      • January 2016
      • February 2016
      • March 2016
      • April 2016
      • May 2016
      • June 2016
      • July 2016
      • August 2016
      • September 2016
      • October 2016
      • November 2016
      • December 2016
  • Recording
    • The Highland List
    • The Highland Recording Area
    • Submitting records >
      • Rarities
      • HRC description species
      • Highland SOC Species Focus 2021
      • Gazetteer
  • Blog
  • Events
    • Evening talks
    • Field trips
  • Where to go
    • Inverness-shire >
      • Fort George and Whiteness
      • In and around Inverness
    • Badenoch and Strathspey >
      • Speyside in general
      • Badenoch and Strathspey
      • Northern Cairngorms
    • Easter Ross >
      • Easter Ross in general
      • Chanonry Point
      • Tarbat Ness
    • Wester Ross >
      • Ullapool and Gruinard Bay
      • Gairloch, Loch Ewe and Loch Maree
      • Loch Kishorn
    • Lochaber >
      • Fort William
      • Canna
      • Eigg
      • Rum
    • Skye and Lochalsh >
      • Lochalsh
    • Sutherland >
      • Southeast Sutherland
      • Melvich
      • Kyle of Tongue
      • Assynt
      • Loch Eriboll
  • Gallery
    • 2010-present
    • 2000-2009
    • 1990-1999
    • 1980-1989
    • Dark ages - 1979
  • Publications
    • Highland Bird Report
    • Highland Bird News
    • Books
  • Contact
    • Join the SOC
  • Links
  • Website history
  • Blog
  • AGM MinutesApril 2023

Birding Canna by Bob Swann

Canna is the outermost of the Small Isles. It is accessible from Mallaig using the CalMac ferry which sails five times a week. The sail over can be very good for birds with lots of shearwaters, regular skuas and the occasional storm petrel. In addition Minke Whales, Common Dolphins and Basking Sharks are regularly seen.

It is possible to do a day trip on a Saturday, getting the early morning boat from Mallaig and returning from Canna late afternoon. Most people, however, tend to stay for a few days. Accommodation can be a problem. There is one B and B and there are also camping pods and caravans that can be hired, though advanced booking is recommended. There is a small community shop and a café, but most folk tend to take their supplies over for their stay.

Canna is a beautiful island, with stunning views. In addition over 180 species have been recorded on the island and 78 of these have bred. The island is best known for seabirds, raptors and Corncrakes.

The largest seabird colonies are below the cliffs on the north side of the island. They are not easy to observe, however, from this high vantage point. It is a better bet to cross over the footbridge at the top end of the bay on to the adjacent island of Sanday. You can then walk round the bay to the church and cut south across the island aiming for the highest point, particularly the area round the large stack known as Dun Mor. Here there is a large colony of Puffins, which can afford excellent views, especially if you go late afternoon or early evening. On the adjacent cliffs (just to the west of the stack) is a large Kittiwake colony, with smaller numbers of Fulmar, Guillemot and Razorbill. On the moor to the east of the stack (beyond the narrow gully) is a small and recently established colony of Great Skuas. These aggressive birds can be a bit daunting to the unwary birder. It is worth walking across the moor to the lighthouse. This is a good site to scan the Sound of Canna looking for seabirds, whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Geugasgor (Bob Swann)
Great Skua (Bob Swann)
Sanday with Rum in background (Bob Swann)
Although it is possible to see raptors anywhere on Canna, they just drift over from time to time, the best bet is a cliff top walk. From the gate just east of the café, follow the path up to Tighard, then at the gate at the top of the wood head NE through the field towards a gully with a fenced scrubby area – always worth checking this out as it held a Black-headed Bunting once!. Continue through the gully till you reach the eastern cliffs. You can either turn right and follow the Compass Hill cliffs back towards the pier – hopefully seeing Peregrines enroute. Otherwise turn left and follow the cliffs round to the north side of the island. Here you have the best chance of seeing Golden eagle or White-tailed Eagle. The birds often nest on these cliffs so please make sure you are not causing any undue disturbance by keeping the birds off their nests. You can follow the cliff all the way to Tarbert, where you can cross over to the south side of the island and return back along the Tarbert Road.
Franklin's Gull in February 2014 (Peter Stronach)
Guillemot ledge (Bob Swann)
Black-headed Bunting on 22nd July 2007 (Helen Aiton)
For the less energetic a walk out along the road to Tarbert can provide views of raptors, particularly Common Buzzards, whilst along the shore there is a variety of nesting gulls and waders. The slopes and cliffs above the road contain some of the remaining nesting Manx Shearwaters. Rats unfortunately decimated this colony in the late 1990s. Since the rat eradication project in winter 2005/06 there has been a slight increase in numbers. A walk out here on a dark stormy night will be rewarded with hearing and perhaps seeing these enigmatic birds.

There are various signed walks through the fields and woods on the south side of Canna adjacent to the bay. If you head towards the Celtic Cross you have the best chance for getting a glimpse of a Corncrake. In the evening they can be heard calling from dense cover in these fields or in the iris beds along the road bounding the bay. The bay tends to hold a variety of waders, along with Eiders, Red-breasted Mergansers and gulls. On two occasions in the past a Franklin’s Gull has been recorded, so you never know what may turn up. A wide variety of passerines are present on Canna, particularly on the croftlands or in the woods. Wheatears are particularly numerous. In spring adverse weather can result in large flocks of Redwings, Meadow Pipits and White Wagtails being present as they wait for conditions to improve to allow them to continue their migration north to Iceland. 
Picture



​Looking after Highland's birds


  • Sightings
    • 2024 >
      • August 2024
      • July 2024
      • June 2024
      • May 2024
      • April 2024
    • 2020 >
      • January 2020
      • February 2020
      • March 2020
      • April 2020
      • May 2020
      • June 2020
      • July 2020
      • August 2020
      • September 2020
      • October 2020
      • November 2020
      • December 2020
    • 2019 >
      • January 2019
      • February 2019
      • March 2019
      • April 2019
      • May 2019
      • June 2019
      • July 2019
      • August 2019
      • September 2019
      • October 2019
      • November 2019
      • December 2019
    • 2018 >
      • January 2018
      • February 2018
      • March 2018
      • April 2018
      • May 2018
      • June 2018
      • July 2018
      • August 2018
      • September 2018
      • October 2018
      • November 2018
      • December 2018
    • 2017 >
      • January 2017
      • February 2017
      • March 2017
      • April 2017
      • May 2017
      • June 2017
      • July 2017
      • August 2017
      • September 2017
      • October 2017
      • November 2017
      • December 2017
    • 2016 >
      • January 2016
      • February 2016
      • March 2016
      • April 2016
      • May 2016
      • June 2016
      • July 2016
      • August 2016
      • September 2016
      • October 2016
      • November 2016
      • December 2016
  • Recording
    • The Highland List
    • The Highland Recording Area
    • Submitting records >
      • Rarities
      • HRC description species
      • Highland SOC Species Focus 2021
      • Gazetteer
  • Blog
  • Events
    • Evening talks
    • Field trips
  • Where to go
    • Inverness-shire >
      • Fort George and Whiteness
      • In and around Inverness
    • Badenoch and Strathspey >
      • Speyside in general
      • Badenoch and Strathspey
      • Northern Cairngorms
    • Easter Ross >
      • Easter Ross in general
      • Chanonry Point
      • Tarbat Ness
    • Wester Ross >
      • Ullapool and Gruinard Bay
      • Gairloch, Loch Ewe and Loch Maree
      • Loch Kishorn
    • Lochaber >
      • Fort William
      • Canna
      • Eigg
      • Rum
    • Skye and Lochalsh >
      • Lochalsh
    • Sutherland >
      • Southeast Sutherland
      • Melvich
      • Kyle of Tongue
      • Assynt
      • Loch Eriboll
  • Gallery
    • 2010-present
    • 2000-2009
    • 1990-1999
    • 1980-1989
    • Dark ages - 1979
  • Publications
    • Highland Bird Report
    • Highland Bird News
    • Books
  • Contact
    • Join the SOC
  • Links
  • Website history
  • Blog
  • AGM MinutesApril 2023