Fort William by Michael McKee
This article focuses primarily on the best coastal birding sites around Fort William and Loch Eil. The accompanying maps show where to park and view these locations.
1. West End Car Park
During the day this car park tends to have a few resting gulls and is worth a quick check if passing. The majority of the gulls here are Common Gulls but Ring-billed Gull has occurred.
2. River Lochy
The best site in the area is the mouth of the River Lochy where it flows into Loch Linnhe and the associated sand flats either side. In Fort William this area is best viewed by the Underwater Centre and also nearby by the entrance to the pier. The river further upstream can be viewed by following the Great Glen Way footpath up towards Inverlochy Castle.
The river mouth is good for ducks with Goldeneye, Goosander and Red-breasted Merganser all regular. It is worth checking through these in winter as Long-tailed Duck and Scaup are occasionally seen and Common Scoter occur on passage. Red-throated Diver and Slavonian Grebe are also possible and occasionally a Whooper Swan may overwinter.
In winter this is a good spot to view the gull roost. Birds come in to bathe along the edges of the river at the end of the day. Iceland and Glaucous Gulls are both regularly seen here and Kumlien’s Gull has also been recorded.
Otters can regularly be seen fishing in the river and they occasionally come out onto the island here.
Waders can be seen at low tide on the sand flats on this side of the river but the area off Caol is far better.
3. Marine Harvest Fish Processing Plant
This site is located just off the A830 on the Blar Mhor industrial estate. In winter it attracts good numbers of large gulls which feed on the fish scraps around the plant. Although there is no access into the plant the gulls can be seen perched on the roof tops of the surrounding buildings. Iceland and Glaucous Gulls are regular here and Kumlien’s Gull has also been recorded.
1. West End Car Park
During the day this car park tends to have a few resting gulls and is worth a quick check if passing. The majority of the gulls here are Common Gulls but Ring-billed Gull has occurred.
2. River Lochy
The best site in the area is the mouth of the River Lochy where it flows into Loch Linnhe and the associated sand flats either side. In Fort William this area is best viewed by the Underwater Centre and also nearby by the entrance to the pier. The river further upstream can be viewed by following the Great Glen Way footpath up towards Inverlochy Castle.
The river mouth is good for ducks with Goldeneye, Goosander and Red-breasted Merganser all regular. It is worth checking through these in winter as Long-tailed Duck and Scaup are occasionally seen and Common Scoter occur on passage. Red-throated Diver and Slavonian Grebe are also possible and occasionally a Whooper Swan may overwinter.
In winter this is a good spot to view the gull roost. Birds come in to bathe along the edges of the river at the end of the day. Iceland and Glaucous Gulls are both regularly seen here and Kumlien’s Gull has also been recorded.
Otters can regularly be seen fishing in the river and they occasionally come out onto the island here.
Waders can be seen at low tide on the sand flats on this side of the river but the area off Caol is far better.
3. Marine Harvest Fish Processing Plant
This site is located just off the A830 on the Blar Mhor industrial estate. In winter it attracts good numbers of large gulls which feed on the fish scraps around the plant. Although there is no access into the plant the gulls can be seen perched on the roof tops of the surrounding buildings. Iceland and Glaucous Gulls are regular here and Kumlien’s Gull has also been recorded.
4. Caol
To get to this site drive into Caol along Kilmallie Road and turn onto Glenmallie Road. At the end where the road bends round to the right there is a road straight ahead that leads to the water treatment works. Park on the right-hand side here just before the gates. (The gates can be locked at any time so don’t park beyond them). There are several options for birding this area.
The road to the water treatment works gives good views across the saltmarsh towards Loch Linnhe. At high tide in winter this area is good for Wigeon and Teal. It is worth checking through the ducks as American Wigeon and Green-winged Teal have occurred. The road rises up just before the treatment works and this gives a good vantage point for scanning the saltmarsh towards the River Lochy. At high tide waders may roost here although most seem to favour the island of An Caol. This can also be a good spot to view the gull roost in winter. Iceland and Glaucous Gulls can sometimes be seen feeding over the water treatment works.
To get to this site drive into Caol along Kilmallie Road and turn onto Glenmallie Road. At the end where the road bends round to the right there is a road straight ahead that leads to the water treatment works. Park on the right-hand side here just before the gates. (The gates can be locked at any time so don’t park beyond them). There are several options for birding this area.
The road to the water treatment works gives good views across the saltmarsh towards Loch Linnhe. At high tide in winter this area is good for Wigeon and Teal. It is worth checking through the ducks as American Wigeon and Green-winged Teal have occurred. The road rises up just before the treatment works and this gives a good vantage point for scanning the saltmarsh towards the River Lochy. At high tide waders may roost here although most seem to favour the island of An Caol. This can also be a good spot to view the gull roost in winter. Iceland and Glaucous Gulls can sometimes be seen feeding over the water treatment works.
Just before the treatment works a track leads to the left and this leads to the River Lochy. Goldeneye and Goosander are regular along this section of river and Otters also occur. The shingle banks on the far side of the river can be good for bathing gulls. Dippers are also possible and Common Sandpipers occur in the summer. The track here can be followed a short distance upstream and a bit further downstream. If going upstream it is possible to follow a short trail through the woods and come back out on the main entrance road. If going downstream, at low tide it is possible to skirt the edge of the saltmarsh and walk out on to the sand flats and take a circular route back towards the car park. Alternatively it is possible to walk straight out onto the sand flats from the car park. Waterproof footwear is recommended here. The whole area is firm underfoot except for one or two small areas of mud just inshore from the island of An Caol. The island should be avoided during the breeding season when gulls are nesting there.
Waders can occur anywhere in this area. In winter there is a small flock of Ringed Plover which usually includes Dunlin and sometimes Purple Sandpipers. In spring and autumn other passage waders such as Knot, Godwits and Sanderling are possible. Peregrines regularly hunt over this area and White-tailed Eagle and Osprey are also possible.
The loch here is worth checking particularly after a south-westerly storm. In spring large flocks of Kittiwake can occur and in the autumn Manx Shearwaters and even Leach’s Petrels are possible. Black Guillemot are present offshore throughout the year and Common Guillemots are regular.
In spring it is worth keeping an eye out for skuas overhead with some birds moving up through Loch Linnhe and following the Great Glen north. The ideal conditions would seem to be a strong NW wind during their peak passage in April and May. Passage Sandwich and Arctic Terns are also possible.
Along the shoreline there is normally a large amount of seaweed and storm driven debris at the high tide mark. This is worth checking for finches which frequently include a few Twite.
Waders can occur anywhere in this area. In winter there is a small flock of Ringed Plover which usually includes Dunlin and sometimes Purple Sandpipers. In spring and autumn other passage waders such as Knot, Godwits and Sanderling are possible. Peregrines regularly hunt over this area and White-tailed Eagle and Osprey are also possible.
The loch here is worth checking particularly after a south-westerly storm. In spring large flocks of Kittiwake can occur and in the autumn Manx Shearwaters and even Leach’s Petrels are possible. Black Guillemot are present offshore throughout the year and Common Guillemots are regular.
In spring it is worth keeping an eye out for skuas overhead with some birds moving up through Loch Linnhe and following the Great Glen north. The ideal conditions would seem to be a strong NW wind during their peak passage in April and May. Passage Sandwich and Arctic Terns are also possible.
Along the shoreline there is normally a large amount of seaweed and storm driven debris at the high tide mark. This is worth checking for finches which frequently include a few Twite.
5. Corpach
From the A830 in Corpach take the sign-posted road to the Caledonian Canal. This is another good location to view Loch Linnhe. The species that can be expected here are the same as those in the Caol account.
6. Kinlocheil
To get here head west from Fort William on the A830 and turn left onto the A861 and follow this single track road east. At the western end of Loch Eil there is a saltmarsh and some mud is exposed at low tide. Park here in one of the laybys and view from the roadside.
The saltmarsh is good for ducks and waders with similar species to Caol but in lower numbers. Golden Plover are also regular here. Whooper Swan may occur on passage. Overhead Golden Eagle and Ravens may be seen over the mountain tops.
From the A830 in Corpach take the sign-posted road to the Caledonian Canal. This is another good location to view Loch Linnhe. The species that can be expected here are the same as those in the Caol account.
6. Kinlocheil
To get here head west from Fort William on the A830 and turn left onto the A861 and follow this single track road east. At the western end of Loch Eil there is a saltmarsh and some mud is exposed at low tide. Park here in one of the laybys and view from the roadside.
The saltmarsh is good for ducks and waders with similar species to Caol but in lower numbers. Golden Plover are also regular here. Whooper Swan may occur on passage. Overhead Golden Eagle and Ravens may be seen over the mountain tops.
7. Garvan
Further east on the A861 the river mouth at Garvan usually holds a few duck and waders. In winter small numbers of gulls from the Duisky landfill site rest here.
8. Duisky
There is a large landfill site here which attracts large numbers of gulls in winter. The gulls rest on the shoreline and offshore fish farm and can be viewed from one of the roadside laybys. Iceland and Glaucous Gull are regular here.
Further east on the A861 the river mouth at Garvan usually holds a few duck and waders. In winter small numbers of gulls from the Duisky landfill site rest here.
8. Duisky
There is a large landfill site here which attracts large numbers of gulls in winter. The gulls rest on the shoreline and offshore fish farm and can be viewed from one of the roadside laybys. Iceland and Glaucous Gull are regular here.
