Southeast Sutherland (written by Dean MacAskill)
The South East of Sutherland has a good range of habitats making the area exceptionally bird rich. The coast is the area where the greatest number of birds can be found, with large numbers of ducks, geese, waders and gulls , gathering from late summer onwards through to spring in the Dornoch Firth, Loch Fleet and along the shallow sandy coast between Dornoch and Brora. In summer the Straths hold good numbers of breeding waders with a host of passerines such as Warblers, Chats, Wheatears , Cuckoos and Meadow Pipits. On the croftland, Yellowhammer, Linnet, Curlew and Lapwing can be found, Skylarks and Song Thrush are also common. The woodlands have most of the commoner species such as Goldcrest Siskins, Redpolls, Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker. In summer they are joined by Willow Warblers, Tree Pipits, Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher. A few Wood Warblers hang on, and Jays have become recent colonists along with Red Kites. A variety of raptors can be seen in the hills, as can Red and Black Grouse , although poorly sited windfarms and persecution have made Golden Eagles scarce. So the birdlife is of great interest all year round.
Dornoch
The Dornoch area has some great birdwatching sites, the Dornoch Point and Saltings has hosted some excellent rarities over the years, with a Stilt Sandpiper found here on 18th April 1970. More recently, Greater Sand Plover and Kentish Plover. During summer Little, Arctic, Common and Sandwich Terns feed offshore. In late summer they can be joined by the odd Black Tern during their post breeding dispersal. In autumn take care to look through the wader flocks as Little Stint and Curlew Sandpiper are sometimes found, with the more expected Dunlin and Ringed Plover. Short-eared Owls and Hen Harriers are occasional visitors. Both Sanderling and Grey Plover winter along the beach. In the dunes there are Skylarks, Reed Buntings and Stonechat. Snow Buntings are frequent during cold winter weather, as are Twite and Linnet, which in turn attract Merlin and Peregrine. In winter three diver species can be found. Slavonian Grebes are often mixed in with the wintering seaducks. Parking is at the beach car park (NH805895).
Migdale and Ledmore Woodlands
Situated on the North shore of the Dornoch Firth between Dornoch and Bonar Bridge. These woods are an excellent mix of native trees and shrubs. Mid May is the best time to listen out for singing Wood Warblers on the track down to Loch Migdale . Most of the more common woodland birds can be seen here, and in the summer visitors such as Redstart, Tree Pipit, Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap and Chiffchaff. Jays are recent colonists, and Red -throated Diver are sometimes seen on the loch. Icterine Warblers have been found here and this is the area where a White's Thrush was pictured on a camera trap in the late winter of 2013. Parking is at NH664909, for the track down to the loch, which is approximately 1.3km away.
Embo
Three miles to the North of Dornoch is an excellent area for birding, although most of the birding interest here is from the autumn to the spring. In some autumns Skua passage can be excellent. It isn't too difficult to see three species, and on exceptional days even four - afternoons seem to be best. This is a good area for seaduck, although numbers are sadly now only a fraction of what they used to be. Long-tailed Ducks prefer the area to the south of the pier. Slavonian Grebes winter here, and their numbers peak at the end of March, as birds gather before setting off to their breeding grounds in Iceland. The odd Red-necked Grebe and Great Crested Grebe have both been found here. The rocks are a good spot to see Purple Sandpipers and Turnstone. Sanderling, Ringed Plover and Knot are occasional visitors. Rock Pipits are found by the pier during winter. This is also a great spot for Otters and a small group of Harbour Porpoise are resident. Just to the North of Embo is Coul Links, a natural dune system. Summer is a great time to wander through the dunes looking for butterflies and day flying moths amongst the abundant wildflowers, while Sylarks sing overhead. During winter the dunes are flooded. Teal, Wigeon and Mallard winter here, as do Snipe, and in the winter of 2011 this area was home to a Greater Yellowlegs. For Parking, drive through the caravan park and park by the pier at NH819922.
Loch Fleet
Follow the single track road north from Embo and you come to the SWT reserve that is Loch Fleet, a large tidal basin. The road skirts the South shore with ample parking places to stop and look at the numerous wildfowl,waders, gulls etc. Here at low tide many Harbour Seals gather on the sand banks. Ospreys are often the first of the summer migrants to return and can be seen fishing along the shore, Red Kites & Buzzards can also be seen from the road. Its a great place to see Eider up close, in spring and summer the females and ducklings gather to form creches. In winter Greylag Geese are common and a few Greenshank can be found in the creeks. Little Grebes can be seen close to the shore during high tide along with Wigeon,Redshank, Dunlin and Bar-tailed Godwit . There is a hide on the south side of the loch at Balblair (NH803974) access from Golspie along Ferry road at NH814976, walking distance approximately 1.5 km.
Travelling north on the A9 just before the bridge at NH774981 is the Mound car park which over looks the lagoon. This lagoon was formed when the Causeway was completed in 1816. Ospreys fish here and if you are lucky you may see one catch a fish. Otters and Red Deer can be seen here as well, the lagoon is good for wildfowl notably Teal, Shelduck, Goldeneye and Red -breasted Mergansers. Curlew and Redshank are common and during the summer Swallows and House Martins hawk over the water. Common Sandpipers are one of the early migrants to be seen here. Ravens and raptors such as Peregrines are frequent overhead.
Travelling north on the A9 just before the bridge at NH774981 is the Mound car park which over looks the lagoon. This lagoon was formed when the Causeway was completed in 1816. Ospreys fish here and if you are lucky you may see one catch a fish. Otters and Red Deer can be seen here as well, the lagoon is good for wildfowl notably Teal, Shelduck, Goldeneye and Red -breasted Mergansers. Curlew and Redshank are common and during the summer Swallows and House Martins hawk over the water. Common Sandpipers are one of the early migrants to be seen here. Ravens and raptors such as Peregrines are frequent overhead.
Big Burn
Big Burn is situated on the north side of Golspie access is from the A9 at NC840005 this walk is along a well maintained track, through mixed woodlands following the burn through a rocky gorge to a small waterfall. All the common woodland species can be seen here and during summer warblers such as Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Garden Warbler can be found. Jays are often heard but can be tricky to see. Grey Wagtail and Dipper feed along the burn. In spring the wildflowers are at their best and make this walk all the more interesting!.
Brora
Some 15 miles north of Dornoch is one of the best seawatching spots in the area. Southeasterly winds in autumn can produce large numbers of seabirds flying close past the beach car park at NC909035 where you can watch from the comfort of a car. Shearwaters, Fulmars, Auks Gannets and Skuas are all frequent during favourable weather conditions. The rocks here are good for waders such as Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone and Ringed Plover. A White-rumped Sandpiper was present here on the 28th October 2012 and stayed for four days. Brora harbour is good for white-winged gulls and is the Highland capital for Little Gulls, now found here in every month of the year. A Laughing Gull was seen here on the 13th August and stayed until the 9th of October 2006 this was only the second record for Highland the other being at Dornoch on the 13th August until the 12th October 1996. Also look out for Terns offshore. In recent years Basking Sharks have been seen feeding just offshore, in late summer Minke Whale and Bottle-nosed Dolphin are also possible.
Lairg and Loch Shin
From Lairg village car park at NC582064 it is possible to see non-breeding Black-throated Divers fishing and there are usually a few Tufted Duck and Goldeneye also. From Lairg head north along the A836 approximately 3.5km to the hide car park, at Dalchork .
Dalchork bird hide is situated on the shores of Loch Shin at NC571090, approximately 500m from the car park. The Loch is dammed so water levels fluctuate. The hide is in an excellent location on the shore overlooking a small marshy bay. Here in spring and summer it is easy to see at least 8 species of wader.The short walk down to the hide passes along meadow and young regenerating woodland, here in spring you can see Lesser Redpoll and Whinchats. Willow Warblers can be heard singing from the Birches and Sedge and Grasshopper Warbler in the willow scrub. Meadow Pipits and Skylarks are abundant with the latter busy chasing Cuckoos. Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl are sometimes seen over the marsh. From the hide Black-throated Divers may put in an appearance. Listen out for the alarm calls of Common Gulls as they often give away the presence of a raptor, often a fishing Osprey. Snipe display over the marsh as do Lapwing. Dunlin are in full breeding dress and give out the distinctive pea whistle call. Wigeon and Teal are common. Passage waders using Loch Shin as a flyway include Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Golden Plover and Turnstone.
Dalchork bird hide is situated on the shores of Loch Shin at NC571090, approximately 500m from the car park. The Loch is dammed so water levels fluctuate. The hide is in an excellent location on the shore overlooking a small marshy bay. Here in spring and summer it is easy to see at least 8 species of wader.The short walk down to the hide passes along meadow and young regenerating woodland, here in spring you can see Lesser Redpoll and Whinchats. Willow Warblers can be heard singing from the Birches and Sedge and Grasshopper Warbler in the willow scrub. Meadow Pipits and Skylarks are abundant with the latter busy chasing Cuckoos. Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl are sometimes seen over the marsh. From the hide Black-throated Divers may put in an appearance. Listen out for the alarm calls of Common Gulls as they often give away the presence of a raptor, often a fishing Osprey. Snipe display over the marsh as do Lapwing. Dunlin are in full breeding dress and give out the distinctive pea whistle call. Wigeon and Teal are common. Passage waders using Loch Shin as a flyway include Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper, Golden Plover and Turnstone.
