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Britain and Ireland - Scotland

From the expanse of peat bogs of the Caithness Flow Country through the Arctic Cairngorm plateau to the salt marshes of the mild Solway coast, Scotland has a more diverse range of habitats than almost any country of comparable size. For the visiting birdwatcher Scotland's great sea bird colonies are perhaps its most outstanding feature. The islands of St. Kilda with the world's largest Gannet colony alongside many thousands of Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills and Kittiwakes are perhaps the most famous of the 500 or so Hebridean islands. But the Outer Hebrides are also a major wintering area for Barnacle Geese, whilst Corncrake has re-established itself as a breeding species in recent years. Red-throated Divers are a feature of the lochs, Black Guillemots of the coasts. Like the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland hold impressive seabird colonies but are better known as a focal point for rarities in spring and autumn. Shetland also offers the best chance of seeing Snowy Owl and breeding Red-necked Phalarope. And then there is Fair Isle, mid-way between the two, where the roll-call of extreme rarities has written this island into birding folklore long ago. Apart from the islands, birders are also attracted by the Highlands, particularly Speyside and the Cairngorms where birders can catch up with Scottish Crossbill, Crested Tit and many other Scottish specialities. The Cairngorms themselves offer the prospect of Ptarmigan, Dotterel and breeding Snow Bunting.

Ptarmigan, Cairngorm © Steve Round

Trip Reports Capercaillie code of conduct, author Surfbirds Admin (added September 24, 2004) Scotland - Fair Isle, 27th May - 3rd June 2001, author Surfbirds Admin (added September 24, 2004) Scotland Islay and Jura, 27th October - 3rd November 2001, author Surfbirds Admin (added September 24, 2004) Scotland Islay & Jura, December 2003, author Surfbirds Admin (added September 24, 2004) Scotland, The Orkneys, 24th May - 1st June 2003, author Surfbirds Admin (added September 24, 2004) Speyside, Black Isle, Highlands and Inner Hebrides, 29th June - 26th July 2003, author Surfbirds Admin (added September 24, 2004) The Islay Goosefest, 1st - 4th January 2004, author Surfbirds Admin (added September 24, 2004) Scotland, 23rd April - 2nd May 2004, author Surfbirds Admin (added September 24, 2004) Tour de Force - Buchan Alpha, author Bagsy (added October 31, 2005) (Yellow-browed Warbler, Great Grey Shrike) Fair Isle Flunk With Some Mainland Luck - October 2005, author David Andrews (added November 4, 2005) Dumfries and Galloway - 22nd to 29th October, 2005, author Christopher Hall (added November 2, 2005) (Loch Ken, Wigtown Bay, Fleet National Nature Reserve, Loch Ryan, Southerness Point) Scotland - the Highlands & Lewis/Harris - 19th to 26th April 2007, author Geoff Dicker (added May 20, 2007) (Loch Venachar, Glen Quaich, Speyside, Findhorn Valley, Loch Ruthven, Lewis, Harris, Skye, Gruinard Bay) Isle of Coll - a unique hebridean experience, author Surfbirds Admin (link created March 23, 2006) (Corncrake, Basking Shark) Birding the Isle of Mull, Scotland - 17th - 24th May 2008, author Derek Lister (added June 4, 2008) (The Aros estuary, Aros-Dervaig Raod, Loch Na Keal, Loch Scridian, Iona and The Treshnish Isles) Scotland, Outer Hebrides, Uists and Barra - 10th - 17th May 2008 with Western Isles Wildlife, author Stephen Duffield (added June 4, 2008) (North Uist, South Uist, Barra, Benbecula, Bee-eater, White-tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle, Corncrake, Otter, Hen Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Great Northern Diver, skuas, Snowy Owl, Hebirdes, Specialise in birds of the Outer Hebrides) Garvellachs, Inner Hebrides - May 2006, author Richard Wesley (added July 31, 2007) (This was confirmed later as Ian picked him up on his VHF Radio and we could see Farsain emerge from the Grey Dogs between Lunga and Scarba, heading straight for the Garvellachs.) Birding Trip to the Scottish Highlands, 16th - 19th July 2005, author Tony Moverley (added July 26, 2005) (Scottish Highlands, Speyside, Golden Eagle, Slavonian Grebe, Crested Tit) Scotland Trip - June 2003, author Richard Wesley (added February 10, 2006) (We were not be disappointed as in the distance a Golden Eagle worked its way along the valley. It treated us to exceptional views as it passed and continued along the ridge. A wonderful end, to a day full of great birds.) Scotland - July 2008, author Mark Hows (added August 9, 2008) Scotland - June 2008, author Mike Dawson (added August 4, 2008) (Speyside, Cairngorm, Anagach Wood, Insh.) Scotland - Mull 22nd - 24th April 2006, author Richard Wesley (added April 26, 2006) (A raptor was performing aerial diving manoeuvers close to the road. This strange ritual confused me at first, but to my delight, realised it was a male Hen Harrier.) Scotland - Sound of Gigha 1st April 2006, author Richard Wesley (added April 19, 2006) (A Raven cronked overhead as Paul informed me that the Sound of Ghia was one of the best over-wintering sites in Britain for Slavonian Grebes with up to fifty pairs in some winters.) Showing the 22 Most Recent Trip Reports Posted BACK TO TRIP REPORTS HOME PAGE POST A TRIP REPORT EDIT YOUR TRIP REPORTS

Recent Sightings Lower Largo, Fife, Surf Scoter author louise allen (added November 28, 2006) Claylands Nursery, Newbridge, Great Spotted Woodpecker, pecking at the oak tree author Colin Gilburt (added August 20, 2006) Dalmeny, My Garden Feeder, Greater Spotted Woodpecker feeding from my nut author Dave Shaw (added July 22, 2006) Largs, Greater Spotted Woodpecker Tree author Ian Dalgleish (added March 18, 2006) Largs, 10 author Ian Dalgleish (added March 10, 2006) Showing the 5 Latest Recent Sightings Posted  See More ADD SOME RECENT SIGHTINGS

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