Hi all,
I took the urge for a day trip to Ardnamurchan on Sunday night when thinking what to do with my bank holiday Monday.
I left Glasgow at 6am and made it up there in record quick time. The weather was mixed and I drove through some severe downpours but by and large the weather was sunny, windy and showery.
Now my attraction to the west coast and Ardnamurchan in particular, is the abundance of our big raptors. You really can be blessed with stunning and close views of Golden Eagle if your luck is in. I suppose here is the point to say that my luck was not in. (But that's the point really isn't it, if your luck was always in, why would you keep going back?)
I visited most of the recommended locations and drew a blank on sightings. I was, however, rewarded with Wheatear, Stonechat, Grey and Pied Wagtail along the single track road. The highlight was probably a male cuckoo perched on an electricity line just by the road. Whilst he wasn't calling, there were numerous unseen calling birds over the course of the day.
Buzzards are conspicuous on Ardnamurchan and a fleeting glance often causes the rush of excitement that it's the big target but even when it doesn't turn out to be one, you really can be afforded some stunning views of the tourist eagle. The highlight of the day was parking up on the single track road as it winds its way along the peninsula. The area where I parked was on undulating ground, and was cut out of the side of the road. Suddenly a buzzard appeared literally above my head as I stepped out the car. It had been following the contours of the hill behind the parking spot oblivious to my movements. What a rush!
I stopped off for lunch at the Natural History Centre at Glenmore. I was looking forward to checking out the live video images from the hillside carcass. Unfortunately the owner of the centre told me on my arrival that the link has been down for a week or two. As you can imagine, with the level of press coverage, he is extremely disappointed. The link had been tested over the winter and has recorded some brilliant images. There are shots of two goldies feeding and a huge young sea eagle too.
It was fascinating to note just how on edge the goldies were when feeding. Not a moment went by without them lifting their heads to the sky or the distance. It's clear that the slightest disturbance would have seen them leap to the air. When you compare it to the nonchalant behaviour of the young sea eagle, it's easy to see why encounters with goldies are so much more difficult to achieve in the wild.
The owner tells me that he hopes to have the link restored soon to broadcast live pictures but can I suggest that the recorded ones are worth the entry price alone!
I visited the hide at Ardery but the otters weren't playing either. I had male and female eider, several seals and the usual heronry on the smaller island visible from the hide. Numerous oystercatcher and hooded crows from here too.
All in all, the day trip turned up little to show off about but the landscape and changing weather made for a trip of remarkable and fluid scenery.
The link was duff on my visit in mid April as well, in fact two of the guys were just setting off up the hill in rubbish weather to go and try to sort it out, so it is obviously proving a major headache. When it is sorted it will be awesome.
John