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Overview
The Inverpolly National Nature Reserve is a vast area of heather and grass moorland dotted with lochs and the occasional rocky peak in the north-west of Scotland. With no roads and few tracks the area is very much a wilderness and receives relatively few visitors for a British nature reserve.
As well as the moorland there are many bogs and patches of birch woodland on the valley slopes. The birds of Inverpolly include many species typical of a Scottish upland area and many can be seen from the perimeter roads.
Birds
Notable Species
Golden Eagle, Common Buzzard, Peregrine Falcon and Merlin can all be seen during the breeding season with Red Grouse in the heather and Rock Ptarmigan on the high tops.
Black-throated Diver and Red-throated Diver breed on the lochs as well as Goosander and Red-breasted Merganser, Eurasian Wigeon and Greylag Goose.
Common Greenshank and Golden Plover breed on the moorland and passerines include European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear and Ring Ouzel. Eurasian Woodcock and Wood Warbler breed in the birchwoods.
Black Guillemot, Shag and Northern Fulmar breed on the nearby coast and Barnacle Goose winters on the small islands offshore.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Red-throated Diver, Black-throated Diver, Northern Fulmar, Shag, Greylag Goose, Barnacle Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, Mallard, Common Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Red Grouse, Rock Ptarmigan, Golden Plover, Eurasian Woodcock, Common Greenshank, European Herring Gull, Black Guillemot, Long-eared Owl, Eurasian Skylark, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Common Dipper, Common Wren, Dunnock, Eurasian Robin, Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Ring Ouzel, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Wood Warbler, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper, Common Jay, Northern Raven, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Twite, Lesser Redpoll, Common Bullfinch, Snow Bunting
Other Wildlife
Red Deer Cervus elaphus, Badger Meles meles, Wildcat Felis silvestris and Pine Marten Martes martes occur on the reserve and Otter Lutra lutra is commonly seen along the coast.
More than 360 species of plant have been recorded on the reserve including many mosses and ferns such as Hay-scented Buckler Fern Dryopteris aemula, Lemon-scented Fern Oreopteris limbosperma and Wilson's Filmy Fern Hymenophyllum wilsonii.
Site Information
History and Use
To do
Areas of Interest
A track runs alongside the River Kirkaig in the west of the reserve which gives further opportunities for good birding.
Another is the Knockan Cliff Nature Trail, also of great geological interest, which starts by the reserve information centre in the village of Knockan on the A835.
Access and Facilities
Most of the birds of this area can be seen from peripheral roads or the footpaths but anyone wishing to venture further should be prepared for changeable weather and rough terrain.
The A835 road north from Ullapool is the nearest major road and provides some good viewing points and there is also a minor road which follows the northern shore of Loch Lurgainn then heads north to Lochinver.
Contact Details
To do
External Links
Content and images originally posted by Steve
