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Scotland
Overview
Named as Scotland in miniature, Arran has it all: remote high mountains and valleys in the north, moorland, conifer plantations and farmland in the south and a rocky shoreline. Not surprisingly a good array of birds can be found here.
Birds
Notable Species
Arran is internationally important for Hen Harriers as about five percent of the UK breeding population are found here. It is also a site of national importance for Red-breasted Merganser. Furthermore Golden Eagle can be found easily, Divers are present almost all year and seabirds can be seen from the shore or from the ferry Ardrossan - Brodick.
Black Grouse are reintroduced, but the programme has just started. Eurasian Nightjar occurs, but usually not in public domain.
Rarities
Cory's Shearwater, Mediterranean Shearwater, Leach's Petrel, Bittern, Snowy Egret, Spoonbill, King Eider, White-tailed Eagle, Hobby, Long-billed Dowitcher, Ross's Gull or Eurasian Hoopoe have been seen in the past few years. Some species like Eurasian Magpie, which are common on the mainland are very rare visitors to the island.
Check-list
Birds you can see here include:
Red-throated Diver, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Northern Fulmar, Manx Shearwater, European Storm Petrel, Northern Gannet, Great Cormorant, European Shag, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Pink-footed Goose, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Barnacle Goose, Common Shelduck, Mandarin Duck, Wigeon, Common Teal, Mallard, Common Eider, Common Scoter, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander, Red Kite, Hen Harrier, Eurasian Goshawk, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Osprey, Common Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Red Grouse, Ptarmigan, Black Grouse, Red-legged Partridge, Common Pheasant, Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Eurasian Golden Plover, Eurasian Dotterel, Northern Lapwing, Red Knot, Sanderling, Purple Sandpiper, Dunlin, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe, Eurasian Woodcock, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Common Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Ruddy Turnstone, Arctic Skua, Great Skua, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, European Herring Gull, Iceland Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Sandwich Tern, Razorbill, Common Guillemot, Black Guillemot, Atlantic Puffin, Rock Dove, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Cuckoo, Barn Owl, Long-eared Owl, Short-eared Owl, Eurasian Nightjar, Common Swift, Common Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Eurasian Skylark, Sand Martin, Barn Swallow, Western House Martin, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Bohemian Waxwing, White-throated Dipper, Eurasian Wren, Hedge Accentor, European Robin, Common Redstart, Whinchat, European Stonechat, Northern Wheatear, Ring Ouzel, Eurasian Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Wood Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Treecreeper, Eurasian Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Hooded Crow, Rook, Common Raven, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Eurasian Linnet, Twite, Lesser Redpoll, Common Crossbill, Common Bullfinch, Snow Bunting, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting
Other Wildlife
Red Squirrels are abundant.
Site Information
History and Use
To do
Areas of Interest
To do
Access and Facilities
Arran is linked with the mainland with a ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick. Accomodation is plentiful in the different villages on the island.
Contact Details
Local Island Recorder:
Jim Cassels
Kilpatrick Kennels
Kilpatrick, Blackwaterfoot
KA27 8EY
01770 860316
