Spent a very pleasant week in the unspoilt fishing port of Portpatrick from 3/5/14 to 10/3/14.
It lies between two large Gannet colonies and north of the RSPB sea bird colony at the Mull of Galloway.
Small wonder the seawatching was excellent all week.
There are also steep cliffs either side supporting Herring Gull,Fulmar,Raven Peregine Falcon and Shag.
On the top of the cliffs there is adequate coastal scrub,heather and gorse supporting Stonechat,Linnet,Common Whitethroat,Skylark and Meadow Pipit.
I was able to do most of the birdwatching on foot and only used the car once to drive a couple of miles to Killantringham Bay.
We stayed in the excellent Laharna Cottage booked through Welcome Cottages.
It lies in the centre of the village which has a good choice of pubs,eating places and two general food stores.
Portpatrick
Spent an hour or so each morning or evening seawatching.
A constant flow of seabirds every day.
When the wind was in a westerly direction they were closer to shore but always easily viewed with a scope.
The Portpatrick speciality,the Black Guillimot were either sheltering in the harbour or not far off shore.
Also close to shore were the Eider Duck and Shag as well as resting Razorbill and Guillimot
There was a relentless passage of Gannets going north or south as well as auks,mainly Guillimot and less so, Razorbill
Fulmar and Herring Gull were always around.
Manx Shearwater were very regular,sometimes close to shore.
An Arctic Skua flew past on the Thursday and a flock of Common Scoter went past the day before.
Kittiwakes were few and far between:small groups flew through ocassionally.
There were very few Cormorant here.Shag were far more common
Oystercatcher ,Linnet,Northern Wheatear and Meadow Pipit were seen on the ground.
There were 2 Sedge Warbler near the caravan site just outside the village and 2 Grey Wagtail in the stream near the main church
The Morroch Bay Cliff path
A spectacular walk from Portpatrick to the awesome Morroch Bay.
The most noticeable birds along the way were Stonechat and Common Whitethroat.
There were 7 Stonechat and 10 Common Whitethroat along the way.Also a few Linnet,Skylark and Meadow Pipit.
Northern Wheatear were a bit thin on the ground around were but there were two on the clifftops.
Apart from the Herring Gull and Fulmar on the cliffs this area was excellent for watching Raven with 4 on the cliff tops,
A Peregine Falcon was harrassing a pair of Buzzard at Morroch Bay where there were also 2 Kestrel
This was the only place I saw any Rock Pipit with four on the rocky shore in the bay.
It was also good for Shag,There were three in the bay one day with Eider Duck and Guillimot..
The only Black Headed Gull and Greater Black Back Gull were along this walk
My only sighting of a Common Redpoll was on the way back along the road.
The Killantringham Bay Cliff top walk
Another brilliant walk from Portpatrick along the cliffs.
Again a lot of Stonechat with 3 pairs on territory and 6 Common Whitethroat
Also there were many Linnet,Skylark and Meadow Pipit..
The Lighthouse above Killantringham beach was a marvelous seawatching point.
There were a few resting Red Throated Diver below the Lighthouse.
Lots of Gannet were passing closely with some Fulmar and many auks.
There was a flock of Common Tern on the beach below which were flying past the lighthouse.
Below the lighthouse and in the bay were resting Shag,Eider,Razorbill and Guillimot.
I saw an Arctic Tern on the beach as well as a Ringed Plover.
The shore was popular with Oystercatcher.
The Lighthouse was a real magnet for Barn Swallow and House Martin
I saw 3 Red Legged Partridge on the road leading away from the Lighthouse.
There were several Goldfinch around here too.
Dunskey Glen
This was a lovely walk through a densely wooded glen.
Excellent for Blackcap with 5 heard along the walk.
Also heard a Cuckoo here.
Two Treecreeper were in the woods with a few Chiffchaff,Willow Warbler,Song Thrush,Great Tit,Robin and Song Thrush.
There were 2 Buzzard on the edge of the Glen.
An enjoyable week!
It lies between two large Gannet colonies and north of the RSPB sea bird colony at the Mull of Galloway.
Small wonder the seawatching was excellent all week.
There are also steep cliffs either side supporting Herring Gull,Fulmar,Raven Peregine Falcon and Shag.
On the top of the cliffs there is adequate coastal scrub,heather and gorse supporting Stonechat,Linnet,Common Whitethroat,Skylark and Meadow Pipit.
I was able to do most of the birdwatching on foot and only used the car once to drive a couple of miles to Killantringham Bay.
We stayed in the excellent Laharna Cottage booked through Welcome Cottages.
It lies in the centre of the village which has a good choice of pubs,eating places and two general food stores.
Portpatrick
Spent an hour or so each morning or evening seawatching.
A constant flow of seabirds every day.
When the wind was in a westerly direction they were closer to shore but always easily viewed with a scope.
The Portpatrick speciality,the Black Guillimot were either sheltering in the harbour or not far off shore.
Also close to shore were the Eider Duck and Shag as well as resting Razorbill and Guillimot
There was a relentless passage of Gannets going north or south as well as auks,mainly Guillimot and less so, Razorbill
Fulmar and Herring Gull were always around.
Manx Shearwater were very regular,sometimes close to shore.
An Arctic Skua flew past on the Thursday and a flock of Common Scoter went past the day before.
Kittiwakes were few and far between:small groups flew through ocassionally.
There were very few Cormorant here.Shag were far more common
Oystercatcher ,Linnet,Northern Wheatear and Meadow Pipit were seen on the ground.
There were 2 Sedge Warbler near the caravan site just outside the village and 2 Grey Wagtail in the stream near the main church
The Morroch Bay Cliff path
A spectacular walk from Portpatrick to the awesome Morroch Bay.
The most noticeable birds along the way were Stonechat and Common Whitethroat.
There were 7 Stonechat and 10 Common Whitethroat along the way.Also a few Linnet,Skylark and Meadow Pipit.
Northern Wheatear were a bit thin on the ground around were but there were two on the clifftops.
Apart from the Herring Gull and Fulmar on the cliffs this area was excellent for watching Raven with 4 on the cliff tops,
A Peregine Falcon was harrassing a pair of Buzzard at Morroch Bay where there were also 2 Kestrel
This was the only place I saw any Rock Pipit with four on the rocky shore in the bay.
It was also good for Shag,There were three in the bay one day with Eider Duck and Guillimot..
The only Black Headed Gull and Greater Black Back Gull were along this walk
My only sighting of a Common Redpoll was on the way back along the road.
The Killantringham Bay Cliff top walk
Another brilliant walk from Portpatrick along the cliffs.
Again a lot of Stonechat with 3 pairs on territory and 6 Common Whitethroat
Also there were many Linnet,Skylark and Meadow Pipit..
The Lighthouse above Killantringham beach was a marvelous seawatching point.
There were a few resting Red Throated Diver below the Lighthouse.
Lots of Gannet were passing closely with some Fulmar and many auks.
There was a flock of Common Tern on the beach below which were flying past the lighthouse.
Below the lighthouse and in the bay were resting Shag,Eider,Razorbill and Guillimot.
I saw an Arctic Tern on the beach as well as a Ringed Plover.
The shore was popular with Oystercatcher.
The Lighthouse was a real magnet for Barn Swallow and House Martin
I saw 3 Red Legged Partridge on the road leading away from the Lighthouse.
There were several Goldfinch around here too.
Dunskey Glen
This was a lovely walk through a densely wooded glen.
Excellent for Blackcap with 5 heard along the walk.
Also heard a Cuckoo here.
Two Treecreeper were in the woods with a few Chiffchaff,Willow Warbler,Song Thrush,Great Tit,Robin and Song Thrush.
There were 2 Buzzard on the edge of the Glen.
An enjoyable week!
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