scotland april 2022 campervan trip (1 Viewer)

[Prestdj]

embarassingly after nearly 40 years of birding ive never done scotland well apart from dumfries and galloway and shetlands

its going to be a semi birding trip, my partner is not a birdwatcher but enjoys wildlife and the outdoors

we are going the 21-29th april

thinking up the east coast to a site she wants to visit near fraserburgh then onto loch garten and i really like what ive read about gruinard bay and glencoe on the way back

so the whole of scotland mainland is open for us anyother suggestions on where to visit? what to expect or good bird sites

many thanks

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

I’d recommend Best Bitdwatching sites in the Scottish Highlands by Gordon Hamlett. Great book.

Rich

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

If you’re in the Cairngorms I’d give the Findhorn Valley a go. Park up at the end and check the skyline for raptors.

On the Moray a trip to Burghead and Findhorn Bay can be quite productive.

You’ll be travelling in some stunning areas. Hope you have a great time.

Rich

 

[Mono]

The Scottish Ornithologists' Club has a free Where to Watch Birds in Scotland app that would aid route planning.

Where to Birdwatch

DOWNLOAD: Where to Watch Birds in Scotland, SOC's free mobile app To download the app now simply click on either button below: For the first time ever, you can now download an app to discover the best places to birdwatch around Scotland and the bird species likely to be found at these sites...

www.the-soc.org.uk

 

[Stonefaction]

It all depends what you hope to see and how long you can spare for each location. Slightly early for some of the summer visitors. I'd consider Musselburgh, maybe Montrose Basin, Ythan Estuary, Strathdearn (Findhorn Valley), Loch of Strathbeg to name a few possibilities.

 

[wolfbirder]

Hi Darrell

Think its difficult to suggest without it being a dedicated birding trip. Do you have target birds or are you just plodding along and taking in what you see as you go along? West coast around Skye brilliant for WT Eagles and also Golden Eagles. Findhorn Valley is spectacular on a nice day, possible Golden Eagles over hilltops but need to be patient. Musselburgh on east coast is great for things like LT Ducks, divers, Eiders, velvet Scoters and possible vagrant American White-winged Scoter. Most of east coast has something to offer.

I've PM'd you some little tips, but nothing is guaranteed.

Have a great trip, Nick

 

[kb57]

If you are heading up the east coast and your partner is a non-birder, can I suggest stop-offs at St. Abb's and Aberlady Bay? The walk to St. Abb's Head will give you nesting seabirds and spectacular scenery, while the little loch nearby just might turn up some migrant passerines in the scrub. There's campervan parking at St. Abb's too, near the start of the walk to the head. Aberlady Bay to Gullane Point (or starting from Gullane if the small car park in Aberlady Bay is full) is also a pleasant walk that should get you velvet scoter (with common scoter) off the point. OK, Musselburgh might get you AWW scoter and surf scoter too if you are lucky, but it has less obvious appeal for the non-birder - maybe a quick stop at Fisherrow harbour car park at high tide before you hit the Edinburgh bypass?
Further north, if you are heading to Fraserburgh you could visit Portsoy harbour further along the coast - I tried and failed to see the white-billed divers there on 21 April 2017, but there was a decent flock of summer-plumage long-tailed ducks just offshore. Although I wasn't really taking much notice of the architecture, it struck me as quite a pleasant little fishing village for a non-birder to visit too.
I'd second the SOC app as a good source of site info, including on some of the above sites.

 

[KC Foggin]

No suggestions whatsoever but you guys have a great time

 

[Ratal]

embarassingly after nearly 40 years of birding ive never done scotland well apart from dumfries and galloway and shetlands

its going to be a semi birding trip, my partner is not a birdwatcher but enjoys wildlife and the outdoors

we are going the 21-29th april

thinking up the east coast to a site she wants to visit near fraserburgh then onto loch garten and i really like what ive read about gruinard bay and glencoe on the way back

so the whole of scotland mainland is open for us anyother suggestions on where to visit? what to expect or good bird sites

many thanks

I'll get a google earth map and throw some suggestions up for both great birding and awesome sights. Give me a couple of hours and it'll be posted in this thread.

 

[RobinD]

This will be a really useful thread - my Dad has suggested that we do a road trip around Scotland as his first holiday after my mother passed away.

Again, he is not a birder but keen to see spectacular places and is still fit and active.

I have seen the birding specialities many years ago (I haven't been for 15 years though!) but would love to look for butterflies like Chequered Skipper and we would both love to see Pine Marten (ok and Wildcat but not likely).

Any advice on the best time and sites to visit would be appreciated or any areas to stay. We were thinking late May or early June.

 

[a_j_steele]

If your looking for pine martens had success here a few years ago Evening Wildlife Watching Hide, Rothiemurchus, Evening Mammal Watching, Speyside Wildlife, Cairngorms National Park, mammal watching, Scotland. Ardnamurchan is also a good bet for your mammals and butterflies. Previous had the Skipper in Glasdrum wood (with no sun) and at Ariundle National Nature Reserve near the Car Park + wood warbler

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

Ardnamurchan can be good for Pine Marten. And a great place to just relax and take in the wildlife.

Rich

 

[Prestdj]

got a copy of "best birdwatching sites in the highlands" from gordon signed for our trip which is a great gesture

many thanks for all the great advice

 

[richard866945]

The Scottish Ornithologists' Club has a free Where to Watch Birds in Scotland app that would aid route planning.

Where to Birdwatch

DOWNLOAD: Where to Watch Birds in Scotland, SOC's free mobile app To download the app now simply click on either button below: For the first time ever, you can now download an app to discover the best places to birdwatch around Scotland and the bird species likely to be found at these sites...

www.the-soc.org.uk

Mono, thank you for the info . I have loaded the SOC app on to my phone as a few of us are going to Scotland in May
so the local advice is very valuable.

 

[WildPhotographer]

Lochindorb for Black-Throated Divers from mid-April onwards. Ospreys in Lossiemouth, by the park homes, Findhorn bay too, but more distant.
So much to see...

 

[Prestdj]

all packed and ready to go in the morning

the route is subject to change but as it stands

the kelpies
elie
fraserburgh
then along the moray coast
loch garten
gruinard bay
applecross

should be good

 

[Andy Lakin]

Some of the pieces you read make it sound easy to clean up on the Highland specialities bird wise i.e 9ver a weekend. Personally I think you also need a lot of luck as well as a good idea as where to look for particular species. As well as Birdforum there are loads of trip reports covering Scotland/ the Highlands on the Web. It might be worth having a look at the O.S maps for some of the areas you are visiting there are various options price wise on the O.S app or if you buy a paper copy you get a free code to download it to the app.If you are anywhere near the West Coast in the Highlands the area around Poolewe is fantastic for stunning quiet beaches with chances of Otter, Dolphins etc in the area.

 

[delia todd]

Weather doesn't seem to be too bad for the next week.

Enjoy.

Have fun getting to Applecross... that's quite an experience but well worth it!!! It's beautiful round there.