Best sites for Chough and Black Guillemot?

[david156]

Hi all.

Have been given the ok by the other half to be able to disappear for a few days birding and photography next year. (Third year on the trot!)
I am beginning to think about where I want to head of to and so far have come up with the idea of trying to see and photograph Chough and Black Guillemot amongst other things.
So I thought I would start making some enquires on here to see if people know of some reliable sites. Obviously the seeing side of things isn't so hard, its more of the sites for photography.
I've made some basic enquires to a few people and done a little online research and the general opinion is west coast of Scotland and the Isle of Skye. If this is so then whilst in Scotland, I could also add the likes of Ptarmigan and my favourite, Slavonian grebe (in breeding plumage).
Any specific sites or areas would be helpful and then I can start planning properly.

Cheers David.

[RobS]

Loch Ruthven for Slavonian Grebe used to be good and walking up Cairngorm near the skilift thing (to the right of it) got me good views of Ptarmigan. I went in early May for the Ptarmigan and there is a board in the shop / centre with info about them. Bear in mind that nowadays you cannot (or perhaps should not) walk around the plateau if you take the railway lift thing (you could in the old days).

Black Guillemot and Chough I can't help you with (although Black Guillemot is plentiful in Scotland, I remember seeing them in Oban Harbour and also from the boat from Mallaig to Skye, but there will be plenty of information on the net for these two - there is a website for Mull birds so (without looking) perhaps there is one for Skye which might point you in the right direction.

If you are there in early May don't forget that the RSPB normally opens up Loch Garten early in the morning to see Capercaillie - which I also saw!

Scotland is such a great place!

Good luck!

Rob S

[david156]

Cheers Rob for the reply.
Saw the Slavonian Grebes at Loch Ruthven a couple of years ago in full breeding plumage along with the capercaille under the bird feeders at loch garten. Only ever seen winter plumage slavs around the norfolk coast so it was great to see them in 'full colour'. Didn't have a camera then so hopping to get a shot of them next year.
The Mallaig and Skye areas seem to have cropped up when others have talked of Black Guillemot and I remember seeing my first chough on skye somewhere around the portree area many years ago.
Will probably be heading up that way around the beginning of June but this isn't defininte.

David

[solus]

No Choughs on Skye - Colonsay has them though, and Islay.

Black Guillemots shouldn't be too difficult around the harbours of the west coast of Scotland.

Birds and Bird Watching on Island of Skye, Scotland is the website for birding the island.

[The Woodman]

If you want to target Chough and BG why not consider the Isle of Man? I don't think there's a better place, the Antrim coast is pretty good too.

[JeffH]

A number of Black Guillemots nest in the harbour wall at Oban - up by the cathedral

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers, Barn Owls and Avocets)

[Tringa]

As said already Black Guilliemots are common on the coast of western Scotland.

It is a bit more difficult to get to than Skye, but Islay is excellent for choughs and so many other birds too. Have a look at this site Islay Birds, and if you like whisky then you have lots of places to visit if the weather turns bad.

Dave

[theresa dockery]

Originally Posted by JeffH

A number of Black Guillemots nest in the harbour wall at Oban - up by the cathedral

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers, Barn Owls and Avocets)

I agree, Oban harbour is a great place to see them! You can get quite close without fear of falling down a cliff or anything - they are almost tame.

[tufftie]

Islay is very good for choughs - heard for the RSPB reserve and they will direct you. Westray and Papay on Orkney are very good for Guillimots, auks etc.....watch out for the fulmars though!!!

[theresa dockery]

As for choughs - I've seen them up close at Laggan Bay, Islay. The wide-curving white-sanded bay is absolutely serene and (at least, when I was there) empty of people.