UK wildlife spots

Vectisbirder · #1 (**permalink**) 22-12-2010, 06:20 PM

During 2011 I am going to be good and, for the first time in quite a few years, I am not getting on a nice big Airbus A340 or Boeing 747 for far-flung climes, instead staying on these fair shores. This is both by choice (I haven't seen enough UK wildlife) and because of circumstances (no money plus a health issue that needs sorting).
What I plan to do is travel to various places where it is easy to both watch and photograph wildlife.

What would you recommend and why? I will be driving, so remoteness won't be an issue. I won't be doing one big trip, it will be two or three trips of a few days to a week or two each.

Cheers
Fay

JeffH · #2 (**permalink**) 22-12-2010, 06:54 PM

Mull would be my first choice - for it's spectacular scenery, diverse range of habitats and some of the UK's very best wildlife watching opportunities including Golden Eagle, White-tailed Sea Eagle, Otters, etc.

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

earthdragon64 · #3 (**permalink**) 22-12-2010, 07:57 PM

I'd agree with Mull, another great area is the area from Speyside to Inverness and the Black Isle. Dolphins and seabirds at Chanonry Point, Slavonian Grebe at Loch Ruthven and possibly Speyside. Findhorn Valley for Golden Eagle and loads of Red Deer, as well as Ring Ouzels. Speyside and the Cairngorms for Ptarmigan, Mountain Hare, Otters, Osprey and Capercaillie.

Speyside is also great for Dragonflies, Damselflies, Butterflies and Moths as well as flowering plants, depending on the time of year. I'm probably biased, but there is an awful of wildlife.

I'm going to Uist this year for my holiday, I've never been before, but there is a lot there as well, have a look for some of PMG's Western Isles holiday threads.

Regards, Audrey.

Endrick · #4 (**permalink**) 22-12-2010, 09:27 PM

There are a few places in Scotland that come to mind.
1. Shetland. seabirds, otters, waders, cetaceans. Not to be missed!
2. Islay and Jura. Sea eagles, golden eagles, hen harriers, short eared owl, chough, adders, sea birds, waders. The west side of Jura is almost trackless.

ChrisJB · #5 (**permalink**) 23-12-2010, 07:37 AM

For British wildlife (and landscape for that matter) it will always have to be Scotland at the top of my list. Mull (better wildlife) and Skye (better scenery) are obvious choices, but try further north and visit Loch Maree, Assynt and Sutherland.
I look forward to hearing about your travels wherever you go.

Chris

diggleken · #6 (**permalink**) 23-12-2010, 03:20 PM

You must trip out to Islay and Jura.
Besides the distilleries of course .......................

Cairngorm and the 4000ft plateau is so exciting for discoveries of rare flora and birds - and a walking challenge.
Ben Lawers for flora rarities around the mica schist areas is also something well worth exploring, ptarmigan are usually quite confiding there as well.
Yes, let us know!
Cheers
Ken

PMG · #7 (**permalink**) 23-12-2010, 05:50 PM

Goodness where would you like me to start?!!

Like the others before me my first thoughts went for Mull, Western Isles and Cairngorms and for the past 12 years or maybe more I;ve been trying to get north of Ullapool up the west coast particularly for dragonflies and flora ..... and it can't be fitted in this next year either as we have bookings already.

Then another fave would be Dorset, The New Forest, Kent at orchid time, Norfolk in autumn and Islay in autumn cos I've not been to Islay yet ........

The Farnes at breeding time ........ Bass Rock ........ Norfolk/Strumpshaw Fen for butterflies and dragons, Crockford Bridge in the New Forest ditto ........

Probably if you have a look at the Proposed Meets Thread you might get some ideas and even want to co-incide with some of the places the rest of us are considering meeting up at!

Proposed Meets 2011 Poll

Pauline

Vectisbirder · #8 (**permalink**) 23-12-2010, 06:03 PM

Wow, thanks for the ideas everyone. Mull certainly sounds attractive and my thoughts have turned there on seeing Autumnwatch and I can always break the drive up from the south coast with a side trip elsewhere, such as to Gigrin or the Farnes.

The proposed meets idea is a good one, Pauline, thanks.

Jim Ford · #9 (**permalink**) 23-12-2010, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diggleken

Cairngorm and the 4000ft plateau is so exciting for discoveries of rare flora and birds - and a walking challenge.

I was talking to one of the Cairngorm rangers a couple of years ago, and he said that he's noticed a marked decline in the environment over the 15 years he'd been on the job, as a result of human pressure. When I'm up there (and on the Briariach Plateau), I try to 'rock hop' as much as possible (but avoiding lichens), to avoid the fragile gritty soil areas with its associated plant life.

Jim