Wildlife photography in Scotland

[bob hastie]

Hi all
We are planning a holiday to Scotland,hopefully to photograph some of the wildlife that we don't get down in the South West of England.
I've been doing a bit of research but a few recommendations would be great.
Our target species are
Golden Eagle
White tailled eagle
Osprey
Capercaillie
Black Grouse
Crested Tit
Red Squirrel
Pine Martin
Whales/Dolphins
This list is only species that we would both like to find, if anyone knows of good photography sites which hold other species, please let us know.

Edit. We were thinking of going in late spring, but this is flexible as long as it DOESN'T coinside with school holidays.
Bob

[eeyore]

White tailled eagle - Mull , there is suposed to be onethat comes down to follow a fishing boat arround tobermory harbour

Osprey - dont bother with garten for photography as you are too far away, Loch of the lowes or feeding over rothiemurcus fish farm near aviemor - I know a nest location you can get tolerably close to but I'm not going to put it on the boards for obvious reasons - drop me a pm if you want to know.

Red Squirrel - Either Highland wildlife park at kingussie or the bird feeders at RSPB garten - or not in scotland but you could call at formby in lancs on your way north where very close red squiz are more or less guaranteed

Pine Martin - Rothiemurcus estate wildlife hide - also Badgers at this location in the summer

Whales/Dolphins - very good boat trips out of Tobermory , Mull

[Hobjob]

There used to be a wild, but tame (if you see what I mean) Red Squirrel at the shop at Glenmore forest park, on the way from Aviemore to the ski slopes.

[ron1863]

Hi Bob,

Click on the following link, fill in the form and you will be sent a very informative brochure specifying excellent wildlife sights all over Scotland.


Free Scottish Wildlife Information and Facts Brochure - Wildlife Scotland

[eeyore]

I would also highly reccomend the wildlife traveller series of books by Richard Rowe - these highly informative books are pocket sized and only cost 6.99 each (possibly cheaper than that on amazon), and the index is by species meaning you can look up your traget list for a fairly definitive list of locations - there are two for scotland one covering the islandsand the other the mainland.

I cant give you the isbns unfortunately as on my copies they are covered by very sticky labels but a google or amazon serach dhould bring home the goods

[bob hastie]

Thanks for the replies guys
It's looking like a few days up around Aviemore and then meandering south west towards mull for a few days.
Any tips for Crested Tits anyone?
Bob

[eeyore]

the rspb website lists garten forest and corrimony as two good locations Crested tit - The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

mind you in my experience in both these places they are likely to spend a lot of time up in the canopy out of easy site so you will need a bucket full of paiteince - and if you are hoping to photograph them a bucket full of luck too

[geordie1970]

You could try Holiday cottages Fort William Scotland .Excellent for Pine Martens Red Squirrel etc but for Sea & Golden eagles Mull's the place.

[canny]

I agree, Mull is definitly the place for White Tailed Eagles, you may also see Golden Eagles and if you're lucky, Otters too. The boat trips out of Tobermory and Fionnphort are a must for Whales, Basking sharks and dolphins.
The Isle of Skye is also good for Sea Eagles.
As for Pine Martens the area around Kinlochewe in the Torridons is good. Rent a cottage in a wooded area in that location and you could well be lucky and have them visiting every night.
Likewise on the shores of Loch Duich down from Kyle of Lochalsh.

[djwa11y]

There is a wildlife week on Mull in May check out http://www.wildisles.co.uk/ for details.

[joekid]

Originally Posted by bob hastie

Hi all
We are planning a holiday to Scotland,hopefully to photograph some of the wildlife that we don't get down in the South West of England.
I've been doing a bit of research but a few recommendations would be great.
Our target species are
Golden Eagle
White tailled eagle
Osprey
Capercaillie
Black Grouse
Crested Tit
Red Squirrel
Pine Martin
Whales/Dolphins
This list is only species that we would both like to find, if anyone knows of good photography sites which hold other species, please let us know.

Edit. We were thinking of going in late spring, but this is flexible as long as it DOESN'T coinside with school holidays.
Bob

the golden eagles and white tailed eagles are on the other side of loch maree/follow signs to gairloch,we use a small 3m inflatable + 4 hp outboard to cross, the walks a killer,big deer too, oh and an unidentified black object that jumped out on us, as we approached the turn off,big.