Birds.com: Online Birds Guide with Facts, Articles, Videos, and Photos » Scotland

Crossbills Acting Cross-Eyed

Editor — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 11:54:05 +0000

It seems that a group of rare two-barred crossbills ‘looked’ at their internal compasses a little cross-eyed since they took a wrong turn and ended up in a remote, windswept outcrop of Scottish islands. No doubt the birds came in search of food but it is unlikely that they’re going to find their favorite snack – larch and spruce cones – this far north.

The rare and colorful two-barred crossbill hails from Russia and usually scours parts of Europe in search of coniferous forests. Their normal haunts stretch from Sea of Okhotsk to the Finnish border – a distance of some 3 500 miles. While they have been spotted in Scotland before, they don’t generally make a habit of venturing all the way to Britain in their travels. This year it seems that not only have they decided to cross the sea, but they’ve done so in large family groups. So far 22 of the birds have been counted in Shetland – the greatest number to hit the island since 1990. The females and juveniles of the species are green and yellow, while the males are dark red. Both are easy to spot in the somewhat barren Shetland Isles and they are attracting a lot of attention. But Shetland isn’t the only place they’ve been spotted. More birds have been spotted in Orkney, Harris in the Western Islands, and on St Kilda – a staggering 50 miles further north than any of the other locations. Some have also been spotted much further south in Kent. In total at least 48 birds have been recorded in the country during a period of just three weeks.

Commenting on the number of juveniles in the groups, Shetland bird recorder Paul Harvey suggested that the birds’ presence is most likely the result of a successful breeding season followed by a shortage of food in their more usual forage areas at the top of Russia. Essentially they were not meant to end up as far away from their homes as Britain, but it seems they’ll get by. Harvey noted that since they’ve arrived in Scotland they’ve been feeding mainly on thistle heads, seeds and sea pinks. He surmised that they will eventually move on in their quest for food. Until that happens, the birds will continue to be hunted by amateur and professional cameramen alike as they attempt to catch the colorful phenomenon on film. It seems they have even caught the attention of a few tourists – many of which can no doubt sympathize with the inconvenience of taking a wrong turn during ones travels.

Spectacular Birding on the Isle of Mull

Editor — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 09:42:52 +0000

The beautiful Isle of Mull is Scotland’s fourth largest island and a popular tourist destination for a number of reasons, one of them being that it offers superb bird watching opportunities in a wide variety of habitats. The island’s mountains, moorlands, sea lochs, hill lochans, damp boggy marshes and wide sandy beaches are home to many local species of birds, as well as a host of migrants at different times of the year.

Raptors that birders can look out for include Golden Eagle, White-tailed Sea Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Hen Harrier, Kestrel, Merlin, Buzzard and Sparrow Hawk. Resident owls include Barn Owl, Tawny Owl and Long-eared Owl, while the Short-eared Owl visits the Isle of Mull to breed. The island’s more than 300 mile long coastline attracts many waders and serves as an en-route feeding stop-over for Whooper Swan, Greenshank, Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit, Snipe, Whimbrel and more. Large flocks of Song Thrush, Willow Warbler and Whitethroat are found virtually everywhere.

Birding enthusiasts can be sure of seeing something interesting no matter what time of the year they choose to visit the Isle of Mull. Many birders agree that the months of April through to June are very rewarding. The weather is generally warm and dry, allowing greater visibility. In May many of the birds are in full breeding stage, which is always an exciting time for bird watchers. The Great Northern and Black-throated Diver spend their winter on the sea lochs, while the Red-throated Diver favors the fresh water lochs in the spring and summer months. If using the ferry from the harbor at Oban to cross over the Ross of Mull to the Craignure ferry terminal on the island, birders are very likely to see Guillemot, Razorbill, Puffin, Gannet and Red-throated Diver during the trip, and as an added bonus, dolphins are often seen from the ferry.

In recent years the mink living on the Isle of Mull, as well as other islands of Argyll, have grown tremendously and have started becoming a threat to ground nesting bird populations. New measures are being implemented to control the mink population and protect ground nesting bird colonies, such as those for the Arctic Tern and Common Tern.

There are a number of tour operators offering organized tours around the Isle of Mull, where expert guides with in-depth knowledge of the island take visitors to see otters, seals, deer, hares and other wildlife, and of course, an abundance of birds! The scenery is exceptional and the variety of birds that can be spotted in a single day is phenomenal. The Isle of Mull should definitely be on every keen birder’s list of places to visit.

Fair Isle Bird Watching Delights

Editor — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:18:43 +0000

If you are looking for a great new place to enjoy a bird watching holiday, you might want to consider Fair Isle. Situated in the Atlantic Ocean somewhere between The Shetland and Orkney Islands, this little island is just three miles long and 1.5 miles wide. While the island is famous for its bird life, don’t expect exceptional weather or a bustling metropolis. This little island is frigid and virtually isolated – so you’d better pack warm!

Despite the fact that this tiny island is so cold, it is not completely deserted. Apart from the weather station it is home to a tiny population that regularly engages in traditional crafts. Visitors to the island can usually see locals busy with traditional boatbuilding, stained glass, knitting colorful ‘Fair Isle’ jumpers, making silver jewelry or creating straw-backed chairs. However, the real allure of this place is the wildlife and bird lovers will find that there is definitely not a shortage of birds here! The striking coastal cliffs make the perfect place for thousands of different birds. Kittiwakes, razorbills, fulmars, black guillemots and puffins can be found in abundance here. The moors enjoy a slightly different crowd and here you will see terns and skuas that have chosen this area as their summer nesting grounds. Though pretty, the birds are wild and fiercely protective over their young and visitors venturing out on the moors will likely find themselves under attack from these dedicated parents.

No trip bird watching trip to Fair Isle would be complete without a visit to the Bird Observatory. In 1948 George Waterson decided to purchase Fair Isle, which he planned to use for a bird observatory. This he did, with the result that the island’s economy was boosted. The Fair Isle Bird Observatory has played a large role in the study of bird migration. Not only did it help pioneer such studies but researchers were also able to study how changes in the marine environment affected bird populations. Today the island continues to be popular amongst bird watchers, though wildlife enthusiasts in general also find it an excellent destination.

Bird lovers will soon get to know the Fair Isle Specials: the Lanceolated warbler, the Pechora pipit, the Yellow-breasted bunting and the Palla’s Grasshopper. All four species regularly make their appearance on this small island along with a variety of other birds that migrate here to breed. Accommodation in this tiny corner of the world is freely available at the observatory, so pack in your winter woolies and get ready to join the 400 or so visitors who take in the sights at Fair Isle each year!

New RSPB Reserve at Dunnet Head, Scotland

Editor — Thu, 29 May 2008 09:40:28 +0000

In line with their ongoing efforts in the conservation of wild birds and other wildlife, as well as their habitats, RSPB Scotland have announced that Dunnet Head in Caithness has become a nature reserve. These cliffs at the British mainland’s most northerly point jutting out into the Pentland Firth between John o’Groats and Thurso, Caithness, are home to a multitude of seabirds, including guillemots, puffins and kittiwakes.

Landowner, Ben Colson, recently handed over the management of the 27-hectare site to the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds). Recognizing that Dunnet Head is a nationally important home for a large variety of seabirds, Colson expressed his appreciation for the work the RSPB do, as well as his confidence that they will ensure that both the wildlife of the area, and the people who visit there, will be catered for. Colson, his family, and many others in the area have a special bond with Dunnett Head, which is rich in wildlife and history. They are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with RSPB in sharing the natural beauty of this nature reserve with fellow bird and wildlife enthusiasts from far and wide.

The red sandstone cliffs of Dunnet Head are more than 90 meters high in some place, but the majority of the cliffs are between 30 and 60 meters high. RSPB Scotland’s senior conservation manager, Pete Mayhew, revealed that in addition to caring for the seabirds and their cliff habitat, they are hoping to manage the land on top of the cliffs. This land, which had been grazed by sheep in the past, could provide habitat for corncrake, twite and great yellow bumblebee. Future plans include improving tourist facilities at Dunnet Head to attract more visitors to the area.

Dunnet Head is mainland Britain’s most northerly point. On a clear day visitors can enjoy some of the most extensive and breath-taking views to be found anywhere in northern Scotland. These stunning views extend from Cape Wrath situated at the north-western tip of mainland Scotland, right through of Duncansby Head at the north-eastern tip. Looking inland, the view includes the sharp peaks of Morvern and Maiden Pap. Add to all this natural beauty, the abundant bird and wildlife of the area, and you have some compelling reasons to visit Dunnett Head, RSPB Scotland’s newest nature reserve.