Scottish Highlands, April-May 2025

Mark Finn
April 26-May 3

April 26th: Portsoy, Cullen, Loch Spynie, Lossiemouth Pig Farm
Daily 60 New 60 Running 60
Weather: Sunny with a SW wind 17c

Our first birding stop was the old herring village of Portsoy which is situated just inside Aberdeenshire. It is a regular site in spring for migrant White-billed Divers but on this visit none were seen. From the jetty close views of Long-tailed Duck, Common Eider, Northern Gannet, Black-legged Kittiwake, Sandwich Tern and Common Guillemot. Cullen is further west where the group located Red-throated Diver, European Rock Pipit and a marked movement of Barn Swallows and Sand Martins. I decided to visit Loch Spynie near Lossiemouth which is now managed by RSPB Scotland. The woodlands held Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Common Chiffchaff, Common Chaffinch, Great Tit, Eurasian Wren and Tree Sparrow. A new hide has been installed and this allowed us views over the loch with sightings of Mute Swan, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Eurasian Teal, Common Merganser, Common Shelduck and Common Coot. Our day ended at Lossiemouth pig farm where the muddy areas attracted Whimbrel, Eurasian Wigeon and Northern Wheatear.
Mammals: Red Squirrel (2)

Red-throated Diver

April 27th: Udale Bay, Cromarty Firth, Alturlie, Nairn, Dava Moor, Lochindorb, Findhorn Valley
Daily 73 New 25 Running 85
Weather: Rather mixed with sunny spells and showers on a SW wind 17c

In and around the garden at Cygnus House we located a female Great Spotted Woodpecker, up to three singing Willow Warblers and overhead Northern Raven, Common Greenshank and Common Buzzard. The viewing area at Udale Bay produced sightings of Eurasian Teal, Mallard, Great Black-backed, Herring, Common and Black-headed Gulls and in the scrubby areas Yellowhammer, Eurasian Skylark, European Greenfinch, Great and Blue Tits. Beyond Jemimaville a scan of the firth added Common Eider, Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, Red-throated Diver and a Red Kite looking for carrion. The next stop was Alturlie near Inverness where a Common Whitethroat was singing from a wire whilst Reed Bunting, Barn Swallow, Sand Martin, Pied Wagtail and Common Linnet were using the farmland. A short diversion to Easter Dalziel had Corn Buntings feeding from a sheep trough. Further east at Nairn a walk along the jetty had sightings of Black-legged Kittiwake, Northern Gannet, European Shag and Razorbills. I then headed inland to Dava Moor which quickly gave us the endemic Red Grouse and Eurasian Curlew. On the nearby loch we located a group of Common Goldeneyes, Greylag Geese and in the trees Common Stonechat and Mistle Thrush. Our final birding in the Findhorn Valley was good for Northern Lapwing, European Golden Plover, Red-legged Partridge, Tree Pipit and Grey Wagtail.
Mammals: Brown Hare (4), Common Rabbit (6)

April 28th: Cairngorm, Feshiebridge, Insh Marshes, Loch Garten, Nethybridge
Daily 56 New 9 Running 94
Weather: Cloudy with SW winds 14c

Cairngorm was the first birding stop today with the railway working and license to go out at the top confirmed. From the railway views of several male Ring Ouzels perched on wires and fences. The walk out at the top was very slow and not productive on this visit with Northern Wheatear and Meadow Pipit being recorded. A brief visit to Loch Morlich added Common Goldeneye to the list and then onto Feshiebridge. To our amazement about half of the forest had been cleared so I decided to head to Insh Marshes instead. From the elevated hide views of Eurasian Wigeon, Common Redshank, Canada Goose and Eurasian Curlew. Loch Garten offered little in the way of birds so the day ended near Nethybridge with sightings of Grey Wagtail, Eurasian Bullfinch and the common species. In hindsight the cool weather today had affected the birds in all areas visited.
Mammals: Brown Hare (2)

April 29th: Corrimony, Novar Estate, Portmahomack, Tarbatness, Tain, Embo, The Mound, Brora
Daily 88 New 15 Running 109
Weather: Sunny with SW winds 21c

The journey to Corrimony this morning had a few belts of mist which made driving trickier, on the plus side a Eurasian Woodcock was disturbed from the road. After meeting up with Alex the group proceeded to the first of three lekking ground which in turn produced over thirty displaying birds. The most extraordinary site was to come next on the loch as a pair of Red-throated Divers started to call and display on the water, this was interrupted by another pair who came in to fight the other two resulting literally in a bloody battle for power. On hind sight this was probably three male birds chasing an already paired female bird. Breakfast was taken in Alness followed by a visit to the Novar Estate. A few birds were seen including Common Whitethroat, Coal and Great Tits, Goldcrest, Eurasian Treecreeper and a female Eurasian Bullfinch. Portmahomack was next on the list which borders a sheltered section of the North Sea. In the bay we watched groups of Red-throated Diver, Common Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Common Guillemot and Razorbill. The fields held Common Linnet and near Tarbatness a pair of Grey Partridge. The sea off the point was calm and allowed us to locate a flock of migrant Black Guillemot. The Mound is always an interesting spot and today was no exception as White-tailed and Golden Eagles were seen along with three Osprey. The finale was at Brora with a close inshore White-billed Diver and the first Arctic Terns of the spring.
Mammals: Roe Deer (4), Red Deer (12), Common Rabbit (c), North Atlantic Grey Seal (6), Harbour Seal (2), European Badger (2)

Common Snipe

April 30th: Glen Loth, Forsinard, Sandside Bay, Scabster, Dunnet Bay, St John’s Pool, Dunnet Head, Broubster Leans
Daily 84 New 9 Running 118
Weather: Sunny on SW winds 22c

I headed north today into the wilds of Sutherland via Glen Loth a scenic valley south of Helmsdale. The commoner birds were present along with high numbers of Common Cuckoo, Meadow Pipit, Common Kestrel and a displaying Common Snipe which showed well on a fence post. A diversion to Borrobol Lodge was made in order to look into the few trees of the area. In the vegetable garden a male Lesser Redpoll, Eurasian Bullfinches, Eurasian Wren and Common Chaffinch. Further up the road a large lock held Black-throated Diver, Greylag Goose, Common Sandpiper and unusually a fishing Osprey. To the south of Forsinard we watched a pair of Hen Harriers plus a party of European Golden Plovers feeding on a field used by cattle. Sandside Bay was next on the agenda where the beach attracted two races of Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Eurasian Whimbrel, Bar-tailed Godwit and offshore Common and Black Guillemots, Razorbill and Long-tailed Ducks. Dunnet Bay was quiet today so a visit to St John’s Pool was made with sightings of Black-tailed Godwits, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Eurasian Teal, Tufted Duck and Common Shelduck. Dunnet Head the most northerly point in Britain was our final destination with Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Rock Dove, European Rock Pipit and Atlantic Puffins being recorded. 
Mammals: Roe Deer (4), Red Deer (20) NA Grey Seal (6), Common Rabbit (c)

May 1st: Thurso, Bettyhill, Hope Valley, Balnakeil, Lairg, Black Isle
Daily 75 New 4 Running 122
Weather: Cloudy with showers on a brisk NW wind 11c

Checked out of the hotel in Thurso and joined the road heading west towards Durness. Nothing of note was recorded before arriving in Bettyhill where a male Merlin was seen by Ian. The beach offers spectacular views of the river and surrounding countryside. In the bay Great Northern and Red-throated Divers, Northern Gannet, auks and gulls. On the sheep fields we located Northern Wheatear, Pied and White Wagtails whilst the bushes attracted Willow Warblers. Arrived at Balnakeil and walked to the old water meadows. A range of birds observed included Pink-footed and Greylag Geese, Whooper Swan, Great Skua, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, Wood Sandpiper and Common Stonechat. The return journey through the mountains added nothing new. 
Mammals: Red Deer (c), Roe Deer (2), Common Rabbit (c)

Whimbrel

May 2nd: Strathpeffer, Orrin, Achanalt, Kinlochewe, Gairloch, Loch Ewe, Laide, Mellon Udrigle, Gruinard Bay
Daily 86 New 8 Final 130
Weather: Rather mixed with NW winds 11c

Strathpeffer was our first stop where we duly located several Horned Grebes. Also present were Little Grebe, Tufted Duck and Mallard. In the surrounding trees and scrub the group found Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Yellowhammer. Orrin was revisited where a Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard plus Red Kite, Common Merganser and the commoner woodland species. Achanalt held Eurasian Wigeon, Common Greenshank, Common Redshank and many Sand Martins. Kinlochewe with its gardens and mature trees attracted the Hebridean race of Dunnock, Great and Blue Tits and a singing Blackcap. Next was the village of Gairloch and the sea loch of the same name. Offshore we located Great Northern, Red-throated and Black-throated Divers, Red-breasted Merganser, Arctic Terns, gulls and garden birds. Loch Ewe and Laide jetty had a few birds with the best being Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Eurasian Whimbrel. Mellon Udrigle gave us a Great Skua which is slowly recovering from the effects of bird flu, Common Sandpiper, Common Tern and Black Guillemots offshore. 
Mammals: Brown Hare (2), Common Rabbit (c), Red Deer (c), European Badger (2), Harbour Seal (1) NA Grey Seal (c)