wild west

A busy day

2011-06-29T05:28:00.001-07:00

Two half day trips today. In the morning we went to Loch Arkaig. First stop was the Osprey nest on loch Lochy. I was concerned to see no sign of any birds on or close to the nest, as this could suggest the nest has failed. On to the Allt Mhuic to look for chequered skippers and Pearl bordered fritillary. No activity on this front but one of the guests was delighted with the discovery of a slow worm and another intrigued by green tiger beetles. We spotted a couple of stags at the Clunes end but no deer activity at Murlaggan. However, we did get a sighting of an osprey at this end of the loch, where we watched it hunting for about 5 minutes.

Returning to Clunes, we were all surprised to see a pine marten dash into the undergrowth near Allt Mhuic. A very brief glimpse, however it is the unexpectedness of such sightings that really make these trips. Back on Loch Lochy, we found an osprey sitting on a tree close to the nest. Perhaps she was just sitting round the corner when we passed first time? Another bonus was finding a juvenile black throated diver drifting around close to the osprey nest. Great news since this means a successful nest on the loch.

The afternoon trip was to Glengarry and proved to be a bit quieter to start off with. A drive into the forest failed to find crossbill, Loch Garry produced only a few sandpipers and Canada geese, and apart from a couple of hinds around Kingie, there was no red deer activity. However, on return we found a black throated diver near the bridge on loch Quoich.

As we returned to Loch Garry and no sign of the scoter I was assuming that the best had passed and the highlight of the day was the pine marten, when out of the corner of my eye I spotted a shape swimming in the loch: An Otter. Unfortunately, by the time I pulled into a lay-by it had disappeared from view, so another very brief glimpse. However, two successful trips and, I think happy customers.

Red deer rut update

2010-10-20T09:54:00.000-07:00

Whilst there has been plenty of activity the last few weeks, the one thing that seemed to be lacking were single stags to challenge for the groups of hinds. I have been told by keepers that the stags stay up the hill because they know it's the shooting season. Must admit I was sceptical about this. However this morning, the last day of the stag shooting season, many more single stags appeared. Wolud never have expected them to understand the Gregorian calendar!

An early start saw me and two clients in Glengarry for 07.30, well before sunrise. With plenty of deer from below Kingie to the top end of Loch Quoich, we were spoilt for choice. We didn't see any real antler clashes, however a pair of young stags had a sparring match about 100yards from where we were watching. Plenty of bellowing and pursuit of hinds - still playing hard to get from what I was seeing today. However, with the increase in the number of stags around there may be a lot more testosterone fuelled activity to come

Other sightings this morning included woodcock shooting up from the verges (a common dawn and dusk event), a couple of young buzzards (less camera shy than the mature birds), fieldfare and my first sighting this year of goldeneye ducks on Loch Garry. This along with the usual assortment of blackbirds, mistle thrush, woodpeckers etc. Buzzards seem to be doing particularly well in the glen this year and i've regularly been seeing family groups of 4 birds or more in various locations. Also had regular sightings of a pair of kestrel since january, normally around Quoich dam. This is the first time in 20 years I've seen kestrel in the glen and i presume this was due to buzzarrds keeping them out. Hopefully a sign of the health of the glen when it can support both species.

The early morning starts are proving successful with a lot more activity at that time of day and with sunrise now after 8.00am, it's not really that much of a hardship. I'll be running the trips until the rut ends, probably around the first week in November, but there is still plenty to see and do after that and safaris will run throughout the winter. The picture at the top was taken yesterday afternoon!

Ian

Red deer rut in full swing

2010-10-06T13:31:00.000-07:00

The red deer rut is now underway, with Stags bellowing on the hillside to warn challengers off as they lay claim to their harem of hinds. UK safari describes the sound of the stags as "something between a chainsaw and a burp". Couldn't have put it better!

An early morning trip up Glen Garry found four groups with between 6 and 20 hinds to each stag. Plenty more stags roaring elsewhere in the glen. Just one brief scuffle, when a very young stag tried to sneak past the main man to get at his hinds. He was chased off very quickly with no bloodshed.

Had word, from a reliable source of a Capercaillie calling in Leanachan. Great news if it's correct. I went up this morning but heard nothing. Maybe a bit late as they're most active at first light. I'll head up before sunrise soon as I get the chance. No pics of this magnificent bird to share on here (YET!)

Should be seeing the return of the winter migrants soon - Fieldfare, redwing, Whooper swans and goldeneye duck to name but a few. Watch this page for further updates,

Finally, Get a FREE wildlife desktop calendar, this month and every month. Go to http://www.wildwestsafari.co.uk/ and follow the instructions at the bottom of the page.

More very soon

Ian

Butterflies and things

2010-05-24T02:06:00.000-07:00

I spent a very informative Saturday morning at the Allt Mhuic nature reserve on Loch Arkaig, led by Dr Tom Prescott of butterfly conservation. We started off looking at some amazing moths caught in a moth trap set up the night beofre. i was particulalry intrigued by the buff tip which even on close examination is difficult to distinguish from a piece of birch twig. A master of disguise indeed.

The real target of the day was the chequered skipper which is found within 30 miles of Fort william and nowhere else in the UK. They weren't exactly in abundance, the cold winter having delayed spring somewhat, however we did find one and I was pleased with the resulting photo's (see top). Plenty of other interesting insect life around too and having an expert guide to help understand the habitat and how everything fits together made it a really enjoyable morning. On the down side, the midges were biting for the first time this year.

A walk thtough Glengarry forest yesterday, in the evening brought my first dragonfly of the season, a four spotted chaser. Plenty of birds singing, though I'm still having difiiculty picking out which ones are which! Still, I will persevere!

Otter spotting!

2010-05-18T01:58:00.001-07:00

On Sunday I headed off to Glen Shiel to play with my new 16-85 lens but the weather turned a bit unpleasant for landscape shots, so I turned to wildlife and went otter spotting. After about half an hour I saw one swimming near Letterfearn, so stopped and went looking for him. He came ashore to eat a fish and i managed to get to within 10 yards of him, from where i got some great shots.

Yesterday I went along loch Arkaig again and had sightings of both sea eagles. No chequered skippers around which surprised me as it was a very still day, if over cast. Still, will keep looking,

Ian

Springwatch update

2010-05-16T04:23:00.000-07:00

Well, spring is now swinging along nicely, with the verges and woodlands carpeted with wood anemones and primroses, plus bluebells starting to put in an appearance. The osprey at Loch Lochy is sitting on eggs and the sea eagles are active on Loch Arkaig. A healthy population of scoter are resident on Loch Garry. I was told by the local warden there are 24 birds on the loch, approximately 25 per cent of the Scottish nesting population.

I'm regularly seeing black and red throated diver on the trips, and butterfly are on the wing. Saw my first chequered skipper of the season yesterday, at Allt Mhuic on Loch Arkaig. The Forestry commission are having an open day, next Saturday (22nd of May) at the Allt Mhuic reserve, so come along and see this enigmatic butterfly and many other species. Meet at Allt Mhuic butterfly reserve car park. Booking essential, Tel: 01397 702184.

An early start last week found black grouse still lekking just outside Fort William and half an hour spent sitting at the mouth of the river Lochy in front of the underwater centre, not far from the town centre proved very fruitful with an otter swimming and feeding happily in front of me. You don't need to go to wild, remote places to see these charismatic creatures.

Should soon be getting orchids and dragonflies to add to the mix and no doubt the midges will be biting again very soon! More coming soon,

Ian

Spring update

2010-04-22T03:03:00.000-07:00

I had a bit of a busmans holiday last week and went wildlife watching elsewhere in Scotalnd. Started of with a trip on Sea Leopard to Corryvreckan which brought sightings of wild goats on scarba, seals, gannets and numerous other sea birds plus a sea eagle on the north end of Jura. Find out more about sea leopard trips at http://www.craignishcruises.co.uk/

On sunday I stopped off at the Loch of the Lowes where the osprey are very active and got my first sighting (and very poor photo) of an osprey fishing. A pair of great crested grebes were also feeding close to the hides. After a pleasant evening in Dalwhinne, I spent Monday watching and photogrpahing two pairs of osprey, one on Loch Insh, the other in Glen Feshie.

Back home and Tuesday brought my first sighting of Black throated diver on Loch Garry. No doubt they have been there for a while but not whilst I was watching. Still no sign of Scoter though.Yesterday Brought my first cuckoo of the year, in the Glen Luie area of Glen Garry forest. I also spotted a wood warbler on the walk. So over all a very active spell of wildlfe watching.

Ian

2010-04-13T13:46:00.001-07:00

I had a trip along loch Arkaig today looking for sea eagles. No luck on that front but we did find a few Gooseanders, Mergansers and a black throated diver. Primroses are now in full bloom and saw my first swallows today. On the way home I got some nice shots of a male roe deer. However, the most interesting find of the day was to have the two osprey back at the nest on Loch Lochy. As we watched, they started copulating so hopefully we can look forward to the flutter of tiny wings soon.

Spring??

2010-03-31T04:56:00.000-07:00

Another taster trip along Glengarry last week didn't prove as exciting as the previous one - no badgers or goats this time, but the usual red deer in abundance plus whooper swans and goldeneye. They'll no doubt be leaving us for the summer very soon (assuming that winter ever passes!) I'm currently looking out the window at plate sized snowflakes which have been coming down all morning!

A couple of trips up Loch Arkaig produced sightings of one of the ospreys and a black throated diver, so spring is definitely hotting up. There's a lot more insect activity too (or was before the snow came back!), so that should improve the feeding all round.

I had some video footage of Pine marten given to me by Ian & Clare MacLachlan at the Great Glen Lodges (at Kilfinan on Loch Lochy) of a pair of pine marten kittens, taken by their guest Brian Tulley. There's a serious scrap between the siblings at the end, showing just how aggressive these predators are. So much for brotherly love!

Early arrivals

2010-03-23T03:11:00.000-07:00

Things are starting to hot up surprisingly early, given the harsh winter we've just had. Ospreys have been seen on Loch lochy, apparently first sighted over two weeks ago, at the beginning of March. The female from last year has returned, plus the chick she reared. It's great news that the chick has survived her huge return return journey to West Africa and made it back safely.

The local forestry commission wildlfe ranger also reported seeing two black throated diver on Loch Oich at the weekend, and the sea eagles are active again on Loch Arkaig. I just hope that the early arrivals don't suffer a shortage of food caused by the hard winter.

I have another taster session going out tomorrow. I think we'll try Loch Arkaig this time and see if the osprey and sea eagle are around. The winter migrants should be starting to leave soon, so I expect we'll see less of the golden eye and whooper.

Spring is coming!

2010-03-20T13:42:00.000-07:00

A trip up Glengarry with a some local business people on Wednesday found a lot of activity on the wildlife front. We went looking for red deer which we found in abundance, as well as the whooper swans and goldeneye which I've been seeing throughout the winter. On top of that we also had pochard, widgeon, wild goats and amazingly a badger - in the middle of the day!

The badger was way up at the highest point of the glen, the last place I would expect to find one at night never mind during the day. After enquiring of a more knowledgeable friend, it transpires that for some reason it is not unusual to find badger, and pine marten way up on the tops of the mountains around here, though no reason has been established.

Plenty activity on the local black grouse leks just now though I haven;t been out Hopefully I'll be reporting the return of osprey, scoter and black throats very soon. Watch this space and pass it on,

Ian

Wild West winter

2010-03-14T05:49:00.000-07:00

At long last the snow and ice have started to recede and some signs of spring are appearing. Not that winter has been without it's compensations and my image libraries are now overflowing with fabulous snowy landscapes.

Despite recent news stories, the red deer in Glengarry and Loch Arkaig seem to have come through the worst of the winter realatively unscathed and any time i've been up the glens they look pretty healthy. I've seen a lot more golden eagle activity this winter too, probably due to a shortage of prey forcing them to hunt longer. The usual winter migrants have been very active with Whooper swans, golden eye and tufted ducks turning up at various locations.

I had an interesting experience at Murlaggan on Loch Arkaig when some stags started jousting as i watched. Presumably practising for the rut!

Whilst photogprahing a scene on Loch Arkaig with a long lens, a sea eagle flew through the scene but by the time i'd got the binoculars out he was gone. The photograph shows a blurry blob with a spot of white but won't be getting any prizes in widlife photogrpaher of the year!

One species that has been conspicuous by it's abscence locally is the kestrel. I dont recall ever having seen one in Glengarry - until about 4 weeks ago, since when i've seen one on 3 separate occasions. I've been told it was probably due to competiton for food, with the kestrel losing out to the buzzard population. In 2009 I wasn't seeing so many buzzards and wonder if there is a decline in their numbers allowing kestrel to move in. I'll be keeping an eye on this. Think that's enough for a first blog. More coming soon