Planning a hol in Scotland and like wildlife?

Nile

If you would like to see bottlenose dolphins but don't want to take a boat trip...........

See dolphins from the shore (just a few feet from where you stand) at Chanonry Point. It is on the 'Black Isle' on the A832 in Fortrose.

If you want to see and hear dolphins, travel north over the Kessock bridge at Inverness. Immediately on your left is an Information Point car park. There is a dolphin centre (Free entry) which has permanent hydrophones in the waters of the Moray Firth. You can see and hear dolphins from the centre. Even if you've missed the tide (and best time to spot dolphins) they have recordings made earlier to listen to.

I've just been advised to edit this post. The Information Centre mentioned above is closed from around October to April.

Nile

If you would like to see Ospreys, visit the RSPB site at Loch Garten just north of Aviemore. You can view the birds through loaned binoculars or telescopes and they also have cameras watching the nest with live pictures on tv monitors.

The RSPB warden takes a guided walk once a week (think it's Wednesday mornings) from around 10 o'clock to 12 o'clock. It's your best chance of seeing Red Squirrels. We've also seen Pine Martin on one of these walks.

On the outskirts of Aviemore is the Rothiemurchus estate. They have a fish farm and lakes where you can fish for a day ticket price.

This is an excellent place to watch Ospreys too. The fish farm put nets over most of the ponds but they leave one area without nets. The Ospreys come fishing here on a regular basis, because it's easy pickings for them. It's spectacular to see these birds close up.

Nile

If you would like to see red kites, have a look at my earlier post about dolphin viewing points.

At the North Kessock Tourist Information Centre (not the dolphin centre but across the car park) they have live tv pictures of red kites at a nest nearby.

As you drive towards Chanonry Point along the A832, you may see red kites flying overhead. They are easy to differentiate from common buzzards due to their forked tail.

If you would like to see badgers, the Strathspey Badger Hide is in Aviemore. The hide accommodates a maximum of 8 people and you'll need to book well in advance. From memory, we visited the hide on a Sunday evening and saw lots of badgers very close up.

Contact the wildlife operator, Allan Bantick who lives in the Boat of Garten (allanbantick@hotmail.com) to book places or ask at the Aviemore Tourist Information Centre for his telephone number.

Nile

Perhaps you watched the 'Wild Scotland' programme on BBC2 last night (Sunday 7th March) and was wondering how you could get so close to wildlife?

The boat featured in the programme is Alpha Beta. It is the Sea Life Surveys (www.sealifesurveys.demon.co.uk) research vessel. Contact them on tel 01688 400223 if you're interested in a wildlife holiday from the Isle of Mull.

We've been on many wildlife adventures with this company and seen minke whales, bottlenose dolphins; common dolphins, porpoises, seals and various birds. The puffins featured on the programme are on Lunga, one of the Treshnish Isles that Alpha Beta takes you to visit.

Just like the camera man, you can sit quietly on the grass just inches away from the puffins, without disturbing them.

Another place they visit is Coll where you can hear the calls of the extremely rare corn crake.

This is a family run business (started by Richard Fairburns) and they follow a code of conduct to ensure that they do not disturb or harass cetaceans or other animals.

Nile

If you would like to see Otters, White Tailed Sea Eagle, Short Eared Owl, Hen Harrier................ and Common Buzzards on every telegraph pole to name just a few, book a wildlife trip on the Isle of Mull with Island Encounter Wildlife Safaris. Contact them on tel 01680 300441 or have a look at https://www.mullwildlife.co.uk.

If you book a trip at the beginning of your holiday they will show you where to find the wildlife mentioned. An organised trip is your best way of sighting wildlife as you will learn about the types of habitat each animal is found in.

If you make a note of the location of each sighting, you can return without a group of passengers to spoil the peace and quiet and it will be free.........in true money saver style.

Nile

How do you tell if the bird you've spotted is a crow, buzzard or golden eagle?

Habitat is very important and will guide you. You'll usually only see the golden eagle in non populated mountain ranges.

How do you tell the difference between a crow and buzzard in flight? Crows flap their wings constantly in flight.

A buzzard in flight does..........flap, flap, glide.........flap, flap, glide.

Crows regurlary mob the larger buzzard and eagles. When holidaying on the Isle of Mull, I've seen the silhouettes of white tailed sea eagle and buzzard being mobbed by a crow, showing the difference in their sizes.

tawny1

thankyou will make a note of your suggestions any tips for the Oban area?

Nile

Welcome to the site Tawny1,

I'm pleased that my wildlife information is helpful. I've sent you a PM (personal message) which as a newbie you might not be too familiar with yet.

Look at the top of the page, just underneath Martins title strip and it will say something like, 'Hey, Tawny1 you have 2 messages'. Click on the 2 messages to open your mail.

Cheers

Nile

Galstonian

thankyou will make a note of your suggestions any tips for the Oban area?

Take an umbrella

Edinburghlass_2

A common misconception of the Oban area Gal ::)

I have a caravan based five miles from Oban near Benderloch and last year at Easter was in Tesco at Oban at 8.00am buying shorts and t-shirts as it was so hot.

I certainly can't complete with Nile on real wild life spotting but with a 13 year old daughter her favourite place to visit is the Rare Breeds Park just outside of Oban. Fabulous place to spend the day, great home baking and lovely, lovely people. Also the Sea Life Centre on the Fort William road where the kids can enjoy the seals and otters as well as a great play area and shoreside walks.

Mull of course is just a ferry trip away and keep your eyes open for all the birds Nile has mentioned.

Nile

The RSPB site at Insh Marshes (near Kingussie, just south of Aviemore) has three bird watching hides. Ospreys are regularly seen flying overhead. Although we've not seen it, an otter is regularly seen here.

It is a very peaceful place, especially in the early evening. It is also less crowded than the Loch Garten hide.

The RSPB warden gives guided walks (along the river bank) at Insh Marshes and also does an evening bat watch. Contact the Aviemore Tourist Information Centre for details.

If you are a keen bird watcher and have a spotting scope, send me a personal message if you want to know the location of an Osprey nest nearby. It is not widely known so doesn't attract crowds of visitors, unlike the Loch Garten site.