Scotland's Mammals & Highlights of the Highlands

Naturetrek Tour Report 17 - 24 August 2018

Common Buzzard North American Mink

Wild Goat Pine Marten

Reportt & images by Neil McMahon

Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk

Tour Report Scotland's Mammals & Highlights of the Highlands

Tour participants: Neil McMahon (leader) with seven Naturetrek clients

Summary

The Scotland's Mammals and Highlights of the Highlands tour for the week 17th - 24th August might have begun and ended in the rain, but the interim period saw plenty of variable weather with the sun shining for at least some of every day. The West Highlands Ardnamurchan Peninsula again provided beautiful surroundings as we explored the sheltered beaches, craggy outcrops and temperate rain forest of this unique region, looking for Otters, seals and any other mammals and wildlife of interest. We also took to the water with an excursion down to the island of Staffa to see the fascinating Fingal's Cave and a gentle but very rewarding chug around the wonderful Loch Sunart to obtain close views of White-tailed Eagle, Harbour (Common Seals) and a variety of seabirds.

Otters in particular provided regular sightings; a Pine Marten visited our feeding station as viewed from the comfort of our lounge almost every night, becoming bolder and earlier in the evenings as the week progressed; and we saw plenty of deer, a couple of Red Squirrels and close views of the renegade Mink! Both White-tailed and Golden Eagles strutted their stuff, we found the long-staying American Black Duck, enjoyed the antics of Dippers and saw fleeting views of Hen Harrier. Scotch Argus butterflies were still on the wing and we managed to spot Common Lizard, dragonflies and enjoyed night-time viewings of Red Fox, Hedgehog and very close Red Deer stags.

As always, we were very comfortable in our accommodation at Glenborrodale where we were treated to cooked Scottish breakfasts and three-course evening meals as well as an array of wildlife right outside the window!

Day 1 Friday 17th August

We met in Glasgow as arranged, initially at Glasgow Central Train Station and latterly at Glasgow Airport – all on time. The weather deteriorated as we motored towards Loch Lomond, intermittent rain giving way to persistent showers. A significant traffic delay at Tyndrum slowed our journey, but after our customary comfort stop and coffee, we then made steady progress. The awesome beauty of Glen Coe was spoilt due to the weather, so we pushed on to Glen Righ where our timing was to perfection as our visit met with a good view of a Red Squirrel on feeders put out for that purpose.

After a short wait we then took the nearby Corran Ferry and motored to Strontian and took in our first views of Loch Sunart. A small group of Mallard included a drake showing characteristics of being an American Black Duck x Mallard hybrid. We then drove on to Glenborrodale, arriving rather late at 7.40pm, but enjoying a welcome hot meal at 8pm!

After familiarizing ourselves with our comfortable bunkhouse, it was time to offer the local wildlife some supplementary food. This paid off with a visit from a lithe, sinuous Pine Marten that enjoyed the sandwiches and other food outside the sitting-room window from 9.50pm onwards.

With no takers for a night drive, the majority of our party had retired by 10.30pm to take well-earned rest before our first full day in the field!

Scotland's Mammals & Highlights of the Highlands Tour Report

Day 2 Saturday 18th August

The planned early walk at 6.30am was abandoned due to rain and windy conditions; instead, we took to the minibus and explored Glenmore Bay eastwards to Camas nan Geall. Common birds were on show but nothing out of the ordinary, and a short walk to what has been dubbed “Aperitif Point” at Glenborrodale provided views of a Wild Goat and our first Kittiwakes and Gannets of the trip. On the high glen of Glenborrodale we caught sight of both Red and Fallow Deer and then it was time for breakfast!

After our porridge and cooked fare, the morning was spent driving slowly west towards the Point of Ardnamurchan.

Our first Otter was seen in Loch Sunart at Glenmore, but unfortunately, viewing was obscured by trees. We saw roadside Meadow Pipits, Stonechats and Wheatears and bigger birds included Raven and Common Buzzard. Small numbers of Red Deer were scattered about. At the Point of Ardnamurchan we sampled the café produce and then enjoyed watching a small flock of juvenile Twite by the upper car park. A juvenile Lesser Redpoll joined them, and they bathed in a puddle and provided good views. The viewing platform provided an opportunity of watching Rock Pipits on the rocks and passing seabirds which included Manx Shearwater, Great Skua and Gannet and Kittiwake. A call from the sea below helped us pinpoint a begging juvenile Razorbill and attendant parent. A few Guillemots were seen, and Shags regularly flew past. We couldn’t see any cetaceans, so after a reasonable stint of scanning, we headed back to the lower car park and our parked minibus. The strong wind was causing the waves to buck and fizz over the rocks in the bay but, within this maelstrom of foam and spray, we located a fishing Otter. We marvelled at the animal’s dexterity and strength as he was flung around in the water but kept on diving and coming up with items to eat. After watching this expeditious marine mustelid for quite a while, we drove the short distance to the little hamlet of Portuairk and munched our picnic whilst watching quite a number of Common Seals hauled up on the rocks there.

The afternoon saw us meander back towards Kilchoan and with the weather calming all the time we made visits to Mingary Pier and a hot-drinks stop at the Community Centre there. En route back to our comfortable accommodation we watched confiding groups of Red Deer grazing the slopes. A brief visit to Fascadale didn’t produce anything new and, after a busy day of travelling the day before, it was great to return to base for 5pm and relax before our evening meal.

The food for the Pine Martens was duly offered but not taken up, and a short night drive provided furtive views of bats, a Red Fox and a Hedgehog.

Day 3 Sunday 19th August

Early morning rain spoilt our excursion plans, so we took to the minibus again and scanned Loch Sunart from a variety of places from the comfort of the vehicle. We also visited the glen above our accommodation and saw Fallow Deer and, of course, more Red Deer.

Following breakfast, we drove towards Kilchoan and on the approach to the village we saw two flying White- tailed Eagles which peeled off in different directions. At Mingary Pier we abandoned our road transport and took to the water courtesy of Staffa Boat Tours. After exiting Loch Sunart, we headed south past the western

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Scotland's Mammals & Highlights of the Highlands Tour Report

headlands of Mull, espying two more White-tailed Eagles as we did so, followed by a distant soaring Golden Eagle. As we approached the Treshnish Islands. the numbers of Shags increased and we came across Guillemot, Razorbill and Kittiwakes. Common Seals and a single Grey Seal were around the rocks here too. A few Common Terns joined the Kittiwakes as we then sped over to the nearby island of Staffa. Here we were treated to a view of Fingal’s Cave with it’s almost unique rock formations and pillars. We landed on Staffa and after walking around to examine the entrance of Fingal’s Cave on foot, we then climbed the steps and ventured up to the top of this grassy island. A few Twite bounded past us and we watched as several Great Skuas performed fly-by formations around the cliff-tops. Oystercatchers flew past us high up heading south and the trilling call of Whimbrel could be heard as at least two flew over loosely associating with the Oystercatchers.

Back on our boat after about an hour on Staffa, our journey back was mostly uneventful, but we were treated to wonderful views of the west side of Mull. We spotted a dead whale a little way off which we assumed was a Minke, but at about this time large numbers of Cuvier’s Beaked Whale were reported washed up dead in the Western Isles, so it was perhaps one of these. We disembarked our boat at Kilchoan at about 2pm and shortly afterwards visited the Ardnamurchan Visitor Centre with its café, gift shop and wildlife exhibition.

Our next stop was Glenmore Bay where we watched two Otters feeding in calm loch waters. Our last excursion before our evening meal was to head up to Glenborrodale proper where we enjoyed fine views of a herd of Père David’s Deer and up to 25 Fallow Deer, with a number of Red Deer in attendance too.

Plenty of sea air ensured there were plenty of hungry Naturetrekkers at dinner and our good fortunes for the day continued with a Pine Marten coming to our treats directly outside the sitting room window. A one-hour night drive to Salen and back proved to be a quiet affair.

Day 4 Monday 20th August

We woke to a mild, alternately sunny and cloudy day and we took our customary walk before breakfast down to the shores of Loch Sunart and Aperitif Point. We saw an Otter and birds included Little Grebe, three Greenshank and common woodland birds.

After breakfast we took a staggered journey eastwards towards Strontian, with stops at Salen and the Garbh Eilean Wildlife Hide. Plenty of Common Seals adorned the islands and rocks at the latter location and Grey Herons, Hooded Crows and Oystercatchers all vied for our attention.

At Strontian we took an amble along the river checking for wildlife. We came across a pair of Dipper feeding at the river’s edge next to the little church and then saw a third bird fly up the river. We spent a little time looking for the Mallard on the river as a local celebrity can sometimes be found accompanying them! After some careful scanning we found him, albeit in eclipse plumage: the long-staying drake American Black Duck! This bird arrived many years ago and now calls this part of West Scotland home – the only resident one of his kind in Europe! After all this excitement, it was time for a coffee and cake at the village café to give us energy for the forthcoming three-mile saunter through the woods.

A short drive took us to the Forestry Commission car park at Ariundle Woods in which there is a pleasant looped walk. In beautiful sunshine we straightaway encountered butterflies including the Scotch Argus and the

Scotland's Mammals & Highlights of the Highlands Tour Report

more widespread Speckled Wood, Green-veined White, Peacock and Red Admiral. A single Common Lizard was sunning itself and there were plenty of day-flying moths fluttering around too. After crossing the river over the first wooden bridge we walked along beside the river towards the second bridge. Two raptors appeared high to our right, a superb Golden Eagle was checking out the near ridge and we also watched a Hen Harrier hunting the open area between plantations along the ridge top. We ate our packed lunch beside the second bridge after which we walked the second half of the circuit through temperate rain forest with a mosaic of mosses and lichens covering the Sunart Oaks and other trees. We encountered small pockets of woodland birds, a Frog and a couple of dragonflies which included brief views of Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Moorland Hawker and Black Darter. The team deserved a cuppa after the warm walk, so we popped into the nearby Community Centre to rehydrate and provide a little community support of our own.

We dived back into the Garbh Eilean Hide on the way back home but didn’t see a great deal different. A few rolling Harbour Porpoises further west along the loch unfortunately remained too distant.

Post supper, a Pine Marten again visited but the warmth and exercise during the day ensured there were no takers for a night drive!

Day 5 Tuesday 21st August

Our fifth day of the Mammals and Highlights of the Highlands tour began dull and cloudy, but happily remained dry until the evening when rain arrived and continued for most of the night. We undertook our early morning walk down to Loch Sunart, enjoying the spectacle of the birds and the beasts negotiating the tide extremes and noting how they took advantage of the changing opportunities accordingly. A couple of Wild Goats could be seen grazing the rocky islets, an Otter fished in the open water and a Harbour Porpoise popped up a couple of times further out.

The local bird feeders provided us with excellent views of Siskins, tits, Chaffinches and rather more nervous Great Spotted Woodpeckers and the feeders at the bunkhouse were visited by Jays early most mornings.

After our Scottish cooked breakfast, we ventured out into new territory in the Acharacle area. The freshwater expanse of Loch Shiel is always worth a look and the regular Little Grebes, Red-breasted Mergansers and Sand Martins remained site-faithful and provided good views. We scanned the Kentra area in rather blowy conditions, but we didn’t encounter much there at all.

We moved on next to Castle Tioram, which if nothing else, provides fabulous views of this part of the West Highlands. Rock Doves were on the ramparts themselves and a curious-looking raptor initially caused some confusion until we realized we were looking at an escaped Harris Hawk! However, the real deal wasn’t far away with an adult White-tailed Eagle active on the ridge behind the castle. More Red-breasted Mergansers and distant Oystercatchers and Curlew all added detail to the inspiring landscape as we chomped on our packed lunch.

A quick revisit to Loch Shiel was inspired with the discovery of a fishing Otter. As we manoeuvred down to the end of the pier the animal’s repeated diving paid off and it caught a fish and then headed straight for us! As we held our breath the Otter swam under the pier and our feet and promptly disappeared never to be seen again!

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Scotland's Mammals & Highlights of the Highlands Tour Report

A nearby café was considered a suitable distraction from our wildlife watching and after said refreshments we headed back west and to the recently opened Ardnamurchan Distillery. Here two of our number took a very enjoyable tour whilst the remainder of us headed to Camas nan Geall. Here some opted for scanning from the viewpoint whilst the remainder walked down to the historical burial grounds and beach below.

This is a good spot for Yellowhammer which are not that common hereabouts, and we saw several plus a mixed flock of finches which included a few Twite. We checked through the gulls on the beach and then walked back up the slope and on to the Distillery to re-group. And so, after another eventful wildlife day, it was back to the bunkhouse in time to refresh and enjoy Alan’s culinary cuisine!

Day 6 Wednesday 22nd August

There was no early morning excursion on this particular morning and, although generally dull and breezy, we experienced a few showers and sunshine too during the day.

The morning saw us motor to Kilchoan and then head out to the little scattered hamlet of Sanna on the north coast. Here we took a wander through the dunes to the sandy beach and flat outcrop of rocks beyond. Manx Shearwaters could be seen flying past a long way out and birds within the bay were minimal but included Rock Pipit, Grey Heron and Cormorant. We walked back along the track and espied small birds in the shape of Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Wheatear and a few Twite. A slow drive back to Kilchoan provided repeat observations of now-quite-familiar birds of the Highlands and we lunched at the spectacular viewpoint of Ormsaigbeg where it is possible to oversee Loch Sunart, Mull Sound and sections of a variety of differing islands and landmasses. We saw distant seabirds in the form of Kittiwake, Manx Shearwaters, Gannet and a Great Skua but sadly couldn’t see any hoped-for cetaceans.

On next for a revisit to the Point of Ardnamurchan where there were more views of the sea birds but sadly no repeat visit of the Otter we saw on the previous Saturday. Stonechats posed nicely for us, a Common Seal or two kept us entertained, as did the Cappuccinos in the café there.

With nothing new on offer and after checking with the Hebridean Sea Mammal volunteer there who confirmed that there were no known cetaceans showing nearby, we drove on and took the isolated road to Ockle. Plenty of Red Deer were grazing on the slopes of the valley as we slowly drove the single-track road. Passerines included plenty of Meadow Pipits, Stonechats, a Whinchat or two, Willow Warbler and our only Mistle Thrushes of the trip. The road to Ockle provides commanding views of the islands of Muck and Eigg and further away Rhum and Skye. We took a little potter about at the end of the road at Ockle but didn’t linger and then drove back to the tiny community of Kilmory where we took a walk down to a secluded beach. This was probably our quietest day for wildlife and the waders usually found on the beach here were nowhere to be seen, much to our disappointment. Significant effort has been made to clear the Himalayan Balsam, an invasive plant that was present in profusion last year.

Most of our birds were repeats of species encountered earlier in the day, so we hopped back on the minibus and took a slow drive towards Glenborrodale. However, as we passed Loch Mudle, a suspicious lump in the water made us stop. The lump turned out to be a beautiful Black-throated Diver in full summer plumage, very much a rare treat! And so ended another day of exploring the beautiful Ardnamurchan Peninsula!

Scotland's Mammals & Highlights of the Highlands Tour Report

Day 7 Thursday 23rd August

This was our last full day in the field and, although there were occasional heavy showers, the weather was mostly breezy and sunny. During our final walk to Aperitif Point prior to breakfast we saw a variety of wildlife, including an adult White-tailed Eagle initially in flight and then settled on the hillside and a juvenile Peregrine that went hunting gulls. However, the highlight for most was the sustained close views of a North American Mink that was foraging close to us. He grabbed at least one crab from the seaweed and was relatively bold and curious of our presence.

After breakfast, our morning excursion took us back to Ormsaigbeg in a vain effort to find more cetaceans. We then visited the Ardnamurchan Visitor Centre again where scanning provided distant views of two Otters. A variety of common birds was feeding in the grass field between the Centre and the shoreline. After leaving the Centre, we managed some closer views of the Otters but they quickly disappeared, no doubt their hunger sated on a diet of Loch Sunart fish!

We drove slowly (it’s difficult to rush on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula!) to the Garbh Eilean Hide again to watch the seals, Grey Heron and other, by now, familiar fare and consumed our packed lunch in the relative comfort of the hide. We also revisited Loch Shiel but saw no sign of the Otter this time, and after a café stop, we popped down to Larga Bay where we took a boat ride with Andy of Ardnamurchan Charters. This was a real treat and the highlight of the trip for some as we chugged round the island of Carna within Loch Sunart. Common Seals were numerous, we watched a White-tailed Eagle plucking a gull it had caught, saw numerous wading birds including Greenshank, Redshank and Dunlin, and managed close views of five Wild Goats. A Black Guillemot and one or two adult Mediterranean Gull(s) added more variety. Andy explained a little of the natural history of the area and the conservation efforts currently underway on the island of Carna. All too soon, our boat adventure was over and we drove the short distance to our short-term home at Glenborrodale.

The evening meal provided an opportunity of sampling Alan’s haggis, neeps and tatties and, of course, the Pine Marten came to say “Good-bye and thank-you for the jam sandwiches” on our last evening!

Our last night drive located a couple of Hedgehogs and two Foxes, although we were introduced to differing views when a local man deliberately ran over and killed one of the foxes as we were watching! A disturbing event, but also a sombre reminder of how such animals are frequently dealt with up and down the length of the UK. A beautiful and fascinating wild creature for so many is a pest worthy of destruction to others.

Day 8 Friday 24th August

Much of our last day was all about travelling home or in some cases navigating to other places to enjoy more sightseeing. We were seen off the premises with an early cooked Scottish breakfast as always, and most of us took the road journey back to Glasgow. En route we stopped at Glen Righ Forest and were fortunate to encounter two Red Squirrels at the feeders there. And so, we descended from Rannoch Moor, and on our way to Loch Lomond an Osprey could be seen hovering over a small loch. We stopped in the hope of a better view, but the Osprey moved further away in an effort to catch a late breakfast in the rain.

Scotland's Mammals & Highlights of the Highlands Tour Report

On to Glasgow and we said our respective good-byes and travelled home with great memories from our West Highland adventure.

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Scotland's Mammals & Highlights of the Highlands Tour Report

Species Lists

Birds (✓=recorded but not counted; H = heard only)

August Common name Scientific name 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 Canada Goose Branta canadensis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 2 Greylag Goose Anser anser ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 3 Mute Swan Cygnus olor ✓ 4 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5 American Black Duck Anas rubripes 1 6 Black Duck x Mallard hybrid Anas sp. 1 7 Eurasian Teal Anas crecca 3 8 Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula ✓ 1 9 Common Eider Somateria mollissima 6 3 2 3 10 Common Merganser (Goosander) Mergus merganser 1 ✓ 11 Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator 6 1 ✓ ✓ 12 Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus ✓ 13 Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata 2 2+ 4 H 14 Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica 1 15 Great Northern Diver Gavia immer 1 16 Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 1 17 Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus ✓ ✓ ✓ 18 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 1 10 10 19 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 20 Northern Gannet Morus bassanus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 21 European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 22 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo ✓ 2 2 3 ✓ ✓ 23 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 1 1 2 24 Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus 2 1 2 25 Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus 1 26 White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla 4 2 2 27 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 28 Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 29 Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula ✓ 30 Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago 1 31 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 2+ 32 Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata 2 4 6 ✓ ✓ ✓ 33 Common Redshank Tringa totanus 1 ✓ 34 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 3 3 12 35 Dunlin Calidris alpina 25 36 Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 37 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 38 Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus 1/2 39 Common (Mew) Gull Larus canus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 40 Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 41 European Herring Gull Larus argentatus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 42 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus graellsii ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 43 Common Tern Sterna hirundo ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Scotland's Mammals & Highlights of the Highlands Tour Report

August Common name Scientific name 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 44 Great Skua Stercorarius skua 2 5 2 1 45 Common Guillemot Uria aalge 1 ✓ H 46 Razorbill Alca torda 4 6 47 Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle 1 1 1 48 Rock Dove Columba livia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 49 Feral Pigeon Columba livia 'feral' ✓ 50 Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 51 Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 1 1 2 5 ✓ 52 Tawny Owl Strix aluco ✓ 53 Common Swift Apus apus 1 54 Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ H 55 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 4 1 1 5 56 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 1 57 Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius ✓ 1+ ✓ ✓ ✓ 58 Eurasian Magpie Pica pica ✓ ✓ 59 Western Jackdaw Coloeus monedula ✓ ✓ 60 Carrion Crow Corvus corone ✓ ✓ 61 Hooded Crow Corvus cornix ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 62 Northern Raven Corvus corax ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 63 Coal Tit Periparus ater ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 64 Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 65 Great Tit Parus major ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 66 Sand Martin Riparia riparia 2 ✓ ✓ ✓ 67 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 68 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 69 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus H H H H H H 70 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus ✓ ✓ H ✓ 71 Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla 1 ✓ ✓ ✓ 72 Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis 1 3 ✓ 73 Goldcrest Regulus regulus H ✓ ✓ H H H H 74 Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes H ✓ ✓ ✓ H ✓ H 75 Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris H ✓ ✓ H ✓ 76 Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris 1 1 24 ✓ 77 Common Blackbird Turdus merula ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 78 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 79 Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus 3 80 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata ✓ H H ✓ ✓ 81 European Robin Erithacus rubecula ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 82 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra 2 2 83 European Stonechat Saxicola rubicola ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 84 Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe ✓ ✓ 1 85 White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus 1 3 86 House Sparrow Passer domesticus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 87 Dunnock Prunella modularis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 88 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea 3 2 3 3 2 ✓ 89 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 90 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Scotland's Mammals & Highlights of the Highlands Tour Report

August Common name Scientific name 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 91 Eurasian Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 2 ✓ 92 Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 93 Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula 1 H ✓ 3 94 Twite Linaria flavirostris 9 2 5+ ✓ 95 Common Linnet Linaria cannabina ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 96 Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 97 European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 98 Eurasian Siskin Spinus spinus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 99 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 100 Common Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus 2 ✓ H ✓ ✓ (Harris Hawk) Escape species Parabuteo unicinctus 1 Mammals 1 Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra 2 2 1 2 2 2 Pine Marten Martes martes 1-2 1 1 1-2 3 Fallow Deer Dama dama 5 25 4 Red Deer Cervus elaphus 8 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5 Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris 1 2 6 Red Fox Vulpes vulpes 1 2 7 Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 4 8 1 8 Harbour (Common) Seal Phoca vitulina 2 12 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 9 Atlantic Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus ✓ 10 Pêre David's Deer Elaphurus davidianus 14 11 Bat sp 1 ✓ ✓ ✓ 12 Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus 1 1 1 13 Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus 1 2 14 Wild Goat (Feral) Capra aegagrus 1 2 5 15 North American Mink Neovison vison 1 Other Taxa 1 Common Toad Bufo bufo 1 1 1 2 Common Frog Rana temporaria 1 3 Common Lizard Zootoca vivipara 2 4 Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta ✓ ✓ 5 Peacock Inachis io ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 6 Small Tortoishell Aglais urticae ✓ 7 Scotch Argus Erebia aethiops ✓ ✓ 8 Green-veined White Coenonympha pamphilus ✓ ✓ 9 Speckled Wood Parage aegeria ✓ ✓ 10 Small White Pieris rapae ✓ 11 Fox moth caterpillar Macrothylacia rubi ✓ ✓ 12 Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum ✓ ✓ 13 Black Darter Sympetrum danae ✓ 14 Moorland Hawker Aeshna juncea ✓ ✓ ✓ 15 Golden-ringed Dragonfly Cordulegaster boltonii 1 16 Common Carder Bee Bombus pascuorum ✓