Scotland's Mammals & Highlights of the Highlands

Naturetrek Tour Report 18 - 25 August 2013

Report compiled by Peter Clement

Naturetrek Cheriton Mill Cheriton Alresford Hampshire SO24 0NG England T: +44 (0)1962 733051 F: +44 (0)1962 736426 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk

Tour Report Scotland's Mammals & Highlights of the Highlands

Tour Leader: Peter Clement

Participants: Brenda Wood Marian Belton Janice Burtenshaw Jennie Cleal Julian Taylor Alison Taylor Philip Jackson Mary Jackson Duncan Currie Joan MacGregor Gill Barnes

Day 1 Sunday 18th August

The group met up in Glasgow in the early afternoon, firstly at Glasgow Central Station and then at the airport on a fairly cool and showery day but the weather was not a problem as we spent most of the time on the drive to Ardnamurchan. After enjoying views of Loch Lomond from the main road that runs along the western side of the loch and refreshments at the Green Welly in Tyndrum, we drove across Rannoch Moor and through Glen Coe –. considered one of the most spectacular and beautiful places in Scotland, but today almost invisible due to heavy rain. Soon after, we crossed the top of Loch Linnhe at Corran Ferry (stopping only to look at the local Black Guillemots) and continued west along the narrow road through Strontian and along the northern edge of Loch Sunart to Glenborrodale.

After arriving at Glenborrodale Centre we settled into our rooms and soon after enjoyed a delicious dinner (the first of many). After dinner we adjourned to the lounge to consider the itinerary for the following day and to discuss our targets for the week. Over the past couple of weeks a male Pine Marten had come to feed on the peanuts put outside the sitting room window. And tonight he arrived shortly after 11 pm, and though most of the group had just gone to bed by the time he arrived, many were happy to make a quick return to watch this enigmatic animal for over half an hour right outside the window, which was truly memorable.

Throughout the holiday, the Glenborrodale Centre itself provided other opportunities for seeking out wildlife; we had regular morning and evening-time visits from a group of inquisitive Red Deer (which included a young stag with antlers not fully grown) and a Tawny Owl was heard from the surrounding woods calling on several evenings. In addition a host of common birds including Chaffinches, Robins, Great and Blue Tits (and once or twice a Treecreeper) visited our feeding station where we put out food every day.

Below the centre at the edge of Loch Sunart is a promontory or headland which overlooks the outer part of Glenborrodale Bay (and is known as “Aperitif Point” because it has a convenient wooden platform where newly- weds staying at the adjacent castle can enjoy their champagne).

Scotland's Mammals & Highlights of the Highlands Tour Report

This was a good place to look for Otters and there were often both Common and Arctic Terns lingering close to the point where they could be seen swooping and dipping into the calm water to feed on small fish.

Day 2 Monday 19th August

Our first full day was spent the day exploring the western part of the peninsula and dodging the showers! We drove along the stunning shoreline with its numerous bays and stopped at the raptor watch-point at Camas Nan Geall to admire the huge expanse of Ben Hiant, the highest mountain on the peninsula. We also stopped at the lonely village of Kilchoan with its wonderful rocky bay and views across to Mull before moving on to Ardnamurchan Point, the most westerly point of mainland Britain. At the point is a lighthouse perched high on a rocky headland looking out north towards Eigg, Muck (and distantly to Rum), west to Coll and to the south Mull. At one point a Basking Shark appeared in the sea not far out from the lighthouse and most of the group could see the huge black triangular dorsal fin amongst the rather choppy waves. In or over the sea we also enjoyed watching seabirds including Gannets, Kittiwakes and several Guillemots and Razorbills together with some more distant Manx Shearwaters.

After a picnic lunch just below the lighthouse amongst a mass of flowering Grass of Parnassus (a local speciality and national rarity) we drove back to Kilchoan and stopped on the old jetty to spend some time looking out into the bay. It wasn’t long before an Otter was found swimming and diving out in the bay not far from a couple of moored fishing boats. He seemed to be diving frequently and coming up with small crabs which he (it was generally assumed to be a male) often held between his front paws whilst chewing, and eventually swam into the upper part of the bay and climbed out on a rock to consume some more of his prey. Everyone enjoyed excellent views of this beautiful animal in his natural habitat. There were also a couple of more distant Common Seals in the bay and over the hills above the village a pair of Golden Eagles were seen which disappointingly disappeared before we could get good views of them.

In the afternoon, we drove back across the central moorland as far as Achateny, enjoying good views of a herd of Red Deer, mostly hinds with young. We finished the day with a quick walk down to Glenborrodale Bay in the hope of finding another Otter but as the tide was very low there was no sign but we did add a family party of Greenshank to the bird list.

After the evening dinner we drove back down and parked opposite the entrance to Nadurra, a Natural History centre/café/gift shop where the owners have been feeding Pine Martens in their garden. We put out some peanuts by the side of the road and didn’t have to wait long before an adult and an almost fully-grown young came out into the open and we were able to have great views and get some fairly memorable photos. At the evening get-together back at the centre everyone agreed we had made a wonderful start to our week of wildlife watching!

Day 3 Tuesday 20th August

After another fine Scottish breakfast, we set off for the north-east of the peninsula to Kentra Bay and Castle Tioram.

2 © Naturetrek November 13

Scotland's Mammals & Highlights of the Highlands Tour Report

The weather was again showery interspersed with short sunny spells. After passing through the small town of Acharacle we drove on across Kentra Moss to the mouth of Kentra Bay, where we stopped to scan the upper reaches of an inlet from the sea. We didn’t find any Otters but enjoyed watching some Oystercatchers on the rapidly appearing mud, some Grey Herons feeding in the shallows and several Curlews together with both Arctic and Common Terns fishing in the bay and at one point an Arctic Skua came through causing momentary panic amongst the terns.

After a quick visit to Ardtoe at the head of the inlet our next stop was Castle Tioram; this was the ancestral seat of the Clanranald, strategically placed where Loch Moidart and the Shiel River meet. As the tide was out we were able to walk across the tidal causeway to the ruined castle, enjoying views of more Common Terns. We also had a lovely sighting of a Spotted Flycatcher in the trees close to the car park. As we travelled back through Acharacle we made a short detour down to the jetty to scan Loch Shiel. In the week previously a pair of Scaup with young had been seen here – the first confirmed breeding record in Britain for twenty-five years – and the mother and three ducklings were still present along with a group of Wigeon and several Red-breasted Mergansers further along the loch.

Early afternoon was spent at Garbh Eilean, where a hide overlooks an island in Loch Sunart. Here we watched several confiding Common Seals, a family of Red-breasted Mergansers and a lot of Grey Herons standing around on one of the islands in the loch; at one point Peter picked out a Golden Eagle flying high but it had gone out of view before anyone else could get onto it.

On the way back to the centre we went to look for birds of prey at the beautiful watch-point of Camas Nan Geall which gives a fine grandstand view of the spectacular Ben Hiant. Although we had hoped to find either a White-tailed or a Golden Eagle we had to make do with several of their smaller relatives, the Common Buzzards which put on a display of aerial manoeuvring in the rapidly rising up-draughts.

We finished the day back at Glenborrodale Bay where we relocated the family group of Greenshanks, watched terns fishing in the still waters and saw several more Common Seals. In the late evening our resident Pine Marten paid his nocturnal visit to the patio right outside the lounge window.

Day 4 Wednesday 21st August

This was the day of our boat-trip out into the Hebridean Sea and the northern tip of Coll. It was a bright and sunny morning with little breeze as we set out in the “Laurenca”. The weather remained mostly calm and bright though it clouded over in the afternoon. As we sailed down Loch Sunart, we saw more Common Seals on some of the rocky islets we passed. The boat-trip was less eventful than we had hoped and try as we might there was no sign of any Basking Sharks. We managed a few brief glimpses of Harbour Porpoise and near the tip of Mull we saw several Gannets, a feeding flock of Manx Shearwaters and several male Guillemots and Razorbills with their attendant youngster on their way to wintering grounds out in the North Atlantic, the females having already flown.

We visited the Cairns of Coll for lunch and to watch Common and Grey Seals in an idyllic location. It was something of a unique occasion to have lunch in company with the seals which were as curious of us as we were of them and several swam in towards the boat for a closer inspection.

Scotland's Mammals & Highlights of the Highlands Tour Report

Looking down into the crystal clear waters we could see huge varieties of seaweeds together with several small jellyfish and shoals of small fish, the latter proving to be something of an attraction for the local Arctic Tern colony as several came by from time to time.

After lunch we moved on across the Sound to Muck, seeing a few more Gannets and Manx Shearwaters along the way together with a few Storm Petrels which came close to the boat and then quickly away on their journey. As we drifted slowly in towards the jetty on Muck a couple of young Black Guillemots were in the water as we passed by. Muck was delightfully quiet and basking in glorious sunshine which made the short walk to the café even more of a treat. Sitting outside the café we compared notes on other islands the group had been to previously, when suddenly the peace and tranquillity was broken by the frantic screams of an Oystercatcher being chased by a Peregrine round the bay in front of us, only for the Peregrine to give up the chase after a short while and turn his attention to something further away, whilst the Oystercatcher, seemingly unruffled by the near-traumatic experience, returned to patrolling his section of the bay.

Although we could not find any sharks, dolphins or whales everyone agreed that it had been a lovely day with an impressive range of seabirds around the boat. These included Storm Petrel, Fulmar, Manx Shearwater, Great Skua, Arctic Skua, Common and Arctic Terns, Guillemots and Razorbills.

Day 5 Thursday 22nd August

The day dawned bright and sunny but the weather forecast promised some change to sunshine and showers but with light winds. After another fine breakfast we set off west intending to get to Sanna Bay but stopped near the forestry plantation with a view out over Eigg, Muck, Rum and in the distance the Coullins on Skye. Although it was a fine morning and a superb vista there were no eagles to be seen with the local Ravens, however, at one point a male Crossbill sat up on top of one the pines in the plantation giving most of the group a good view.

Moving on to Kilchoan to check for Otters we were superbly rewarded with views of an adult female and two well-grown youngsters in and around some rocks towards the top of the bay. Through the telescope we had great views as they fished and ate a large fish in the bright morning sun. We spent some time watching their antics before they disappeared out into the bay. Whilst we were standing at the jetty, another Otter, presumably the male, appeared in the bay in front of us, fishing and diving on his own and clearly keeping a respectful distance from the rest of his presumed family. Also whilst we were standing on the jetty a Golden Eagle flew by almost overhead and showed well as it flew onto the high hills behind the village all the time being kept company by a Raven which was attempting to mob the much larger eagle.

Sanna Bay is a stunning location just to the east of Ardnamurchan Point and reached by driving along the narrow road that crosses two concentric rings of rocky hills that are the edges of a long extinct volcanic ring formation - a fascinating landscape. Waders seemed to be late returning from the Arctic this year; at Sanna we found a single Ringed Plover and a lone Oystercatcher but there were no other waders. The photographers took the opportunity to get some photos of a stunning silver-sand beach edged with rocky strands and the deep blue sea beyond. On the way back a couple of Whinchats perched close to the minibus on a roadside fence.

On the way back to Glenborrodale we drove through Achateny and saw several Red Deer and also the smaller and more delicate Roe Deer and then took a short detour up the track to the wind turbine on Beinn Bhuidhe.

4 © Naturetrek November 13

Scotland's Mammals & Highlights of the Highlands Tour Report

We were still hopeful of views of eagles and although the view across to Mull was breathtaking there was little in the way of wildlife and most of the group had to settle for a couple of flighty Wheatears

Later and long after dinner, Niall the head stalker and conservation manager for the Glenborrodale Estate led the night-safari in his land-rover whilst the rest of the group followed in the minibus. We scoured the hill-sides with his strong torch-beam and had fleeting views of a Wildcat with bright eyeshine and the top of the face and ears could just be seen before it dived into cover. Later on we found another which also vanished as quickly as the first. On the way back we came across a couple of Pine Martens foraging on the open hillsides and we also saw many Red Deer including some huge stags with truly wonderful sets of antlers. Close to Glenborrodale a large female Otter and well-grown young were foraging amongst seaweed covered rocks for crabs in a bay and didn’t seem the least bit perturbed by being the illuminated stars of the strong torch-beam. Suitably elated we made it back to the centre and turned in for the rest of the night.

Day 6 Friday 23rd August

It was a mainly wet day with only short dry spells but once again we did not let the weather slow us down! We set off again to the western part of the peninsula with the intention of getting to Swordle Bay on the north coast. Smooth white sand, a geologically fascinating series of flat basalt layers strata and a rocky headland add to the dazzling scenery together with views across to the small isles and Skye make this a very atmospheric spot. In previous visits this spot has provided good views of Otters and, although slightly more distantly, Basking Sharks. We parked some way above the bay and walked a little way down to the bay passing a flock of Swallows and House Martins busily feeding over the grass-fields no doubt gaining extra fat for the energy they will need for the long flight south in the coming days and weeks. In the bay all at first seemed rather quiet until a Great Northern Diver popped up fairly close in and showed well in the telescope. A little further out Manx Shearwaters could be seen flying around and at one stage a Minke Whale showed several times to some of the group before disappearing out of sight. A few butterflies were taking advantage of a fine break in the weather with weak sun occasionally showing through and we found a few Scotch Argus amongst the more usual and widespread butterflies.

We drove on to Fascadale still with the hope of trying to find a White-tailed Eagle, which had so far eluded us and took a short stroll down towards the sea. There were no eagles to be seen but a fine Red-throated Diver just offshore was some compensation. On the way back through Achateny we stopped to look at a young Whinchat being fed by one of the parents on a fence-line, another local breeding bird which will soon be setting its sights on a more southerly destination somewhere south of the Sahara for the winter. We made a stop at Kilchoan to pick up some of the group who had opted for a short trip to Tobermory on Mull but apart from the usual Curlews and Oystercatchers in the bay there was sign of any Otters at all.

After dinner, we ventured down to the Nadurra Centre to watch for Pine Martens and we were rewarded, when, after a short wait, two youngsters came out to feed on the peanuts we had put out; everyone had excellent views as they ran back and forth for about 20 minutes including in and out of the cattle-grid and climbing over the fence into the garden of the nature-centre.

Scotland's Mammals & Highlights of the Highlands Tour Report

Day 7 Saturday 24th August

As it was raining in the early morning we decided to return to the hide at Garbh Eilean. From the hide we saw more close Common Seals and a Sparrowhawk but no Otters, despite the fact that according to the information board in the hide they are recorded here almost daily. As the weather by mid-morning had improved and the rain had eased we set off back to the west with the intention of re-visiting Swordle Bay and finding the elusive White- tailed Eagles. On the way we stopped briefly at the roadside sand quarry just beyond Ben Hiant where there is a small colony of Sand Martins and were pleasantly surprised to find that there were birds still flying in and out presumably still feeding young in the nests there.

The weather was almost promising by the time we reached Swordle Bay. This time however there were two Red- throated Divers in the bay and a good selection of butterflies over the fields and meadows there. We spent some time searching the bay and headlands for any signs of Otters and further out in the Sound looking for cetaceans but apart from two very brief sightings of a Porpoise mostly drew a blank on both. On our way back to the minibus a Slow Worm was seen rapidly disappearing into the bracken and a little further along the track a Common Lizard, presumably intent on warming itself in the last of the infrequent sun, stood statuesque-still on top of the name-board to the cottage that overlooks the bay.

We moved on to Ardnamurchan Point to look for seabirds and cetaceans out at sea and to revisit the excellent café! The weather was mainly dry with light winds so there were fewer birds than earlier in the week and unfortunately no cetaceans but the cakes were still very delicious!

On the way back we paid a farewell visit to Kilchoan and the raptor watch-point at Camas Nan Geall overlooking Ben Hiant but neither Otters nor Eagles were on view doubtless as a reaction to the weather which was now turning decidedly wet with more of the same clearly promised by the looming grey clouds. After dinner most of the group stayed up late to watch for our resident Pine Marten who duly appeared slightly earlier than he had been over the last few nights and it was brilliant to get one last good look before saying farewell.

Day 8 Sunday 25th August

After our last big breakfast, we boarded the minibus for the last time and the return trip to Glasgow via the Corran ferry and Glencoe. It had been a very successful week, the highlights being the excellent views of Otter, Pine Marten and Golden Eagle and to a degree of brief but enticing views of Scottish Wildcat and Basking Shark. As a group, we enjoyed each other’s company and this helped to ensure that the holiday was enjoyed by all.

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Tour Report Scotland's Mammals & Highlights of the Highlands

Species List

Plants (Courtesy of Joan MacGregor) Alder, Alnus glutinosa Autumn hawkbit, Leontodon autumnalis Bell heather, Erica cinerea) Bilberry, Vaccinium myrtillus Bird’s foot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus Bog asphodel, Narthecium ossifragum Bog myrtle, Myrica gale Bog pondweed, Potamegeton polygonyfolius Bracken, Convolvulus arvensis Bramble, Rubus fruticosus Broad-leaved willowherb, Epilobium montanum Buddleia, Buddleia davidii Centaury, Centaurium erythraea Cleavers, Galium aparine Coltsfoot, Tussilago farfara Common chickweed, Stellaria media Common knapweed, Centaurea nigra Common mouse-ear, Cerastium holosteoides Common nettle, Urtica dioica Common ragwort, Senecio jacobaea Common scurvy-grass, Cochlearia officianalis Common valerian, Valeriana officianale Creeping buttercup, Ranunculus repens Creeping cinquefoil, Potentilla reptans Curled dock, Rumex crispus Daisy, Bellis perennis Dandelion, Taraxacum officianale Devil’s bit scabious, (Succisa pratense English Stonecrop, Sedum anglicum Eyebright, Euphrasia nemorosa Fat hen, Chenopodium album Feverfew, Tanacetum parthenium Figwort, Scrophularia nodosa Foxglove , Digitalis purpurea Germander speedwell, Veronica chamaedrys Gipsywort, Lycopus europaeus Goat willow, Salix caprea Grass-of-Parnassus, Parnessia rupestris Greater plantain, Plantago major Ground elder, Aegopodium podagraria Groundsel, Senecio vulgaris Hard fern, Blechnum spicant Hare’s tail cotton-grass, Eriophorum vaginatum Harebell, Campanula rotundifolia Herb Robert, Geranium robertianum Hogweed, Heracleum spondylium Honeysuckle, Lonicera periclymenum Hop trefoil, Trifolium campestre Indian balsam, Impatiens glandulifera Ivy, (Hedera helix Knotgrass, Polygonum aviculare Knotted pearlwort, Sagina nodosa Lady’s bedstraw, Gallium verum Lady’s mantle, Alchemilla vulgaris Lesser burdock, Arctium minus Lesser spearwort, Ranunculus flammula Ling, Calluna vulgaris Maidenhair fern, Adiantum capillus-veneris Maritime pine, Pinus maritima Marsh cudweed, Gnaphalium uliginosum Marsh (Water) forget-me-not, Mysotis scorpioides Marsh pennywort, Hydrocotyle vulgaris Marsh Red rattle (Lousewort), Pedicularis palustris Marsh woundwort, Stachys palustris Meadow vetchling, Lathyrus pratensis Meadowsweet, Filipendula ulmaria Montbretia, Crocosmia x crocosmiflora Nipplewort, Lapsana communis Perforate St Johns wort, Hypericum perforatum Pineapple weed, Matricaria matricarioides Prickly sowthistle, Sonchus asper Purple Loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria Ragged robin, Lychnis flos-cuculi Red bartsia, Odeontites vernus Red campion, Silene dioica Red clover, Trifolium pratense Restharrow, Ononis repens Rhododendron, Rhododendron ponticum Ribwort plantain, Plantego lanceolata Rosebay willow herb, Chamerion augustifolium Rowan, Sorbus aucuparia Scentless mayweed, Tripleurospermum maritimum

Scotland's Mammals & Highlights of the Highlands Tour Report

Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris Sea aster, Aster tripolium Sea plantain, Plantago maritima Sea rocket, Cakile maritima Selfheal, Prunella vulgari Sessile oak, Quercus petraea Silver birch, Betula pendula Silverweed, Potentilla anserina) Skullcap, Scutellaria galericulata Small-leaved lime, Tillia cordata Smooth sowthistle, Sonchus oleraceus Sneezewort, Achillea ptarmica Spear thistle, Cirsium vulgare Sycamore, Acer pseudoplatanus Thrift, Armeria maritima Tormentil, Potentilla erecta Tufted vetch, Vicia cracca Water Horsetail , Equisetum fluviatile Water mint, Mentha aquatica Welted thistle, Carduus acanthoides White clover, Trifolium repens Wild thyme, Thymus polytrichus Wood sage, Teucrium scorodonia Wood sorrel, Oxalis acetosella Yarrow, Achillea millefolium Yellow iris, Iris pseudocorus Yellow rattle, Rhinanthus minor

Birds (P= present; C = Common) August Common name Scientific name trip 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata 5 1 2 2 2 Great Northern Diver Gavia immer 1 1 3 Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis P 4 Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus C 5 European Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 7 7 6 Northern Gannet Sula bassana C 7 Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo C 8 European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis C 9 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea C 10 Mute Swan Cygnus olor 3 3 11 Greylag Goose Anser anser P 12 Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope 2 2 13 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos P 14 Greater Scaup Aythya marila 4 4 15 Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator 21+ 20+ 1 16 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo P 17 Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos 5 2 1 2 18 Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 1 1 19 Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus 1 1 20 Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus C 21 Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula 2 1 1 22 Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata C 23 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 1 4 4 4 24 Great Skua Stercorarius skua 5 5 25 Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus 2 1 1 26 Common Gull Larus canus C 27 Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus P 28 Herring Gull Larus argentatus C 29 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus graellsii P 30 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus P 31 Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla C 32 Common Tern Sterna hirundo C

Scotland's Mammals & Highlights of the Highlands Tour Report

August Common name Scientific name trip 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 33 Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea C 34 Common Guillemot Uria aalge C 35 Razorbill Alca torda C 36 Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle 6 4 2 37 Rock Dove Columba livia c50 c50 c50 38 Feral Pigeon Columba livia 'feral' P 39 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus P 40 Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto P 41 Tawny Owl Strix aluco H 42 Sand Martin Riparia riparia P 43 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica rustica P 44 House Martin Delichon urbica P 45 Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis C 46 Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus P 47 Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea 2 1 1 48 Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii P 49 Northern Wren Troglodytes troglodytes P 50 Dunnock Prunella modularis P 51 Song Thrush Turdus philomelos P 52 Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula P 53 European Robin Erithacus rubecula P 54 Whinchat Saxicola rubetra 7 1 3 3 55 Common Stonechat Saxicola torquatus P 56 Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe P 57 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata 1 1 58 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus 1 1 59 Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita 2 2 60 Common Whitethroat Sylvia communis 4 1 1 1 1 61 Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus P 62 Great Tit Parus major P 63 Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris 1 1 64 Hooded Crow Corvus cornix P 65 Common Raven Corvus corax C 66 Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris P 67 House Sparrow Passer domesticus P 68 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs C 69 Greenfinch Carduelis chloris 4 2 2 70 Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis P 71 Eurasian Siskin Carduelis spinus P 72 Common Linnet Carduelis cannabina P 73 Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula 2 2 74 Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra 1 1 75 Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus 4 4 1 76 Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella P

Mammals 1 European Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus 1 1 2 European Rabbit Oryctolgus cuniculus 1+ 1+ 3 Scottish Wildcat Felis silvestris 2 2 4 Pine Marten Martes martes 3 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 5 Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra 8 2 4 2

Scotland's Mammals & Highlights of the Highlands Tour Report

August Common name Scientific name trip 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 6 Harbour (Common) Seal Phoca vitulina C 7 Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus C 8 Red Deer Cervus elaphus C 9 Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus 2 2 10 Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris 1 1 11 Field Vole Microtus agrestis 1 1 12 Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus 2 1 1 1 13 Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 4 2 2

Fish 1 Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus 2 2

Butterflies *Scottish sub-species Large White, Pieris brassicae Small White, Artogeia rapae Green-veined White, Artogeia napi Speckled Wood, Pararge aegerica oblit* Scotch Argus, Erebia aethiops caledoni* Peacock, Inachis io Small Tortoiseshell, Aglais urticae Meadow Brown, Maniola jurtina splendens *

Dragonflies Common Hawker, Aeshna juncea

Other Invertebrates Whirligig Beetle, Gyrinidae Pond Skater, Gerridae Blood-nosed Beetle, Timarcha tenebricosa

Other Taxa Comb Jellyfish, Beroe cucumis Moon Jellyfish, Aurelia aurita Lion's Mane Jellyfish, Cyanea capillata Common Frog, Rana temporaria Slow Worm, Anguis fragilis Common Lizard, Zootoca vivipara

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