Wildoutdoors Newsletter Spring 2008

Welcome to the Wildoutdoors spring newsletter. This spring we've been out and about with fantastic trips to the Cairngorms, a Mull Exploration Week and a week around Dunkeld. Not to mention a wee trip to Rhum!

In April, we explored the hills of Perthshire on the look-out for the numerous black cock leks around Amulree. Spring is the key time to see their amazing courtship display, which can support from just one to any number of birds; the largest leks can hold 30 birds. The males are so busy lekking that they're sometimes oblivious to cars passing on the nearby roads. However we usually choose a site well away from roads in a natural setting where you can hear the birds clearly, which adds to the whole experience. Next stop was Schiehallion, a John Muir Trust wild land site, and we were lucky to see two hen harriers, both females gliding effortlessly overhead in their search for prey. They are unusual birds when hunting because unlike other birds of prey they tend to quarter the ground in an undulating flight, with the females quite characteristic in their light grey, almost blue, plummage. Schiehallion also holds some interesting limestone pavement; the clints and grykes ( fissures in the rocks which are caused by water eroding the softer limestone) hold an array of unusual plants including rock rose and wild thyme.

We also took a trip to the Black Wood of Rannoch, a marvellous place to see the old Caledonian pinewoods and their associated wildlife. The old Scots pine trees are gnarled, fissured and beautifully shaped, with some limbs and trees fractured by lightning. The forests support a range of our rarest wildlife including pine marten, red squirrel and Scottish wildcats. Red deer are also numerous and often seen. The mossy banks and undulating ground support an amazing flora and fauna, with wood ants regularly occupying the older forests and open glades. We took a trip down the Tummel valley with its dramatic gorges and whirlpools, old oak and ash trees, followed by a botanical foray at Killiecrankie with its rich pastures. The Hermitage supports the tallest trees in the country and is a dramatic backdrop for the many pools and waterfalls with the old follies and bridges. On a visit to the Scottish Wildlife Trust ospreys at the Loch of the Lowes near Dunkeld, we also saw great crested grebes, little grebes and teal, mallard, tufted duck and Canada Geese. The surrounding woodland and grassland habitats are especially beautiful in early spring, when the countryside is filled with the calls of chiff chaff and cuckoo.

One of our brief trips north took us up to Wild Cottage and our friends Alan and Tilly Smith, the reindeer herders. There was late spring snow on the Cromdale Hills but we eventually found the reindeer in the coldest place possible, happily facing the northerly chill at the top of the hill. Reindeer are well adapted to the cold, thriving on a diet of lichen and mosses. We needed a few drams to defrost later.

We had great weather for our trip to Mull in May, where we saw sea eagles, golden eagles, otters and seals, and explored the fantastic plant-life of the wild Atlantic coast. Our walks passed by some amazing scenery and getting off the beaten track enabled us to see more interesting things. We started out in the southern half of Mull, at Grass Point, with beautiful coastal flowers, bird's foot trefoil and the occasional heath-spotted orchid. The sound of the breaking waves was broken by the cry of a peregrine hunting on the cliffs. Further west, one of the highlights of the week had to be the sight of leaping common dolphins passing through the sound of Iona, from the headland north of Fionnphort. We could clearly see the playful dolphins breaching and flipping out of the water. We also took a boat trip with Sea Life Surveys and my old friend Richard Fairburn was there to greet us. The day shone brightly and we were unfortunate not to get great sightings although a few Mincke whales were spotted briefly. The true highlight was the lunchtime stop on the northernmost tip of Col where we were treated to a display of foolery by the seals playing in the small lagoons. A lovely walk in blazing sunshine out from Calgary Bay to the headland gave breathtaking views to the outer isles, while buzzards flirted with the sea breeze. The following day we visited the sea eagle nest site, where we glimpsed the eagles, but they were not very active. This was followed by an interesting trip to the Dervaig reedbeds and some reed warblers and Canada geese with some goslings. After lunch we ventured out to the north on a walk to Quinish Point, where we witnessed a polecat before returning to Dervaig for a pub dinner. We saved Ben More for the last day and it was a truly lovely outing. We climbed slowly up the northern flanks of the mountain, witnessing the upland species such as buzzards and finally golden eagle. We also discovered some lovely alpine plants, yellow and starry saxifrage, with a little excitement at the end, and possibly a new record for Mull – alpine rock cress.

New – Evening Wildlife Walks Around Dunkeld

This July and August we will be offering a series of evening wildlife walks in the stunning countryside around Birnam and Dunkeld and along the River Tay. With the chance to see everything from otters, bats and badgers to red deer and red squirrels, as well as explore the rich plant-life in the area, these are sure to be memorable outings, led by Wildoutdoors director and wildlife expert Adrian Davis. See www.wildoutdoors.info or the enclosed leaflet for more details of the evening walk programme.

Special Offer – 10% discount

The River Tay and Fife Coast, August 3–9 now £629 and

Exploring the glens and woods for the elusive pine marten and wildcat, September 28–3 October now £765