KYLE OF TONGUE

SCOTLAND

SUTHERLAND (Ullapool), (N)

National Grid NC3775. 00o00´/00o00´ c200 ha c30m estuary, rocky coastline further around and beyond, hills with meadows, rough grass, and heath 
summer (31.07.08)

 

Birding Site Guide

Follow the A836 then the A838 west from Thurso or the A835 from Ullapool, then the A894 and A838 to the north coast. The second main estuary from the west the A838 becomes a causeway across the Kyle of Tongue, along which area parking areas. Stop at these places to view the estuary. Low tide is best. There are 2 hotels and Bed & breakfast places in tongue as well as shops. 

The main birds of the area on my visit were Curlew, Oystercatcher, Grey Heron, Golden Plover with a few Redshank. Gulls included Herring, Common, Great Black-backed and Black-headed. There were 2 Red-throated Divers in the channel and Ravens were present. Looking north along the sand there were 15 Grey Seals Halichoerus grypus basking. The mountains further inland towards Altnaharra are good Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos country and the coast is good for Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus . Wild Rock Pigeons inhabit this coast, though a few feral birds from the towns sometimes mix with them. Also on the journey keep an eye open for Hooded Crows Corvus cornix


Birds seen

  • Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata
  • Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
  • Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
  • Greylag Goose Anser anser
  • Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
  • Eurasian Golden-Plover Pluvialis apricaria
  • Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata
  • Common Redshank Tringa totanus
  • Mew Gull Larus canus
  • Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
  • European Herring Gull Larus argentatus
  • Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus
  • Rock Pigeon Columba livia
  • Common Wood-Pigeon Columba palumbus
  • Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto
  • Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
  • House Martin Delichon urbicum
  • Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis
  • Common Raven Corvus corax
  • House Sparrow Passer domesticus


Author: BSG

 

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