According to Bill Oddie's "How to watch wildlife" on TV last night, The Cairngorms are the only place in the UK to see Ptarmigan. To save me the effort of going through my hill walking diaries, can anyone refute this? Both my partner and I recall encountering ptarmigan outside of the cairngorms - possibly Schiehallion or Ben Vorlich. The abiding memory, besides the delight in seeing the birds, is of a cloud covered mountain, so that doesn't really narrow my search down!
The programme was very enjoyable but we did wonder how long the film crew were up there as we've never had such calm and clear winter days.
I saw a (family) group of Ptrarmigan on Sgurr a Chaorachain nr. Applecross (I've still got the photo) - that's not exactly part of the Cairngorms 🙂 I'm sure I've seen them other places outwith the Cairngorms as well - they are a bird that give the impression of being fairly common-place if you're a regular hillwalker in Scotland.....
The Eagle sequence was particularly stunning. I'm pretty sure now that we've never seen an Eagle. The stag chasing was amazing. I've read a a series of books about eagles in Scotland by Mike Tomkies but don't recall him ever witnessing such an attack. If i'm ever lucky enough to see an eagle, I'll treat it with even more caution and respect!
Thanks for confirming my thoughts on ptarmigan (and thanks to subsequent posters too)
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According to Bill Oddie's "How to watch wildlife" on TV last night, The Cairngorms are the only place in the UK to see Ptarmigan. To save me the effort of going through my hill walking diaries, can anyone refute this? Both my partner and I recall encountering ptarmigan outside of the cairngorms - possibly Schiehallion or Ben Vorlich. The abiding memory, besides the delight in seeing the birds, is of a cloud covered mountain, so that doesn't really narrow my search down!
The programme was very enjoyable but we did wonder how long the film crew were up there as we've never had such calm and clear winter days.
Well! Bill Oddie says it all!
It's cobblers can be seen on numerous hills in the Highlands.
According to Bill Oddie's "How to watch wildlife" on TV last night, The Cairngorms are the only place in the UK to see Ptarmigan. To save me the effort of going through my hill walking diaries, can anyone refute this? Both my partner and I recall encountering ptarmigan outside of the cairngorms - possibly Schiehallion or Ben Vorlich. The abiding memory, besides the delight in seeing the birds, is of a cloud covered mountain, so that doesn't really narrow my search down!
I'm sure Bill Oddie knows you can see ptarmigan in places other than the Cairngorms. Didn't he just say "this is the only place to see them" meaning mountain tops in the Highlands in general?
According to Bill Oddie's "How to watch wildlife" on TV last night, The Cairngorms are the only place in the UK to see Ptarmigan. To save me the effort of going through my hill walking diaries, can anyone refute this? Both my partner and I recall encountering ptarmigan outside of the cairngorms - possibly Schiehallion or Ben Vorlich. The abiding memory, besides the delight in seeing the birds, is of a cloud covered mountain, so that doesn't really narrow my search down!
I almost stood on a hen on the old path on Schiehallion - scared the s#!^ out of me. I've seen them in Glen Dessarry and this is a [censored] I saw on Drochaid an Tuill Easaich (North of Loch Cluanie) in May last year. http://www.p-t-cook.freeserve.co.uk/May05/PICT0582.jpg
My bird book shows them occurring all over The Highlands.
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The programme was very enjoyable but we did wonder how long the film crew were up there as we've never had such calm and clear winter days.
The Cairngorms may well be the only place to see them if you are a lazy sod, I wonder if they were let out of the top station without skis. They went when the weather was good. They can afford to sit around and wait or go somewhere else if it isn't.
After winter in the mountains next week's prog is summer in the flat lands of The Brecklands; bog jumping, hare whispering and stoats.
I think I've seen/heard them on Monadliath and around Rannoch Moor/Glen Etive.
<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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According to Bill Oddie's "How to watch wildlife" on TV last night, The Cairngorms are the only place in the UK to see Ptarmigan. To save me the effort of going through my hill walking diaries, can anyone refute this? Both my partner and I recall encountering ptarmigan outside of the cairngorms - possibly Schiehallion or Ben Vorlich. The abiding memory, besides the delight in seeing the birds, is of a cloud covered mountain, so that doesn't really narrow my search down!
The programme was very enjoyable but we did wonder how long the film crew were up there as we've never had such calm and clear winter days.
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Quoted message said:
According to Bill Oddie's "How to watch wildlife" on TV last night, The Cairngorms are the only place in the UK to see Ptarmigan. To save me the effort of going through my hill walking diaries, can anyone refute this? Both my partner and I recall encountering ptarmigan outside of the cairngorms - possibly Schiehallion or Ben Vorlich. The abiding memory, besides the delight in seeing the birds, is of a cloud covered mountain, so that doesn't really narrow my search down!
I think Ptarmigan are more widespread than that. However the only instance I can now recall outside of that area was on A' Mhaighdean where I found one sitting on a nest.
Birds of the western palearctic shows them across all the highland high areas but extinct in ELD, Arran and Rhum since 19C, and in outer hebrides since 1938 (1967 info!) -- Mike Reid Walk-eat-photos UK "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site Walk-eat-photos Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" <-- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap
Birds of the western palearctic shows them across all the highland high areas but extinct in ELD, Arran and Rhum since 19C, and in outer hebrides since 1938 (1967 info!)
What about crested [censored]? Are they found anywhere in this country other than the pine forests around the Cairngorms?
"AndyP" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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"The Reid" <[email hidden]> wrote
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Birds of the western palearctic shows them across all the highland high areas but extinct in ELD, Arran and Rhum since 19C, and in outer hebrides since 1938 (1967 info!)
What about crested [censored]? Are they found anywhere in this country other than the pine forests around the Cairngorms?
It is largely confined to ancient Caledonian pine forests and Scots pine plantations. It spends its time foraging on the trunk and large branches of pine trees and after the breeding season will join other [censored] species in roving flocks. Will visit garden birdtables and feeders.
It can be seen in other locations in Scotland although pretty rare. Seen at Tyndrum on occasions, Glen Affrig et al.
Birds of the western palearctic shows them across all the highland high areas but extinct in ELD, Arran and Rhum since 19C, and in outer hebrides since 1938 (1967 info!)
What about crested [censored]? Are they found anywhere in this country other than the pine forests around the Cairngorms?
Not specifically Cairngorms but limited to forested areas so likely to be found in Affric and such places as have stands of mature pine trees.
-- Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"
Shows how much he knows. I've seen them on many occaisions, including Craig Meagaidh and Meall Dubh (Garry)
I get the impression he didnt mean they are only in the Cairngorms? Any birdwatcher would know that. -- Mike Reid Walk-eat-photos UK "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site Walk-eat-photos Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" <-- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap
<[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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According to Bill Oddie's "How to watch wildlife" on TV last night, The Cairngorms are the only place in the UK to see Ptarmigan. To save me the effort of going through my hill walking diaries, can anyone refute this? Both my partner and I recall encountering ptarmigan outside of the cairngorms - possibly Schiehallion or Ben Vorlich. The abiding memory, besides the delight in seeing the birds, is of a cloud covered mountain, so that doesn't really narrow my search down!
The programme was very enjoyable but we did wonder how long the film crew were up there as we've never had such calm and clear winter days.
Anthony Ptarmigan-free Preston
Just to be extra topical, here is a picture taken on Schieallion last January, Blue Hare and Ptarmigan all in the same shot
According to Bill Oddie's "How to watch wildlife" on TV last night, The Cairngorms are the only place in the UK to see Ptarmigan. To save me the effort of going through my hill walking diaries, can anyone refute this? Both my partner and I recall encountering ptarmigan outside of the cairngorms - possibly Schiehallion or Ben Vorlich. The abiding memory, besides the delight in seeing the birds, is of a cloud covered mountain, so that doesn't really narrow my search down!
I'm sure Bill Oddie knows you can see ptarmigan in places other than the Cairngorms. Didn't he just say "this is the only place to see them" meaning mountain tops in the Highlands in general?
That was also my interpretation of what he said.
Mike -- o/ \\ // |\ ,_ o Mike Clark <\__,\\ // __o | \ / /\, "A mountain climbing, cycling, skiing, "> || _`\<,_ |__\ \> | immunology lecturer, antibody engineer and ` || (_)/ (_) | \corn computer user"
