ARGYLL LOCH SCRIDAIN
A sea loch with a superb variety of bird life
Loch Scridain is situated at the south end of Mull, with the road to Iona giving you the longest section of its shore and waters to view from. It may not get the records found on Loch na Keal, but has the opportunity to surprise you.
WHERE TO WATCH
1 A great place to start is the bay at Kilfinichen. You need a lowering tide and this makes it ideal for feeding waders, with Oystercatchers and Redshank regular and Lapwing and Curlew often joining them, plus Ringed Plover and wintering Greenshank. Grey Herons nest opposite the bay with one of the largest heronries on Mull. 2 The roads are very handy to view this great loch. Aird of Kinloch is ideal for divers, Shags and Red-breasted Mergansers. Occasional sea ducks come into the area, so check out the many Black Guillemots for the odd Long-tailed Duck or Goldeneye. Look back on the land for hunting raptors including Hen Harrier, Short-eared Owl and Golden Eagle.
3 Loch Beg has its own breeding Common Gulls, along with a mixture of Mallard, Teal and Wigeon. Greylag Geese can draw in the odd palebellied Brent Goose in winter. Don’t forget to check out the tame Grey Heron at Pennyghael Post Office. 4 With deeper water and islands, there is a wide variety of birds to look for. Great Northern Diver can be here 10 months of the year, whereas both Red-throated and Black-throated are more often year-round. The islands have both seals hauling out on them and you are never too far away from Otters.
5 Torr Mor has a hanging oak woodland on its steep side of the bay. Again, at lower tides you can wander under the wood looking and listening for birds like Tree Pipit, Wood Warbler and Treecreeper. I had Sparrowhawk here along with a passing Whitetailed Eagle and still plenty of Oystercatchers and Common Sandpipers calling along the shore.