Glenloy Wildlife
Glenloy Lodge,Banavie, Fort William PH33 7PD
Tel:+44 (0)1397 712700, email:
Itinerary West Highland Dragonflies w/c 28/7/18
The following itinerary gives an idea of what to expect this week. Exact locations will vary accordingto preferences and weather.
Saturday28th. July: Arrival. Orientation. Pine marten and red squirrel viewing (which visit every day). Set the moth trap.
Sunday 29th: (am) Glen Loy. Walk up the upper glen looking specifically for dragonflies including late azure hawker, common hawker, keeled skimmer and northern emerald in bog pools. Also keep an eye out for Large Heath and Fritillaries as well as deer and eagles. (pm)Fassifern. Look for common and black darter, damselflies and hawkers around the lochan. Golden-ringed dragonfly and scotch argus possible. Visit nearby Collop and visit bog pools for chance of late white-faced darter, and then, time permitting, walk to the reedy shallows at the head of Loch Shiel at Glenfinnan.
Monday 30th: (am/pm) Ardgour and Morvern. Cross the Corran Ferry stopping at a variety of stops along the shore of Loch Linnhe, looking for ducks, black guillemots, divers, seals and possible otters. Stop off at beautiful Loch Sunart where we look for eagles and otters. Drive south into Morvern, with chance of eagles and red deer on the way to Inniemore, with a range of habitats from meadows, bog pools, fast-flowing burns, coniferous and oak woodland. Here we should see beautiful demoiselle, and will search for other species such as northern emerald, as well as speckled wood and possible purple hairstreak. Stunning views across to the basalt hills of Rahoy. Return via scenic coastal loop by Kingairloch.
Tuesday 31st.:(am) Loch Ness. We visit pretty Loch Bran near Foyers looking for brilliant emerald and a range of other species. Continue up the side of Loch Ness to Loch Ruthven in search of Slavonian grebe, ospreys and other raptors. Return via the River Garry, where we look for dipper and grey wagtail along a pretty woodland walk, with a further chance of a range of dragonflies
Wednesday 1st. August:(am/pm)Boat trip from Arisaig to the Small Isles. We visit Eigg and Muck, with time on shore to explore Muck (possible rare burnet moths, seal and tern colonies, corncrake, twite). Look for seabirds, including thousands of Manx Shearwaters, gannets, great skua and auks. Chance of minke whale dolphins, porpoise and even basking shark.
Thursday 2nd.:(am/pm) Rothiemurchus and Speyside. We visit a number of lochs and lochans in Glenfeshie, Inshriach and Rothiemurchus in search of a range of species including northern blue damselfly, and possible late white-faced darter. We pass through Caledonian pinewoods with characteristic species such as red squirrel, Scottish crossbill, crested tit, goldeneye and creeping ladies-tresses. Possible further stop at CreagDubh to look for northern brown argus, bee beetles and peregrines.
Friday3rd.:(am/pm)Moidart. We take the scenic coastal road to Glenuig, looking for divers and otters on the way. Visit Kentra Bay taking the path from Arivegaig, which takes in a variety of habitats including bog pools. Look for northern emeralds and golden-ringed dragonflies, as well as white-tailed eagles and twite. Return via Loch Sunart, taking the chance to visit lily-fringed lochans at Salen for a range of dragonflies and butterflies, such as dark green fritillary. Stop off at the Garbh Eilean wildlife hide to look for otters and seals. Return via the Corran Ferry.
Saturday 4th.: Depart after breakfast.
Other options –Loch Arkaig, CreagMeagaidh, Conaglen
Timing of visits and destinations may change depending on the weather.