Wildlife around Minard Castle - a Scottish Castle offering Accommodation beside Loch Fyne in Argyll

Minard Castle
Loch Fyne, Argyll, Scotland

Wildlife around Minard Castle

Birds
Although much of the woodland around Minard Castle is planted with alien conifers it is home to a surprising variety of bird life. This is perhaps partly because of the isolated oaks and beeches that are present and the strip of old broad-leaved trees along the shore from Minard Bay to Brainport Point. Over 100 species of birds have been recently recorded. The fact that the woods have been neglected and have undergone little active management has been a positive advantage as far as the wildlife in general is concerned. Dead trees and fallen timber have provided good sources of invertebrates as food, and also nesting sites. Many of the characteristic species of West Highland broad-leaved woodland are present including Redstart and Wood Warbler. Recent clear felling of large areas of conifers may attract new species.

The following species have all been seen during the past five years in the immediate area around Minard Castle. The list is undoubtedly incomplete and there will be other species to record in the future.

Species recorded in the area of Minard Castle
Red-throated Diver - Regular visitor off-shore during summer.
Black-throated Diver - Occasional visitor offshore in Loch Fyne.
Little Grebe - Regular visitor off-shore during winter.
Gannet - Seen regularly in small groups fishing in Loch Fyne, mostly during the breeding season but occasionally in winter.
Cormorant - Regularly seen off-shore. Roosts on Eilean Aoghainn.
Shag - Regularly seen offshore. Breeding colony on Eilean Aoghainn and large roost (70+) there in winter.
Grey Heron - Regular visitor along the shore. Up to10 birds at a time seen around Brainport Bay.
Mute Swan - Pair seen occasionally off-shore.
Whooper Swan - Occasional flocks off-shore at migration times.
Greenland White-fronted Geese - Occasional flocks passing over in winter.
Greylag Geese - One or two birds seen occasionally along the shore.
Canada Geese - Small groups regularly seen along the shore. Pair has bred on Eilean Aoghainn.
Shelduck - One or two seen occasionally along the shore.
Wigeon - Up to 20 birds regularly seen in winter near Brainport Point.
Mallard - Up to 12 birds regularly present near Brainport Point. Pairs have bred.
Eider - Over 100 birds often present off-shore. Important breeding site on Eilean Aoghainn.
Goldeneye - Two or three birds regularly present off-shore in winter. Occasionally up to 10 present.
Red-breasted Merganser - One or two pairs seen regularly off-shore. Breeds in the area.
Goosander - Occasional visitor off-shore.
Sparrowhawk - Resident. At least one pair breeding.
Buzzard - Resident. At least one pair breeding.
Osprey -Has been reported.
Kestrel - Occasional visitor.
Merlin - Occasional visitor.
Peregrine - Occasional visitor.
Pheasant - Occasional visitor.
Oystercatcher - Up to 20 birds along the shore. At least one pair breeding in summer.
Ringed Plover - Passage migrant. May attempt to breed.
Lapwing - Occasional visitor.
Purple Sandpiper - Occasional visitor in winter.
Snipe - Occasional visitor along the shore.
Woodcock - Resident in the woodland. Probably in good numbers and breeding, although difficult to be certain with this elusive species.
Curlew - One or two regularly seen along the shore.
Redshank - One or two regularly seen along the shore in winter.
Greenshank - Occasional visitor on migration.
Common Sandpiper - Summer visitor. Two or three pairs breeding.
Turnstone - Regular winter visitor along the shore. Up to 20 birds.
Black-headed Gull - Occasional visitor.
Common Gull - Present throughout the year in small numbers. Probably breeds nearby.
Lesser Black-backed Gull - Summer visitor. Breeding colony on Eilean Aoghainn.
Herring Gull - Present all year, sometimes in flocks of several hundred. Large breeding colony on Eilean Aoghainn.
Great Black-backed Gull - Present throughout year in small numbers. At least 3 or 4 pairs breed on Eilean Aoghainn.
Kittiwake - Occasional visitor off-shore.
Guillemot - Occasional visitor off-shore.
Razorbill - Occasional visitor off-shore.
Black Guillemot - Present throughout the year, up to 16 birds. At least 5 pairs breed on Eilean Aoghainn.
Wood Pigeon - Resident in small numbers. Flocks of 100+ occasionally in winter.
Collared Dove - Occasional visitor.
Cuckoo - Occasional visitor in summer.
Barn Owl - Occasional visitor.
Tawny Owl - Resident. At least one pair breeding.
Long-eared Owl -Has been reported.
Swift - Occasional visitor seen flying overhead.
Great Spotted Woodpecker - Resident. At least two pairs breeding.
Sand Martin - Occasional visitor in summer.
Swallow -Common breeding summer visitor, often seen feeding overhead.
House Martin - Seen feeding overhead in summer.
Tree Pipit - Summer visitor. Breeds nearby.
Meadow Pipit - Occasional visitor in winter.
Rock Pipit - Seen regularly along the shore. Probably breeds.
Grey Wagtail - Occasional visitor along the streams. May breed.
Pied Wagtail - Seen regularly along the shore in summer. Breeds nearby.
Dipper - Occasional visitor along the shore.
Wren - Resident. Common breeder.
Dunnock - Resident in small numbers.
Waxwing - Irregular visitor in winter.
Robin - Resident. Common breeder. Even more numerous in winter.
Redstart - Summer visitor. At least two or three pairs breeding. The Community Woodland Trust has provided nesting boxes to encourage more pairs to breed.
Wheatear - Occasional visitor on migration.
Blackbird - Resident breeder in fair numbers. Not as common as Song Thrush.
Fieldfare - Regular winter visitor in flocks of up to 50.
Song Thrush - Resident breeder. Eight or more singing males counted in spring.
Redwing - Regular winter visitor in flocks of up to 50.
Mistle Thrush - Resident. One or two pairs breeding.
Grasshopper Warbler - Occasional summer visitor.
Whitethroat - Occasional summer visitor. Sometimes breeds along main road.
Garden Warbler - Summer visitor. At least one pair present.A scarce species in Argyll.
Blackcap - Summer visitor. Three or four singing males heard this spring. An uncommon species in Argyll.
Wood Warbler - Summer visitor. At least 3 or 4 pairs breeding.
Chiffchaff - Summer visitor. At least one pair probably breeds.
Willow Warbler - Common summer visitor. Many breeding pairs.
Goldcrest - Common resident breeding species. Flocks of 50 or more in winter.
Spotted Flycatcher - Summer visitor. At least one pair probably breeds.
Pied Flycatcher - Summer visitor. Singing males recorded in spring. The Community Woodland Trust has provided nesting boxes to encourage more pairs to stay and breed. Rare breeding bird in Argyll, of high conservation value locally.
Long-tailed Tit - Resident. Probably breeds. Flocks of 10 or more birds in winter.
Coat Tit - Very common resident breeding species.
Blue Tit - Common resident breeding species.
Great Tit - Common resident breeding species.
Tree Creeper - Resident breeding species.
Jay - Regular visitor in small numbers from autumn to spring. May breed. A scarce species in Argyll.
Carrion Crow - Occasional individuals.
Hooded Crow - Resident breeding species.
Raven - Resident in small numbers. At least one pair breeds.
Common Starling - Occasional visitor. Breeds in the village.
House Sparrow - Occasional visitor. Breeds in the village.
Chaffinch - Common resident breeding species.
Brambling - Occasional winter visitor in variable numbers.
Greenfinch - Resident breeding species.
Goldfinch - Occasional visitor.
Siskin - Resident breeding species. Sometimes large flocks (50+) in winter.
Twite - Occasional visitor.
Lesser Redpoll - Occasional visitor.
Common Crossbill - Occasional visitor. May sometimes breed.
Bullfinch - Resident in small numbers. At least one or two pairs breed.
Yellowhammer - Very occasional visitor.
Reed Bunting - Occasional visitor.

It is worth mentioning here that among these species are several that have been identified as being of high or medium conservation concern and are on the Red or Amber Lists published jointly by the RSPB, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Game Conservancy, British Trust for Ornithology and the National Trust (revised September 2002). These are:

Red List - high conservation concern
Song Thrush, Grasshopper Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Twite, Bullfinch, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting.

Amber List - medium conservation concern
Red-throated Diver, Black-throated Diver, Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Greenland White-fronted Goose, Greylag Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Eider, Goldeneye, Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Purple Sandpiper, Woodcock, Snipe, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Kittiwake, Guillemot, Razorbill, Black Guillemot, Cockoo, Barn Owl, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Dunnock, Redstart, Fieldfare, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Wood Warbler, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Lesser Redpoll.

Mammals
Mammals seen regularly in the woods over the past five years include: Red Deer, Roe Deer, Common Pipistrelle, Red Fox and Red Squirrel. Otters are seen from time to time and their prints have been seen in Brainport Bay. Many small mammals are doubtless present but only a programme of trapping would confirm this. Dolphins are regularly seen off-shore, as are Porpoises and both Grey and Common Seals. Basking Sharks have also been reported in Loch Fyne.

Wildlife in the Area
Mid-Argyll and Kintyre is an outstanding area of interest for wildlife in general and birds in particular. It has attractions at all times of the year. In summer typical oak woodland species like Redstarts, Wood Warblers and Tree Pipits breed locally. In addition both Red and Black-throated Divers as well as Golden Eagles, Hen Harriers, Ospreys and Peregrine Falcons breed in nearby areas of Mid-Argyll. At migration times, especially in autumn, a wide variety of sea-birds pass off-shore along the west coast of Kintyre. These include large congregations of Manx Shearwaters, among which may be found smaller numbers of Sooty Shearwaters and a few Balearic Shearwaters. Various species of skuas and terns also appear at this time, and Leach's Petrels and Sabine's Gulls may occur after westerly gales.

Nearby Lochgair often turns up interesting birds, especially in winter, including Slavonian and Little Grebes and Long-tailed Ducks. In winter, wild geese come from the far north to feed in Kintyre and parts of Mid-Argyll. These include large flocks of Greenland White-fronted and Greylag Geese and smaller numbers of Barnacle Geese. In the Sound of Gigha notable gatherings of Slavonian Grebes are found as well as Long-tailed Ducks and Common and Velvet Scoters. All three species of diver can be found around the coasts including one of the greatest concentrations of Great Northern Divers in Britain.

Compiled by Paul Daw - Argyll Bird Recorder - October 2002

The Argyll Bird Club publishes an annual report and relies to a considerable extent on records from visiting bird watchers. Please report anything of interest to Paul Daw at the address below.

Bird Watching Trips
For details of guided bird watching day trips, or further information, please contact Paul Daw at

Tigh-na-Tulloch, Tullochgorm, Minard, Argyll PA32 8YQ, Scotland.

Phone: 01546 886260

E-mail:

monedula@globalnet.co.uk

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For further information please contact

Reinold and Anne Gayre
Minard Castle
Minard
Argyll PA32 8YB
Scotland

Telephone/fax: 44 (0)1546 886272
E-mail: reinoldgayre@minardcastle.com
Web: www.minardcastle.com