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Loch Indaal

Inner Hebrides, Scotland  >  United Kingdom

Large sea loch on Islay island south of Loch Gruinart, with similar ecology. 35 miles of shoreline.

Added* by Iain Crawford
Most recent update 1 ноември 2022
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Description

5,000 Barnacle Goose roost at Bridgend Flats at the landward end. A convenient road, with several specially provided bird-watching lay-by, hugs the shore from Bowmore to Bruichladdich, enabling one to view both the tidal sandflats at the head of the loch, where голем српоклун свиркач, остригар, Bar-tailed Godwit and обичен свиркач occur in hundreds, and среден пескар, црвенонога тринга, Red Knot, сиво блатарче and others in at least tens. And also the shallow water, on which a flock of up to 300 морски кожувар, up to 50 ушест нуркач, large flocks of Common Eider, perhaps 25 четириока патка, a dozen долгоопашеста патка, plenty of жолтоклун лебед and црвеноклун лебед and several hundred патка свиркач, spend the winter. Further out on the loch, and often better seen from Bruichladdich, are up to 100 Common Scoter throughout the year, as well as all three species of divers, голем морски нуркач sometimes exceeding 50 in number. Up to 100 среден северен нуркач moult on the loch in late summer.

Between Bridgend to Bruichladdich is a two-mile strand divided by a shingle spit, good for камењарче and Iceland Gull or Glaucous Gull. The rocky shore in front of Bruichladdich village is an excellent place for Purple Sandpiper, from about November to May, and they can also be seen at Port Charlotte. Loch Indaal is never empty. Wader passage occurs in April and May, with a few бел свиркач present through June, too. Return passage starts in July and by August flocks of бел свиркач, среден пескар and обичен свиркач occur, with occasional белокрстен свиркач and мал свиркач.

Usual possibility of otters, dolphins, porpoise, grey seal or basking shark offshore.

Details

Access

Ferry from Kinnacraig (as of 2022, reports indicate delays are possible due to Calmac's aging fleet), or by air from Glasgow.

Terrain and Habitat

Wetland , Canyon/cliff , Lake , Beach , Mud flats , Reedbeds , Scattered trees and bushes

Conditions

Hilly , Rocky , Open landscape , High water possible

Circular trail

Yes

Is a telescope useful?

Yes

Good birding season

All year round , Winter , Autumn

Best time to visit

Autumn , Spring , Winter

Route

Wide path , Narrow trail , Paved road

Difficulty walking trail

Average walk

Accessible by

Foot , Bicycle , Car , Boat

Birdwatching hide / platform

No

Links

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