Birding the Longman outflow and Inverness area by Alastair McNee, from Birding Scotland

The following article is reproduced with permission from Birding Scotland magazine. For more information about subscriptions and back issues email Harry Scott.

The Longman sewage outfall has long been known as an excellent site for gulls. Developments at the site and nearby have changed the area significantly and improved its accessibility. These changes have had both benefits and drawbacks.

To many keen Scottish birders, mention of the Longman brings one species immediately to mind - Ivory Gull. Scene of one of the most astonishing rare bird records in Scottish ornithological history, the Longman's fame was assured by the mid-summer presence of the beautiful adult during 19th-22nd July 1995. This bird completed the site's impressive double-header of Arctic larid rarities, having already hosted the longest-ever staying Ross's Gull from 30th January-26th March 1993. This latter bird's presence followed the adults at Kinnaird Head, another mainland Ross's/Ivory site, but the Longman bird was a first-winter. During the Ross's stay an adult Ring-billed Gull was present (13th-26th February), plus the usual Glaucous and Iceland Gulls. These last two white-winged gulls are annual and peaked in 1993 with seven Glaucous and eight Icelands. Previous good gull records here included Kumlien's Gull on 2nd January 1992 and again on 27th February 1993.

Any birders revisiting the Longman for the first time since the Ivory will notice dramatic changes. The most significant one is the new road which sweeps round from the harbour to the roundabout at the south end of the Kessock Bridge and over what was excellent mudflat and saltings habitat. A hide has been built at the layby opposite the outfall. The road continues east, under the bridge and past Inverness Caledonian-Thistle's new football stadium. A third-winter Glaucous flew over the ground during pie-and-Bovril time last season - the game's highlight! This road has opened up an area which was previously much more difficult to bird and is proving very productive. Birders would thus be well advised to do a two-stage visit, parking sensibly near the stadium and spending some time scanning east into the Inverness Firth as well as birding the 'traditional' outfall area.

Winter birding at the outfall is good at both high and low tides. Substantial numbers of Tufted Ducks, Teal and Goldeneye can be seen throughout the season and are particularly close at high tide from the layby. Shoveler, Pochard and Scaup are occasional. Low tide can bring reasonable numbers of waders, especially Redshank, Curlew and Dunlin. Sometimes Black-tailed Godwit overwinter and Turnstones and Ringed Plover are almost guaranteed. Gulls can be present in huge numbers at low tide and it is then that sightings of Iceland and Glaucous are most likely. Raptors are regular in winter and the openness of the site can yield superb views of Peregrines hunting. Off the stadium side at high tide, divers (mainly Red-throated), Long-tailed Ducks and Red-breasted Mergansers can be seen easily and grebes will include Little, Slavonian and occasionally Great-crested and Red-necked. Auk and Shag numbers fluctuate widely, Kittiwakes can suffer a winter wreck and scarcer birds putting in appearances have included Little Auks and Leach's Petrel.

Many of the ducks hold on well into Spring in good numbers. Waders build up, but the species range is the same, joined by the occasional Ruff and Spotted Redshank. A scan towards the Black Isle could reveal displaying Red Kites and Buzzards. Ospreys start fishing from late April, often close to the bridge with mid and low tides best.

Summer is very quiet with only vestiges of the big numbers of gulls, waders and ducks present earlier. Numbers of Goosanders can build up to a late-summer peak of over 100 by late July. Ospreys, sometimes up to three, feed daily throughout the summer and Bottle-nosed Dolphins are regular, frequently close to the Kessock Bridge.

During much of the autumn of 1998 a new outfall pipe was laid and the large-scale works had the effect of ruining the wader passage. In most years a reasonable passage of Ruff, Curlew Sandpipers and Little Stints takes place, and Black-tailed Godwits have peaked at 55 in September/October 1996. So far, no rare waders have been found, the best bird being a Temminck's Stint on 4th September 1994.

Sea-, or rather firth-, watching from the new road beside the stadium is likely to be very productive in autumn and has already yielded good records. Easterly winds can funnel many seabirds past Chanonry Point towards Inverness, and many make close approaches to the Kessock Bridge before turning back into the firth. One of the best days at the Longman was 9th September 1997 when an adult and a juvenile Sabine's Gull were present off the stadium side as a skua passage took place, with at least nine Long-tailed Skuas, four Pomarines, 17 Arctics and 16 Bonxies. Recently two Sooty Shearwaters have been recorded in addition to the regular Manx Shearwaters.

Although this is one of the more heavily birded sites in the Highlands this still probably means less than an average of five birders present in any one day! There is a huge potential for more species to be found. Perhaps Birding Scotland readers can help advance the gull list by finding the site's first Mediterranean, Bonaparte's or even Franklin's.

Access

Leave the A9 at the roundabout at the southern end of the Kessock Bridge by taking the east road signed to the football stadium for 300 metres. Continue under the bridge to access the outfall. The hide is locked at all times. Keys are obtainable from the Highland Council Service Point in Church Street on payment of a refundable £10 deposit. Only in severe weather is the hide essential, as birding from the layby is straightforward.

Other good areas to look at

South Kessock to Muirtown Pools

Many birds commute between the Longman and this site, which is also a well-known dolphin watching point. Best just before high-tide, two tidal 'islands' form just beyond the car park at South Kessock (NH655473) which hold good numbers of waders in autumn and winter.

A walk south-west along the seawall at high tide will produce good views of Wigeon, Teal, Red-breasted Merganser and Goosander in autumn and winter, plus the odd diver and Slavonian Grebe. The scrubby area on the landward side is very good in spring, for Whitethroat, Sedge and, especially, Grasshopper Warbler.

Cross the railway line (NH653466) and you come to the two Muirtown Pools. The larger, left hand pool can hold good numbers of Common Snipe and Moorhen, but is best known as a very reliable site for Kingfisher during the autumn/winter, most frequently seen fishing along the channel to the far corner.

The right hand pool is only good at high tide, when larger numbers of waders roost there, principally Redshank, Dunlin and Bar-tailed Godwit.

Whin Park and Boating Pond

This area, close to the River Ness (NH655343) is worth a quick visit in spring. Blackcap, Whitethroat, Garden and Sedge Warblers are regular breeders, with Common Sandpiper, Goosander, Grey Wagtail and Dipper on the river. Birding can be combined here with child minding if required!

Blackfold

Take the A82 (Loch Ness road) south out of Inverness and after two miles, turn right at the sign marked Abriachan (NH624417). Follow this (very steep) road for a further two miles and park sensibly, just after the cattle grid (NH593408). Take the path uphill, opposite Blackfold cottage, into the Caledonian pinewood. After 200 metres, a 'dead-end' path branches off right. Redstarts are common in spring and summer in the wood on your left, and Crested Tits equally so all year round. Retrace your steps and carry on up the hill track. Crossbills, Crested Tit and Black Grouse are very likely here, and the lochan to the east is well worth checking. Near the crest of the hill, bear left where the track splits, and carry on past a second lochan (NH580415) to the end of the track. Fly-over raptors could include Osprey, Common Buzzard, Peregrine and Hen Harrier and a Great Grey Shrike was found here in March 1995. The views are stunning and alone worth the visit.