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Description
Alturlie Point (1) is a headland located just outside Inverness, jutting out into the Inner Moray Firth (2). Along the road to the point you can find intertidal mudflats (3 and 5). The foreshore offers sightings of Rață mică, Rață fluierătoare, Sitar de mal nordic, Prundăraș gulerat mare, Nagâț, Culic mare, Fugaci de țărm, Fluierar cu picioare roșii, Pietruș, Scoicar and other various waders. During Spring, the area around Point 3 can be a good place to see migrant flocks of Culic mic. The area around the waterworks is well-known for usually holding a Rață mică during winter, with it mostly associating with the Rață mică flock. Best time to visit is 2 to 3 hours around the time of high tide (see a link to the tide table below).
Offshore you can spot Rață de ghețuri, Ferestraș moțat, Ferestraș mare, Eider, Cufundar mic, Rață cu cap negru and Rață sunătoare. Other birds that are regularly observed include Uligan pescar, Alcă atlantică, Alcă nordică, Chiră de mare, Corcodel de iarnă and Corb de mare. The hidden inland pools (4) can hold various interesting wildfowl, waders and the passerines. In the surrounding meadows and farmland where you can find birds like 1Lăcar mic, Presură de stuf, Presură sură (the area is the best place to see them locally), Ciocârlie, Presură galbenă, Cânepar, several species of geese, and sometimes waders.
Details
Access
Alturlie is located just 5 miles (8 km) northeast of Inverness. Follow A96 towards Inverness Airport and Nairn, then turn left at the crossroads at Allanfearn. You can drive up to Alturlie Point making stops along the way to check out the mudflats. There are several laybys located along the road to stop and scan the surrounding area from. Press a P on the map for directions. The inland pools can be overlooked from a small private road that goes inland. Best to park in the layby opposite the road leading up to the pools and walk up, as this is a narrow private road and residents aren't friendly towards birders. Note that birders are not welcomed by the residents of the houses on the road up to the pools and I would not recommend parking in front of their houses if the layby is full.