June 9 - 14 Mon - Sat
Group Size: 8
Starting Point: Inverness
Based: Barra - 2 nights, South Uist - 3 nightss)
Walking: Easy
Description :
To experience the Hebrides is to enjoy a taste of life as it was in rural Britain decades ago. Crofts are traditionally managed remaining environmentally sympathetic, ensuring preservation of habitats long since lost on the mainland. Wet meadows flaunt beds of Flag Iris and golden-flowered Marsh Marigolds, with ground cover sparse and therefore good for viewing birds.
This is Corncrake country, summer residence to a bird often heard but seldom seen - its rasping-calls interrupting the tranquillity of many a summer's evening. Hebridean evenings may be tranquil but hardly quiet - a constant cacophony of bird-sound fills the air. Corn Buntings ‘trill’ from telephone wires, Snipe ‘drum’ over marshes, Curlews ‘wicker’ on sheep pastures, while Oystercatchers, Redshanks, Dunlins and Skylarks contribute to the chorus.
Mountains along the east host Golden and White-tailed Eagles, with Merlin, Golden Plover and Greenshank in moorlands that plane down to the west. Miles of white beaches line the western seaboard, providing feeding areas for migrant waders. Great Northern Divers appear offshore and northbound skuas pass promontories.
On Benbecula a rarity on the scene is Red-necked Phalarope. Leach's Petrel, Pomarine and Long-tailed Skuas, Glaucous and Iceland Gulls, Snowy Owl, Turtle Dove, Golden Oriole, Woodchat and Red-backed Shrikes are among notable birds previously seen.
Sea crossings produce cetaceans: Minke Whale, Orca, Common, Bottlenose and Risso's Dolphins, and Harbour Porpoise.
The tour embraces the Island of Barra, often referred to as 'Jewel of the Hebrides', which, in our experience, is the best Corncrake destination in Scotland.
Itinerary
Days 1 & 2 Mon & Tue...09:00 Rendezvous:
Black-throated Diver, Buzzard and Sika Deer may be seen from road-sides en route to Oban, where we board the mid afternoon ferry (4 hours 50 mins.) to Castlebay . Sailing through the Firth of Lorn Black Guillemot and Harbour Porpoise may be spotted. In the Sea of the Hebrides Gannet, Manx Shearwater, Fulmar and Kittiwake all cross our course.
Up a glen off Barra's west coast we look for Golden Eagle, Merlin, Rock Dove and Raven. We lunch overlooking Barra's white beaches, where Little Terns hover above sandy shallows and basking seals croon from off-shore skerries.
Corncrakes are seen around crofts, also Twite and Corn Bunting. On Vatersay we walk across meadows carpeted with Primroses, often seeing migrant Whimbrels among flocks of Curlews.
Days 3 - 5 Wed - Fri:
Transferring to Benbecula (50 minute ferry) coastal sites are checked for Turnstone, Dunlin, Knot, Sanderling and Bar-tailed Godwit (some in breeding plumage). Freshwater lochs are good for Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler and Black-tailed Godwit, plus we visit a Red-necked Phalarope site. Most years an Iceland Gull is seen.
Around the indented east side of S. Uist White-tailed Eagle and Otter are main targets. The sea loch visited rarely fails to produce all that we hope for, plus an unexpected variety of small passerines in a flanking tree plantation.
In N. Uist we check headlands for migrating Long-tailed and Pomarine Skuas if weather patterns are suitable. Conifer plantations usually produce good views of Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl. We also visit the island of Bernera.
Day 6 Sat...06:15 Departure:
Travelling directly to Lochmaddy we take the 07:30 ferry back to Uig. About three hours are spent on Skye during which we shall view a Golden Eagle eyrie. After lunch we head directly to Inverness arriving late afternoon, with transfers provided to transport terminals or accommodation.
Cost: £755...includes:
Five nights dinner, b&b in twin rooms en suite; lunches; all excursions including transfers to and from transport terminals/accommodation.