Tour Diary - Western Isles Wildlife, Summer in the Outer Hebrides
The Tour Diary for our Western Isles Wildlife tour in 2024 can be found using the button below. To give you a taster here is a summary of the tour….
20th - 28th July 2024
Our nine-day exploration of Scotland's Western Isles delivered memorable wildlife encounters from the moment we departed Ullapool; crossing the Minch we were treated to no fewer than five Humpback Whales, playful pods of Common Dolphin and a Minke Whale amidst an array of seabirds.
The flora and fauna on Lewis did not disappoint, with the maritime heath at RSPB Loch na Muilne bursting with wildflowers and both eagle species showing well from the get-go. Red-throated Divers popped up on lochans and Great Northern Divers cruised in coastal waters. As we journeyed south, we traced the isle’s cultural history through the Arnol Blackhouse, Dun Carloway Broch and 4,900-year-old Callanish Standing Stones.
At the sublime Hushinish Bay on Harris the machair was a swathe of botanical delights including Northern Marsh and Frog Orchids, Field Gentians, clovers, bedstraws and even the uncommon Pale Butterwort. Later, we watched adult Guillemots escort their flightless ‘jumplings’ at sea, and our beachcombing revealed tiny Pea Urchins and Arctic Cowries.
North Uist quickly exceeded expectations with a sighting of four Short-eared Owls quartering the machair simultaneously, two male Hen Harriers displaying overhead, and a Honey Buzzard drifting past! At RSPB Balranald, at least three Corncrakes called persistently from sweet-smelling meadows in which we also had Corn Buntings and the rare Great Yellow Bumblebee. Offshore, feeding Harbour Porpoises showed well in calm waters and with scopes we picked out hundreds of Grey Seals hauled out on the Monarch Islands with St Kilda looming on the horizon.
The southern islands produced four more Short-eared Owls, eagle, Otters, and a plethora of waders amongst which were Bar-tailed Godwits in stunning brick-red breeding plumage. On Barra, we discovered breeding Little Terns with three juveniles and the remarkable Solar-powered Seaslug (Elysia viridis).
Our return voyage delivered European Storm-petrels, Manx Shearwaters, an immature Fin Whale passing close by in the Sound of Mull, and three White-tailed Eagles - a perfect finale to an outstanding week.