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Birds The Outer Hebrides hold an excellent variety of breeding birds with both Black-throated and Red-throated Diver, (the latter sometimes nesting on roadside pools) lots of wildfowl especially Tufted Duck but also Shoveler and Wigeon. Rare breeding British waders such as Greenshank, Whimbrel and Red-necked Phalarope can all be found in suitable habitat as well as large concentrations of lapwing, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover and Dunlin although they are probably most important for the numbers and aggregation of breeding seabirds.
(Black Guillemot)
Both Storm and
Leach’s Petrel
can also be found breeding on the islands of St. Kilda and North Rona.
Daily trips run to St. Kilda in the summer A lot of these seabirds have travelled a long way to make their summer home in the Western Isles but none have travelled as far as the Arctic Tern. These splendid birds nest in tight colonies throughout the islands but have suffered from Mink predation and a shortage of sandeels recently. Hopefully with the eradication of Mink from the Uists we will see a turn in their fortunes although what is going on below the waves could be worrying. Both Common and Little Tern also breed but surprisingly Sandwich Terns are absent and only a casual visitor. (Arctic Tern; Mark Darlaston)
Eight species of raptor breed plus both Long and Short-eared Owls. The numbers of birds of prey is outstanding making the Outer Hebrides one of the best places in the UK to catch up with this group. There are around 24 pairs of Golden Eagle in the Uists alone as well as breeding birds on both Lewis and Harris. There are around seven pairs of White-tailed Eagle in total as well as lots of immature birds that will be looking for territory in the future. Hen Harriers are common on the Uists with at least 36 pairs nesting during 2005 although in Lewis and Harris you’d be lucky to see one. There may be a pair or two on these northern islands but they don't appear to find these islands suitable. The Uists also support 7 pairs of Peregrine and 29 pairs of Merlin as well as numerous Buzzards, Kestrels and a more recent colonist, the Sparrowhawk. Lewis also supports good numbers of Merlin in areas such as the Lewis Peatlands. (Golden Eagle; Mark Darlaston)
The variety of smaller
birds is somewhat limited and species that are common on the mainland
are either restricted as breeders or scarce Mammals
The summer and more especially – late July and August are
the best months for a variety of marine mammals as we are lucky to have a
Not a mammal but being seen ever more
frequently in recent years, Basking Sharks are a strong
possibility. These massive fish can be
seen from June until September although numbers probably peak in July
and August. Any headland on a calm day is just as likely a spot as any
other for seeing this species. Lewis is probably the best place to look
for whales although with so few observers you’re pretty much on your own
where ever you try.
Other resident mammals you're likely to encounter include Grey and Common Seals. The Common Seals pup in the summer months and unlike the Grey Seals the pups have to learn to swim pretty quickly as they are usually born between the tides on exposed sand banks and take their first dip with the next tide. The last of the aquatic mammals, the Otter is common throughout the islands although usually unobtrusive and easily over looked. Just sitting calmly viewing a nice tidal inlet at low tide will often produce sightings although you may encounter them just about anywhere. The last of the large animals you're likely to see is the Red Deer. It's the only species of deer present on the islands and can be found throughout the main chain the islands making up the Outer Hebrides. (photo: John Kemp) For more on Summer insects and flora click here (Summer Continued)
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The many
islands making up the Outer Hebrides hold nationally and
internationally important aggregations of breeding seabirds although
many of the colonies are not simple to get you will readily
encounter many of the auks on ferry crossings between the islands. All
four of the British auks (Razorbill, Guillemot, Black Guillemot and
Puffin) can be found nesting on the
off-shore islands whilst smaller colonies of Razorbill, Guillemot and
Black Guillemot can be found on Lewis. For Puffins you really
have to go to either the Shiants, Mingulay or St. Kilda although if
you're coming or going to Skye on
the ferry look out for large gatherings of Puffins as you reach the
outer headland from Uig, known as Vatternish Point.
number of whales and dolphins that turn up annually in the waters around
the isles. Minke Whale is often sighted on calmer days in August. Known
as the “Herring Hog” in some parts this mammal may grow up to 30 foot
long. It is best looked for on calm days by scanning over large areas of
water or looking for feeding frenzies of gulls and Gannets that gather
around where the whales surface. Although it does have a blow it’s usually not very powerful and
doesn’t form a large prominent column like the larger whales. If you do
see a significant blow you’re probably on to something really good. A
few years ago the warden on St. Kilda at the time saw a party of Fin
Whales heading south between him and North Uist. There was also a time
when whaling fleets left from the islands here to go “fishing” between
here and Iceland. One of their main prey items was the Blue Whale and
the jaw bones of one beast that was washed up in Lewis years ago can be
seen outside a house in Bragar, Lewis. You’re not likely to see anything
larger than a Minke but you may see a number of other dolphins such as
Bottle-nosed, White-beaked, White-sided and Risso’s, as well as
Killer Whales if you really lucky. Porpoise
(photo: Mark Darlaston) are pretty common and often close inshore
as they tend to feed in shallower water than many other cetaceans. It is
the most likely member if the whales and dolphins that you're likely to
see and is present year round. 