Winter Tours 2010 / 2011
Booking: For enquiries to book a tour please contact Steve on 01870 620241or 07733 026663.
Alternatively you can email me on steveduffield@hebrides.net
We are available to run trips throughout the winter season in Uist. Please feel free to contact us for details.
Expected wildlife highlights: The Outer Hebrides is probably not what
most people would think of as a winter destination but you'd be surprised at just what the islands have to offer. The long golden beaches are devoid of people and the Atlantic waves roll and crash along the shore creating an exhilarating feel to the place. Surprisingly for somewhere so far north the islands hold large wintering concentrations of waders including nationally important numbers of Purple Sandpipers and good numbers of Greenshank too. The birds of prey are easier to see at this time of year and we will get excellent views of the wintering sea duck and divers. There's also an excellent chance of seeing Otters too as they are at their most obvious at this time of year.
Itinerary: We will be based on the Uists and visit all the major islands in the southern group, including Berneray, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist and Eriskay – now all joined by causeways. Each island has its own unique charm and character in this delightful archipelago. You're sure to have an excellent and entertaining holiday full of memorable wildlife encounters.
adult and 1st w Glaucous Gulls Snow Bunting
Otters are common in the Outer Hebrides and often encountered during the day. No one knows just how many Otters there are in the islands but it's safe to say that they are common in the islands here and there is a good chance that you will see one or two on one of these short winter breaks.
Another highlight of the islands is the number of birds of prey. There are eight resident species including the enormous White-tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier, Buzzard, Peregrine, Merlin, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. The White-tailed Eagle (below right) is the largest bird of prey in the UK with a wingspan reaching almost 2.5 metres in some individuals. They can be told from the commoner Golden Eagle (below left) even at a distance by the much shorter tail.
Selected short list of species: Snow Bunting, Corn Bunting, Twite, Skylark, Greenland White-fronted Geese, Barnacle Geese, Greylag Geese, Long-tailed Duck, Eider, Red-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver, Slavonian Grebe, Purple Sandpiper, Sanderling, Grey plover, Greenshank, Iceland Gull, Glaucous Gull, Hen Harrier, Peregrine, Merlin, Golden Eagle, White-tailed Eagle, Otter, Red Deer, Grey Seal, Common Seal.
Cost for a short winter breaks up for 4 nights: £490.
To book any of the following tours please contact Steve on 01870 620241or 07733 026663.
Alternatively you can email me on steveduffield@hebrides.net
