Status | Starts | Group size | Leader | Duration/price Inc. flights from/to UK | Duration/price Exc. international flights | Single supp. | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Limited spaces | Max. 7 | David Lambie | 7 days: £2,155 pp. | £270 | ||||
Available | Max. 7 | David Lambie | 7 days: £2,195 pp. | £270 |
Join us for a trip to the northern Outer Hebrides – the ornithologically unexplored conjoined isles of Lewis and Harris. The former has vast moorlands, the latter high mountains, but both have the fabulous machair grassland where waders and corncrakes nest, wonderful coastlines for seabirds, and probably the best chance in Britain of seeing four species of diver in breeding plumage.
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- Arrive in Inverness in the morning and transfer to Ullapool, where we catch the ferry to Stornoway, looking out for seabirds and cetaceans along the way.
- On land, we transfer to our hotel on the west coast of Lewis before exploring some local sites.
- Accommodation: Cabarfeidh Hotel, 6-nights
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- Lewis holds one of the highest densities of breeding merlin in Europe and northern Harris holds the same record but for golden eagles. The conjoined islands attract migrants, both on land and sea, breeding wildfowl and waders and offer the chance to see four species of diver, including the rare Arctic white-billed diver, and have begun to draw birdwatchers northwards.
- Over the next five days, our itinerary is kept flexible to account for recent sightings and local conditions.
- On one day we head to the Callanish Stones, upright slabs placed almost 3,000 years ago. Our route to the stones passes peat bogs, a favourite for red-throated and black-throated divers, greenshank, dunlin, hen harrier and golden eagle.
- The white sand beaches of Harris are well-worth a visit, and we spend a day at the coast, in particular Luskentyre Sands. The nearby glens are also home to white-tailed and golden eagle, so we keep an eye out for these magnificent raptors.
- On another day, we explore Tiumpan Head Lighthouse and Tolsta, searching for seabirds and cetaceans in the Minch from the shore. Arctic skua and otters are also possible here. Later in the week we take a boat trip out onto the Minch, where likely species include common, bottlenose and Risso's dolphin, and hopefully minke whale. On the boat trip, we hope to visit the Shiant Islands and its population of Atlantic puffins.
- Back on Lewis, other areas we hope to explore include the north, with the red-necked phalarope at Loch a'Mhuilinn in our sights, and the south-east of the island for eagles, merlin, twite and red grouse.
- Our hotel is near a corncrake nesting site, and we plan to visit this on one evening.
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- After breakfast, we have a couple of hours searching for otters or scanning the moors and hillsides for eagles.
- Return to Stornoway in the afternoon for the return ferry to Ullapool and transfer to Inverness.
All prices are per person and include:
- Services of the naturalist leader
- Accommodation
- Most meals
- All excursions
- Transfers for excursions
- Services of expert naturalist leader
- Conservation fund contribution
Accommodation
We stay in a comfortable hotel on the edge of Stornoway, on the eastern coast of the Isle of Lewis. The hotel offers fine food and tranquillity, and is well located for exploring all corners of the island.
All rooms are en suite and feature a TV, tea and coffee facilities and free Wi-Fi.
Meals
All meals are included.
Birds
Both islands boast machair grassland and fabulous coastlines, and arguably the best chance in the British Isles of seeing four species of diver in breeding plumage – white-billed, red-throated, black-throated, and great northern diver.
- Golden eagle
- White-tailed eagle
- Red-necked phalarope
- Corncrake
Scenery
The Outer Hebridean islands of Lewis and Harris have a rugged windswept beauty, hauntingly beautiful landscapes and superb historical sites, including the standing stones at Callanish.
Ground transport
We have use of a minibus to transport us to and from sites each day.
Photography
Whilst this is not a photography trip, there will be some great opportunities with seabirds, seals, cetaceans, wading birds, red deer and potentially birds of prey and otters.
Walking
Please note that there will be a series of short, flat walks each day. These are usually no more than two kilometres in length.
Mammals
Although home to few mammals, the island supports high populations of some iconic species. Red deer are common and widespread across Lewis and Harris and otters have territories along most of the coastline, so sightings are a possibility in many sheltered bays. Mountain hares and introduced rabbits can also be found, while the rich marine environment in the nearby Minch supports healthy populations of grey and common seal and some of the best whale and dolphin watching in the British Isles. The large and distinctive Risso’s dolphin is a regular visitor to the area along with minke whale, common dolphin and harbour porpoise.
- Red deer
- Otter
- Grey seal
- Minke whale