I am thinking about going here
What bits did you like? I am particularly interested in birds and insects and will probably go to St Kilda, if I go. I was thinking of going for a week to allow time for rain etc. And also going to another islandIt is great, I went in summer 2012.
Thanks for that. I have never been to the outer Hebrides - can you see seabirds on Lewis and Harris? I would love to see Skuas most of all.Fitting in Lewis and Harris, St Kilda and another island around the weather(though storms are just as interesting as calm weather(but not so good for bird/insect photography) and doing them justice is going to be a push in a week. You might be lucky with St Kilda, we've tried three times and not managed it.
The obvious other island to go to when in Lewis and Harris is North Uist but that would increase your mileage. From years of visiting NW Scotland and the Hebrides I know it is easy to spend too much time travelling.
Birds and insects can turn up almost anywhere. There is the eagle walk and observatory on Harris and one of the highlight, if you are lucky, are red necked phalaropes on Lewis and usually plenty of species on the machair.
The outer isles(and just about anywhere in NW Scotland) are duperb places.
Dave
Thanks for that. I have never been to the outer Hebrides - can you see seabirds on Lewis and Harris? I would love to see Skuas most of all.
BTW I am considering Orkney instead of Lewis and Harris.
Where is a good place in Lewis and Harris for seabirds? I did google it but I can't find a good site. Did you see skuas at Lewis and Harris?Plenty of sea birds around Lewis and Harris all the usuals you'll expect.
Orkney is also a brillant place. I've seen both light and dark phase arctic skuas there and to see such a large bird match the manoeuvrability of a tern is a joy -well it was for me, not so much for the tern.
Great skuas are also present. I think a good percentage of the UK breeding population are on the island of Hoy but one of the largest numbers are(or were) on Unst in Shetland. Unfortunately their numbers have taken a hit recently - https://www.birdguides.com/news/disastrous-nesting-season-at-shetland-great-skua-colony/
You'll not be disappointed in the Hebridies, Orkney or Shetland.
Dave
What time did you try to book for?Outer Hebrides accommodation books up quick at certain times - breeding birds and blooming machair. We booked up last year for 2024 as there was no availability for 2023!
Where is a good place in Lewis and Harris for seabirds? I did google it but I can't find a good site. Did you see skuas at Lewis and Harris?
The last time I was on Lewis the Butt of Lewis lighthouse was a good place, but a large amount of luck is involved -- right place/right time.