Bird Watching
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Bird Sightings
2010 was the best ever year for bird sightings in this area.
The following list of birds were spotted by one visiting couple.
"Just a quick email to thank you so much for a wonderful week in the turf house, what a fabulous place! All these birds were seen in and around Achiltibuie whilst on walks ( not seriously bird watching) and all in summer plumage and possibly nesting in the locality"
Clive & Dalia (24.07.2010)
- Red-throated Diver
- Black-throated Diver (Loch Lurgainn)
- Fulmar
- Manx Shearwater
- Gannet
- Cormorant
- Shag
- Shelduck
- Eider
- Red-breasted Merganser
- Buzzard
- Red Grouse
- Oystercatcher
- Ringed Plover
- Golden Plover
- Dunlin
- Common Sandpiper
- Redshank
- Greenshank
- Curlew
- Snipe
- Great Skua
- Artic Skua
- Common Gull
- Herring Gull
- Lerrer Black-backed Gull
- Great Black-backed Gull
- Kittiwake
- Common Tern
- Artic Tern
- Sandwich Tern
- Razorbill
- Black Guillemot
- Rock Dove
- Cuckoo
- Swallow
- Skylark
- Meadow Pipit
- Dunnock
- Robin
- Wheater
- Stonechat
- Song Thrush
- Mistle Thrush
- Willow Warbler
- Whitethroat
- Hooded Crow
- Raven
- Jackdaw
- Starling
- House Sparrow
- Chaffinch
- Linnet
- Redpoll
- Twite
- Greenfinch
- Reed Bunting
- Yellowhammer
- Heron
- Osprey (with fish)
- Sea Eagle
Some useful birdwatching information ..
Tel 01854 612472 to arrange. Two-hour wildlife cruises to the Isle Martin bird sanctuary and seal islands (departs at 2.15pm daily, plus an extra sailing on Sundays at 11am), as well as 4-hour cruises to the Summer Isles including time ashore on Tanera Mhor (departs 10am Monday to Saturday). Sunset evening cruises to Isle Martin - times vary.
Tel 01854 633708 to arrange. Lasting approximately 2 hours this 40 sea mile trip takes in the sheltered cliffs of Isle Martin bird sanctuary and seal islands. Seascape expeditions use an all weather, 300hp, 8.5mtr RIB (Rigid inflatable Boat), certified to MCA code of Practice.
Telephone 01854 622200 to arrange. The Hectoria is another local cruise boat that takes people round the islands to see the seals and rare birds. Sailings are twice daily at 10.30 am and 2.15 pm . No need to book (not Sundays) Evening sea fishing trips are also available on request.
Birdwatching in Wester Ross in the Scottish Highlands. This site describes some of the many rare species found in the North West Highlands, and has photographs species ranging from Sea Eagles to Finches.
A bird watching trip report on Scotland from 2000.
Handa Island Bird Reserve
Handa Island bird reserve is just 1 ¾ hours drive north, where you can see breeding seabirds including puffins and arctic skua.
With magnificent sea cliffs that rise vertically from the Atlantic in the northwest Handa Island come alive each summer when nearly 200,000 seabirds, including kittiwakes, arctic skuas and puffins, gather to breed. Guillemots, razorbills and great skuas reach internationally important numbers on the island.
For breeding seabirds the best time to visit Handa is in May, June and July, boat trips leave every 15 minutes in season.
More info on Handa can be found at the Scottish Wildlife Trust website.
