| Home | Reference | Forums | Gallery | Maps | Blogs | News | Reviews | Directory | Events | Images |  |
The 304 miles from Leigh to Oban is approx a 5hour drive
The sailing from Oban to Lochboisdale is another 5 hours 15 minutes
On arrival at Oban you will without doubt see a variety of common gull species, but the bird to look for in the harbour is Black Guillemot if you have a wait for the ferry it will be worthwhile setting up you scope to scan the harbour and sea, you will be unlucky if you don’t see a least Shag and Gannet as well.
After boarding the ferry take with you all you will need to endure the 5 hour + journey to Lochboisdale, South Uist, because returning to your car is not permitted. So wet weather / warm clothing is essential, so are your camera, various lenses and binocs.
First of for me is up on deck to decide where to perch for most of the way but of course this position will no doubt change with the direction of the wind as the ferry moves up through the sound of Mull and out into the open sea.
Birds usually encountered would be Black & common Guillemots, Shags, Cormorants, Eider ducks and drakes. Gannet, Fulmar and again gulls are definite and Razorbills, Puffins and Shearwaters are about especially Manx but I have seen Sooty shearwater.
For those that like to travel in comfort or need to rest then get a move on in fact send some of your party ahead to bag your seats, communicate by mobile phone and find them later. Having said that there is plenty of comfortable seating but some people don’t half like to spread out. The food on board is quite good and also reasonably priced; we have found the staff to be very friendly as well.
There are lots to see as you sail, the sound of Mull is only a couple of miles wide so good views of birds and scenes are all around, a camera is a must but do make a note of the shots you take on the way out because you will probably want to take the same ones again coming back. Grab the shots while you can if the weathers good, because it sure wont be the same coming back.
The sailing from Oban to Lochboisdale is another 5 hours 15 minutes
On arrival at Oban you will without doubt see a variety of common gull species, but the bird to look for in the harbour is Black Guillemot if you have a wait for the ferry it will be worthwhile setting up you scope to scan the harbour and sea, you will be unlucky if you don’t see a least Shag and Gannet as well.
After boarding the ferry take with you all you will need to endure the 5 hour + journey to Lochboisdale, South Uist, because returning to your car is not permitted. So wet weather / warm clothing is essential, so are your camera, various lenses and binocs.
First of for me is up on deck to decide where to perch for most of the way but of course this position will no doubt change with the direction of the wind as the ferry moves up through the sound of Mull and out into the open sea.
Birds usually encountered would be Black & common Guillemots, Shags, Cormorants, Eider ducks and drakes. Gannet, Fulmar and again gulls are definite and Razorbills, Puffins and Shearwaters are about especially Manx but I have seen Sooty shearwater.
For those that like to travel in comfort or need to rest then get a move on in fact send some of your party ahead to bag your seats, communicate by mobile phone and find them later. Having said that there is plenty of comfortable seating but some people don’t half like to spread out. The food on board is quite good and also reasonably priced; we have found the staff to be very friendly as well.
There are lots to see as you sail, the sound of Mull is only a couple of miles wide so good views of birds and scenes are all around, a camera is a must but do make a note of the shots you take on the way out because you will probably want to take the same ones again coming back. Grab the shots while you can if the weathers good, because it sure wont be the same coming back.
My trip to the Outer Hebrides
Western Isles / Outer Hebrides
The journey is by no means an easy one, the 304 miles from Leigh to Oban is approximately a 5hour drive followed by another 5 hours 15 minutes sail from Oban to Lochboisdale South Uist.
On arrival at Oban you will without doubt see a variety of common gull species, but the bird to look for in the harbour is Black Guillemot if you have a wait for the ferry it will be worthwhile setting up your scope to scan the harbour and sea, you will be unlucky if you don’t see a least Shag and Gannet as well.
After boarding the ferry take with you all you will need to endure the 5 hour + journey to Lochboisdale, because returning to your car is not permitted. So wet weather / warm clothing is essential, so are your camera, various lenses and binocs.
First off for me is up on deck to decide where to perch for most of the way but of course this position will no doubt change with the direction of the wind as the ferry moves up through the sound of Mull and out into the open sea.
Birds usually encountered would be Black & common Guillemots, Shags, Cormorants, Eider ducks and drakes. Gannet, Fulmar and again gulls are definite and Razorbills, Puffins and Shearwaters are about especially Manx but I have seen Sooty shearwater.
For those that like to travel in comfort or need to rest then get a move on in fact send some of your party ahead to bag your seats, communicate by mobile phone and find them later. Having said that there is plenty of comfortable seating but some people don’t half like to spread out. The food on board is quite good and also reasonably priced; we have found the staff to be very friendly as well.
There are lots to see as you sail, the sound of Mull is only a couple of miles wide so good views of birds and scenes are all around, a camera is a must but do make a note of the shots you take on the way out because you will probably want to take the same ones again coming back. Grab the shots while you can if the weathers good, because it sure wont be the same coming back.
The group of Islands known as the Western Isles / Outer Hebrides are 14 in number as far as can be ascertained the main ones are:
Isle of Lewis
Its capital Stornoway is the largest town in the Western Isles and is less than 3 hours by ferry from Ullapool and a plane ride away from many UK airports. The island has lots of unspoilt sandy beaches and is home to the famous Callanish standing stones (second only to Stonehenge). Offshore is the beautiful island of Great Bernera with an Iron Age Village overlooking a spectacular beach.
Isle of Harris
A beautiful island of contrasts: its rocky east coast looks like the moon; in the west its golden beaches are often deserted. Offshore are the tiny islands of Scarp and Taransay. Just over 90 minutes by ferry from Skye or just a drive over the border from the neighbouring Isle of Lewis. From Harris you can also sail over to the Uists.
The Uists
North Uist - Benbecula - South Uist. This chain of islands has allsorts on offer: hills, sandy beaches, nature reserves and ancient monuments. The Uists are reachable by ferry and plane from the mainland and the neighbouring islands, It hosts a wealth of birds and plants especially May to July.
Isle of Barra
Situated towards the end of the Western Isles chain, this little place has been described as "Barradise" with its hills and beaches. Accessible by plane and ferry.
St Kilda
Approximately 55 miles west of Harris, this little archipelago comprises the islands of Hirta, Dun, Soay & Boreray. Inhabited for centuries, then evacuated in 1930. Famous for its remoteness and sea bird colonies. Designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It’s a long way and can be quite a rough passage getting there but well worth it, even if only to see the St Kildan Wren
We saw a total of 107 bird species overall, and many wild flowers, one sighting of an Otter and several encounters with Red Deer and Common Seals. From the ferry, back to Oban we saw two Basking Sharks.
The weather was mixed with several days of rain / showers-always windy to some degree but we did have quite a few good days of sunshine.
Birds at this time of year seemed quieter than our previous visit, mid may 2004.
The appearance of a Snowy Owl at RSPB Balranald was an exception as was the single Swift at Kirkibost, North Uist.
some Plants I noted, with the expert help of my very dear friends Pauline & Ian Greenhalgh:
Ragged Robin, Oblong sundew, Round sundew, Lesser spearwort,
Marsh cinquefoil Forget-me-not Bloodrop emlet Spear thistle Water lobelia Cotton Grass
Lesser Butterfly Orchid, Common spotted Hebridensii, Marsh Orchid, Heath spotted Orchid, Frog Orchid Twayblade, Sea rocket, Adders tongue, Boggasperdel, Butlerwart,
Corn Marigold, Bog Pimpernel, Eye Bright, Meadowsweet, Angelica.
Bird List
Red-throated Diver, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Little Grebe,
Fulmar, Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, Grey Heron, Mute Swan,
Whooper Swan, Greylag Goose, Shelduck, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler,
Tufted Duck, Common Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander,
White-tailed Eagle, Hen Harrier, Common Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Osprey,
Kestrel, Merlin, Corncrake, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover,
Golden Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Common Snipe, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel,
Curlew, Common Redshank, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Turnstone,
Arctic Skua, Great Skua, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull,
Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Tern,
Arctic Tern, Little Tern, Guillemot, Razorbill, Black Guillemot, Puffin, Rock Dove,
Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Cuckoo, Snowy Owl, Long-eared Owl,
Short-eared Owl, Common Swift, Skylark, Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Whinchat, Stonechat,Northern Wheatear, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Sedge Warbler, Common Whitethroat,Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Common Treecreeper, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Raven, Starling,House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Siskin, Linnet, Redpoll,Common Crossbill, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting.
The journey is by no means an easy one, the 304 miles from Leigh to Oban is approximately a 5hour drive followed by another 5 hours 15 minutes sail from Oban to Lochboisdale South Uist.
On arrival at Oban you will without doubt see a variety of common gull species, but the bird to look for in the harbour is Black Guillemot if you have a wait for the ferry it will be worthwhile setting up your scope to scan the harbour and sea, you will be unlucky if you don’t see a least Shag and Gannet as well.
After boarding the ferry take with you all you will need to endure the 5 hour + journey to Lochboisdale, because returning to your car is not permitted. So wet weather / warm clothing is essential, so are your camera, various lenses and binocs.
First off for me is up on deck to decide where to perch for most of the way but of course this position will no doubt change with the direction of the wind as the ferry moves up through the sound of Mull and out into the open sea.
Birds usually encountered would be Black & common Guillemots, Shags, Cormorants, Eider ducks and drakes. Gannet, Fulmar and again gulls are definite and Razorbills, Puffins and Shearwaters are about especially Manx but I have seen Sooty shearwater.
For those that like to travel in comfort or need to rest then get a move on in fact send some of your party ahead to bag your seats, communicate by mobile phone and find them later. Having said that there is plenty of comfortable seating but some people don’t half like to spread out. The food on board is quite good and also reasonably priced; we have found the staff to be very friendly as well.
There are lots to see as you sail, the sound of Mull is only a couple of miles wide so good views of birds and scenes are all around, a camera is a must but do make a note of the shots you take on the way out because you will probably want to take the same ones again coming back. Grab the shots while you can if the weathers good, because it sure wont be the same coming back.
The group of Islands known as the Western Isles / Outer Hebrides are 14 in number as far as can be ascertained the main ones are:
Isle of Lewis
Its capital Stornoway is the largest town in the Western Isles and is less than 3 hours by ferry from Ullapool and a plane ride away from many UK airports. The island has lots of unspoilt sandy beaches and is home to the famous Callanish standing stones (second only to Stonehenge). Offshore is the beautiful island of Great Bernera with an Iron Age Village overlooking a spectacular beach.
Isle of Harris
A beautiful island of contrasts: its rocky east coast looks like the moon; in the west its golden beaches are often deserted. Offshore are the tiny islands of Scarp and Taransay. Just over 90 minutes by ferry from Skye or just a drive over the border from the neighbouring Isle of Lewis. From Harris you can also sail over to the Uists.
The Uists
North Uist - Benbecula - South Uist. This chain of islands has allsorts on offer: hills, sandy beaches, nature reserves and ancient monuments. The Uists are reachable by ferry and plane from the mainland and the neighbouring islands, It hosts a wealth of birds and plants especially May to July.
Isle of Barra
Situated towards the end of the Western Isles chain, this little place has been described as "Barradise" with its hills and beaches. Accessible by plane and ferry.
St Kilda
Approximately 55 miles west of Harris, this little archipelago comprises the islands of Hirta, Dun, Soay & Boreray. Inhabited for centuries, then evacuated in 1930. Famous for its remoteness and sea bird colonies. Designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It’s a long way and can be quite a rough passage getting there but well worth it, even if only to see the St Kildan Wren
We saw a total of 107 bird species overall, and many wild flowers, one sighting of an Otter and several encounters with Red Deer and Common Seals. From the ferry, back to Oban we saw two Basking Sharks.
The weather was mixed with several days of rain / showers-always windy to some degree but we did have quite a few good days of sunshine.
Birds at this time of year seemed quieter than our previous visit, mid may 2004.
The appearance of a Snowy Owl at RSPB Balranald was an exception as was the single Swift at Kirkibost, North Uist.
some Plants I noted, with the expert help of my very dear friends Pauline & Ian Greenhalgh:
Ragged Robin, Oblong sundew, Round sundew, Lesser spearwort,
Marsh cinquefoil Forget-me-not Bloodrop emlet Spear thistle Water lobelia Cotton Grass
Lesser Butterfly Orchid, Common spotted Hebridensii, Marsh Orchid, Heath spotted Orchid, Frog Orchid Twayblade, Sea rocket, Adders tongue, Boggasperdel, Butlerwart,
Corn Marigold, Bog Pimpernel, Eye Bright, Meadowsweet, Angelica.
Bird List
Red-throated Diver, Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, Little Grebe,
Fulmar, Manx Shearwater, Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, Grey Heron, Mute Swan,
Whooper Swan, Greylag Goose, Shelduck, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler,
Tufted Duck, Common Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander,
White-tailed Eagle, Hen Harrier, Common Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Osprey,
Kestrel, Merlin, Corncrake, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover,
Golden Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Common Snipe, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel,
Curlew, Common Redshank, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Turnstone,
Arctic Skua, Great Skua, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull,
Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Tern,
Arctic Tern, Little Tern, Guillemot, Razorbill, Black Guillemot, Puffin, Rock Dove,
Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Cuckoo, Snowy Owl, Long-eared Owl,
Short-eared Owl, Common Swift, Skylark, Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Whinchat, Stonechat,Northern Wheatear, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Sedge Warbler, Common Whitethroat,Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Common Treecreeper, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Raven, Starling,House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Siskin, Linnet, Redpoll,Common Crossbill, Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting.
Total Comments 0
Comments
Recent Blog Entries by Davy Crockett
- Another foray into the fields of Norfolk (28-02-2010)
- Scotland’s Solway coats (26-02-2009)
- Just an abbreviation? (24-02-2009)
- Ruddy Ducks (21-08-2008)
- Bird List (10-08-2008)
