Hi from the Outer Hebriedes

dbozkurt · #1 (**permalink**) 28-10-2006, 06:33 PM

Hello Everyone

My names Debbie and at present am aboding in the Outer Hebrides. I was working in Stornoway and commuting at the weekends to Benbecula. The wild life, fauna etc. is amazing here. The weather at present is not good, heavy rain and gale force winds. Tried to reach a loch today to take photos of Whooper swans but got bogged down so only got distant shots.

This is an amazing site and for an amateur like me the photographs help me identify birds, plants and fungi.....though must admit having difficulties with identify some of the pictures I took.

Would be interested to here from anyone else living in the remote parts of Britain....though I am really a Londoner.

First post......exciting

Ollie · #2 (**permalink**) 28-10-2006, 06:56 PM

Hi Debbie, I don't live in a particular remote part of Britain unless you call the Lincolnshire wolds remote, but a very warm welcome to WAB. Sure you will soon feel at home and meet some great people on here. Enjoy the site
Roger

dbozkurt · #3 (**permalink**) 28-10-2006, 06:59 PM

Thanks for the welcome, anyone know how you get a photo under your name, i've added one to my profile but it doesn't show.

Thanks

glsammy · #4 (**permalink**) 28-10-2006, 07:20 PM

Welcome to WAB Debbie. Unfortunately I live right smack in the centre of the UK in Nottingham, but that won't stop me helping you in any way I can.

As for you avatar, it's probably the size that's the problem. Make sure its no more than 90x90 pixels and less than 24kb in size.

Ollie · #5 (**permalink**) 28-10-2006, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbozkurt

Thanks for the welcome, anyone know how you get a photo under your name, i've added one to my profile but it doesn't show.

Thanks

Hi Debbie, click the User CP button and you should then find an option to add an avatar (the picture under your user name when you post) Intructions to add an avatar are straight forward, but it can't be larger than 90 x 90 or 24.4kb whichever is smaller.
Roger

Beat me to it Graham.

rlchew · #6 (**permalink**) 28-10-2006, 09:57 PM

Hello Debbie

Welcome to WAB.

I live about as far away from Benbecula as you can get but I have visited the Western Isles twice. It is a beautiful part of the UK .... although perhaps less so in heavy rain and gales!

If you don't get blown away please submit some photos to the gallery.

Enjoy the website.

Richard

Kam · #7 (**permalink**) 28-10-2006, 10:15 PM

Hi Debbie Grey Wolf

Your awfy lucky to live in such a beautiful place.
Is that your surname or if not can i ask how you came to choosin it.
Hope im not being to personal

Take care

dbozkurt · #8 (**permalink**) 29-10-2006, 07:05 AM

My first name is Debbie and my surname is Bozkurt, didn't realise when I chose my user name it would appear as that as I would have used something more informal. Please call me Debbie. My ex-husband was a Turkish Cypriot and at the time it was easier to keep his name, I have now been Bozkurt for longer than my maiden name.

Debbie

Tinkerbell · #9 (**permalink**) 29-10-2006, 07:38 AM

Hooray! When we started Wild About Britain, I always hoped that we would have some members from more 'exotic' locations so I look forward to hearing more about the environment you live in, dbozkurt. The Outer Hebrides get little mention on national news, though we are a little better informed about them with one or two wildlife programmes.

Your account of activity yesterday made interesting reading, with the imagination conjuring up a picture of your struggle in the mud. Rain and gale force winds too, whilst we are still enjoying the back end of the summer, although it is getting cooler.

Look forward to hearing more from you.

Tinkerbell

dbozkurt · #10 (**permalink**) 29-10-2006, 07:50 AM

Thanks Tinkerbell

It is wild up here though this morning its calm and supposed to stay dry. Since a child dirt attracts me so I spend most of my days here falling in peat bogs with my camera held above my head. The Uists at the moment have gone back to cattle raising and there are the most wonderful clean and shiny highland cattle dotted everywhere. The bird life is incrediable and you find yourself saying oh only another buzzard. In North Uist we have a Snowy Owl that lives there and I was priviledged to see and take some photos of it on the beach, I was amazed. You take a drive and find deer in peoples gardens eating the grass next to the ford escort, the Rabbits are every where on the machair, though the crofters don't like them.

The wild flowers are also incredible on the machair with wild orchids, clover, buttercups and bog cotton just to name a few. Now I've said all that I am off to do Breakfast, the ironing, hoovering etc......unfortunatly......

Nice Hearing from you and I shall certainly write of any interesting weather sights if people are interested.

thanks for the Welcome

Debbie

Wild-Woman · #11 (**permalink**) 29-10-2006, 07:54 AM

Welcome to you from me in the depths of north Kent, where I'm in spitting distance of the jolly old M25! Looking forward to seeing pictures and posts from you. Julie

FungiJohn · #12 (**permalink**) 29-10-2006, 10:22 AM

Hi Debbie and a very warm welcome to WAB. Enjoy!
John

nightshade · #13 (**permalink**) 29-10-2006, 11:30 AM

Hello Debbie,glad we are getting out that far,hope you get those posts rolling in

peppermint · #14 (**permalink**) 29-10-2006, 02:03 PM

hi Debbie, a warm welcome to WAB. The outer Hebriedes sound wonderful. Look forward to some pics.

Jen

Deer Stalker · #15 (**permalink**) 29-10-2006, 04:40 PM

Hi Debbie.

Garden Carpet · #16 (**permalink**) 29-10-2006, 04:45 PM

Hi Debbie.. welcome to WAB.. you make it sound so lovely up there.. have you guest rooms??

Jaki

Dorcas · #17 (**permalink**) 29-10-2006, 06:53 PM

oh I love the Uists - and the name Benbecula - stayed at the campsite there a few years ago and yes stinky bay stinks lol......If I was able to make or create stuff I'd be there
look forward to reading your posts

Dorcas

dbozkurt · #18 (**permalink**) 29-10-2006, 09:58 PM

Well thanks to all the welcomes, it is lovely up here but at this moment there is gale force winds and horizontal rain, according to the Met Check weather site we have had over 90mm of rain more than our average and that is not counting todays or the next few days.

You may be getting some posts and photos from me on the weather pages......

Its great to here people have been and love the islands as I do, work takes me away but I come back weekends if possible as I miss the wildness.

Debbie

cherrybee · #19 (**permalink**) 29-10-2006, 10:12 PM

Hi Debbie and a very warm welcome to WAB

PMG · #20 (**permalink**) 03-11-2006, 09:11 PM

Hello and welcome Debbie. I'm absolutely green with envy about you being on the islands! I've been up there every year for hols since 1990 and know the Uists and Benbecula particularly well. I've made a few friends too and I'm sure some of the locals recognise my old red and white VW camper when we arrive for yet another 2 or 3 weeks stay!! The machair, nesting waders and raptors, plus the orchids, fungi, moths etc - oh dear - I've come over all misty-eyed with longing for the place. Never visited in winter - yet - perhaps when I retire - but I'm led to believe that birding in winter is very productive too esp for seeing short eared owls and harriers batting about trying to get food for themselves in the short daylight hours. Do enjoy your stay - its a very special place . . .

Pauline

dbozkurt · #21 (**permalink**) 03-11-2006, 09:24 PM

Where do you stay? at the camp site at Liniclate? I do recommend you try the Autumn, the Whooper Swans have arrived and their are flocks of Redwinds everywhere. I have had a few weeks off work so have been (weather permiting) walking around the hills and bogs (100mm above average rain fall in October). Its back to the bright lights (stornoway) Monday but I will be back most weekends. I will continue to look out for a red camper and I hope you have many more wonderful years visiting. May I ask what's your favourite part of the island?

Nice to hear from you Debbie

John D · #22 (**permalink**) 03-11-2006, 10:44 PM

Welcome to WAB, Debbie. Hope you enjoy it.
John D

PMG · #23 (**permalink**) 04-11-2006, 08:33 PM

Hello again Debbie - read your post elsewhere about the snowy owl - there was one last year I think at Balranald but we didn't see it! When you think about all the pale rocks on the reserve I think we probably walked past without noticing it!

Favourite bits . . . well . . . where would you like me to start?! Poss by a short nose Rubh Ardvule on South Uist because of all the nesting birds in such a small space. I've sat on the little turn around car park at the end of the road with a cuppa in my hand and watched ringed plover go back on its nest, gannets fly past and over my head in rough weather. A male hen harrier one year came down off the hills and flew round the camper - obviously looking to surprise some wader or chick for his tea. . . We know the storms have cut off the road now at Dulan Bay which is such a shame as the vehicle made a good hide to watch all the nests from.

We normally stay with Katie and Allan at Shellbay but when we take both mothers we have stayed in self catering crofts which can be nice if the weather isn't so good. This last June we had the worst holiday ever - losing 9 out of 12 days to bad weather - very frustrating.

Look forward to hearing tales from the isles and seeing pics!

Pauline

dbozkurt · #24 (**permalink**) 04-11-2006, 09:02 PM

Hi PMG

This picture was taken 2 weeks after the storm and you can see what damage was done. Was at Rubha Aird a Mhuile a couple of weeks ago and it was pretty grim, we have had a lot of rain and it was difficult to get around the headland to the trig point. Not too many birds mostly Oyster Catchers but their were a pair of seals in the bay below the Dun which I watched for about 1/2hr. I love the east cost of Benbecula its so peaceful, My partner and I walked across to Roisinis.....through endless peat bogs until you come to large Sand Dunes (very rare on east). This is where Bonnie Prince Charles and Flora rowed over the sea to Skye.......whats so great is not many people get there you feel like you are the only ones on the island, just incredible scenary.

If you are up this way do contact me....it is so interesting to here of other peoples thoughts on the islands.

Debbie

canny · #25 (**permalink**) 05-11-2006, 11:50 AM

So nice to hear from other Outer Hebrides lovers. I feel as though I am going home when I get on the Cal Mac ferry at Uig. (Haggis tatties & neeps for lunch, yum) It's a couple of years since I was there now but have been on lots of holidays over the last 20 or so years.Camping in the early years but now self catering. I cannot pick a favorite island, all have their own different charm. Have stayed on every island from Barra to Lewis. Had a wonderful holiday on Scalpay off Harris and I had great views of an Otter family. Love chasing the Corncrakes on Uist. We go usually in May when weather is usually pretty good and sometimes has been amazing.
Also holidayed on Coll, Tiree, Colonsay, Skye, Islay & Mull.
Feeling homesick now