wildlife watching on Skye and North Uist

crazywolf · #1 (**permalink**) 28-04-2010, 02:34 PM

Hi, planning trip to the Isle of Skye and North uist in early june. can anyone recommend any decent sites to watch otters, eagles, terns, pretty much any wildlife. hugely excited about the trip but want to try and maximise my chances of some succesful spots and hopefully photos. any info from anybody who lives or has visted recently would be massively appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Sam

ChrisJB · #2 (**permalink**) 29-04-2010, 08:09 PM

Both tremendous places, you'll have a great time. For golden eagles, try Glen Brittle. White-tailed sea eagles, try the boat trip from Portree (beware though, one chap on board tried passing a high, soaring raven off as one the last time I did it). I've never seen otters on Skye yet (Mull on the other hand heaves with 'em), but have been told that Staffin and the Flodigarry areas are a good bet. If you like corncrakes, try the area around Trumpan Church. There are only a few on Skye, but have been told that they can sometimes be heard up there. The last time I did the sail from Uig to North Uist there were plenty of manx shearwaters too, but that was in early August.
If you get chance, do the boat trip up to Loch Coruisk from Elgol as well. In decent weather it's an outstanding trip.

Regards, Chris

crazywolf · #3 (**permalink**) 30-04-2010, 03:58 PM

Wow, cheers Chris i think you've just helped me sew up any holes in my itinerary! except now it seems i'll need to factor in a couple of nights on Mull. Cant wait to plan it properly now with all that info, thanks again. have a great weekend!

Sam

eigg head · #4 (**permalink**) 30-04-2010, 05:18 PM

I've seen plenty otters on the east coast of Raasay - the short ferry from Sconser makes a good day trip from Skye.
North Uist - otters on Berneray, now reached by a causeway. Saw them on the big three mile beach, also by the hostel (a thatched croft house) at the NE tip of the island.
Golden eagles on the wild east coast of North Uist - and climb Eaval for views over the whole island.
Are you watching the Monty Hall TV series at the moment? Based on North Uist with some good views of the island and island life.

davecatt · #5 (**permalink**) 30-04-2010, 05:42 PM

Hi Crazy wolf

For otters on Skye you should try Kylerhea on the east coat of Skye O.S ref:NG788 212 (OS Landranger sheet 33).There is a Otter hide just north of the ferry landing.

White Tail Eagle is also a possibility over the straights between there and the mainland.
Dave

davecatt · #6 (**permalink**) 30-04-2010, 06:09 PM

Just found this link. It may be of interest

Kylerhea Otter Haven - Skye

Dave

BloomingMarvellous · #7 (**permalink**) 30-04-2010, 07:53 PM

Are you Wild Camping? I recorded all our Wild Camping Stop Overs a couple of years ago.

crazywolf · #8 (**permalink**) 30-04-2010, 08:20 PM

Yeah i imagine that i'll do abit it just depends where i end up, any decent spots would be great to know. thinking about spending a night on Rassay potentially. i've not set myself a fixed time, no foreign hols this year and lots of time in lieu so should have at least a week or so. Any info would be great bloomingmarvellous, and thanks for the link davecatt. i'd already spotted that as a potential site.

Cheers all.

crazywolf · #9 (**permalink**) 30-04-2010, 08:25 PM

where abouts on Mull did you see the otters Chris? sorry if i seem lazy, just not been up to the islands before and want to get as much out of it as possible.

PMG · #10 (**permalink**) 30-04-2010, 08:41 PM

Funnily enough Tobermory harbour is a good spot - tho its luck and or waiting about but there was a dog otter there that came within 4ft of folk last year (not me - a pity!) but people were filming on mobile cameras he was so close!

Be aware tho - what you might think is plenty of time if its only a week it won't be plenty at all - the islands are bigger than you might realise till you get there and visits of less than two weeks are just whistle-stops with a lot missing ......... difficult I know when you have to work - but saving up your time and money for a three or four week breaqk out there can pay dividends and I have done it but I must admit spending the rest of the year without a holiday is hard to nearly impossible ......... which is how come I've been going out every year since 1990 and last year I went out three times but it was my (kind of) retirement year from paid employ - so I celebrated by having four hols!