Читать книгу Walking on Harris and Lewis. 30 day walks exploring the islands онлайн

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A large number of bird species, both native and migrant, can be seen around Harris and Lewis, and one of the best places to start is on the ferry crossing from the mainland when gannets, guillemots and shearwaters can regularly be seen. In late spring there are also puffins, especially on the crossing from Uig to Tarbert as the breeding colonies on the Shiant Islands and Eilean Glas come to sea to feed. The common seabird species of fulmar, kittiwake, shag and a range of gulls breed all around the cliffs of both Harris and Lewis and can easily be observed at close quarters at Dun Eistean and on Tolsta Head. Here there are also great and arctic skuas who may mob anyone straying too near to their nests.

Sea ducks, such as the common scoter, velvet scoter and the majestic long-tailed duck, can be seen in the sheltered bays of the west coast in early spring, a time when many inland lochs are home to a pairs of red-breasted mergansers. Many species, such as the waders that congregate on the saltings at Taobh Tuath, can be viewed from the comfort of a car. Seeing others, such as the red-necked phalarope (that only breeds on the Loch na Muilne reserve near Arnol in West Lewis) and the white-billed diver (most often found on the sea off Port Sgiogarstaigh near the Butt of Lewis in late spring) involves both a walk and a great deal of patience.