Hebridean Birdlife

The west coast of Scotland and the Treshnish Isles in particular is a birdwatcher’s paradise with an abundance of seabirds to spot. The usual cast of puffins, auks, razorbills, gannets, guillemots, shags, fulmars, shearwaters and storm petrels are often seen, but if you are lucky, you may spot rarer birds like a white tailed sea eagle, golden eagle, black throated diver or red throated diver.

Puffins

During the summer the comical puffins come ashore from the open ocean to Staffa and the Treshnish Isles to breed and we get a good chance on our shore visits to get very close to these amazing little birds as well as see them diving into the water and return with a mouthful of sand eels. Not many people know that the puffins only have their distinctive colourful bills during the breeding season. Read more…

Gannets

Gannets, Britain’s largest seabird, fly from colonies on St Kilda and Ailsa Craig to feed in these rich fishing grounds and always put on an exciting show, especially in large numbers, as they dive into the water from great heights to catch fish. Read more…

Guillemots

By far the biggest gathering of one species is the colony of guillemots at Harp Rock on Lunga in the Treshnish Isles. As many as 5000 guillemots are crammed onto this inaccessible rock rearing their chicks (jumplings). When they are ready, the jumplings leave the nest and are looked after by the males for 4-6 weeks. Read more…

Sea Eagles

Off the coast of Mull is a great place to spot the magnificent white tailed sea eagles. When these huge birds of prey aren’t soaring on the thermals, we sometimes see the spectacular sight of them swooping down to the surface and grabbing fish with their talons which is always spectacular and a real thrill to watch. Read more…

Corncrake

The Isle of Iona is one of the best places in Scotland to see the endangered corncrake as the hay and silage fields and also iris beds supply lots of cover for this rare and elusive bird which unfortunately is in decline. Because Iona is one of the few corncrake strongholds in the UK, birdwatchers (twitchers) come from all over the country to see the bird and hear its distinctive crex crex call, usually between May and June. Read more…