Birdwatching in Ness, Isle of Lewis.
There is amazing birdwatching in the area, from Arctic Terns to Skuas (get ready to duck), Dunlin, Redshank... and if you're very lucky, the corncrake.
I saw a lovely sight near the beach the other day, a heron flying in the sand dunes.
A heron at Tràigh Shanndaidh, Ness.
There are few trees in the area, and certainly not many tall ones, so it would be interesting to find out where the bird was nesting. I’ve heard they like peace and quiet, which maybe explains why, whenever I see one, there’s an accompanying peace.
There are some places in Ness I like to go to regularly to see certain birds.
Dùn Èistean is a short walk from the main road in Knockaird. I like to go there to see the Arctic Terns which nest there. The sky is full of them in the summer and you can see all the way up the coast to the lighthouse. A perfect spot to see the sunset.
Dùn Èistean itself is really interesting, an inter-tidal island which was a Morrison Clan stronghold. There’s also evidence of Iron Age activity. Although the bridge is currently not passable, you can still get a good view from the edge of the channel separating the island from ‘the mainland’ of Lewis.
If you are feeling brave, you can visit the skuas on the moor between Ness and Tolsta, where they nest. Or should I say, they will visit you. If you stray too close, they make their presence known and they don’t mess about.
In front of the house in the summer, the sky is full at times of gannets diving. The nearest gannetry, Sùlaisgeir, is around seventy nautical miles away. It's nice to go down to the pier at Port of Ness to get closer to the spectacle.
And there is always Loch Stiapabhat, a small loch near Eoropie (and relatively, the Butt of Lewis). It’s just a few minutes by car from the house. It’s a Site of Specific Scientific Interest and was designated a Local Nature Reserve in 2005 – the only one in the Wetern Isles, which is saying something.
Near the loch, there’s an observatory/bird hide. A lot of birds stop here for a feed, it’s on the main flyway to and from the Arctic. Whooper Swans and Pink-footed Geese. There's also Dunlin, Redshank and one of my favourites, the Lapwing, or curracag in Gaelic.
I do have another favourite, as well as all the birds I’ve mentioned here. I was at Teampall Mholuaidh, St Muluag’s Church on the evening I saw the heron. And I heard, very close, a corncrake. The real sound of Summer. Crex crex.
To get a proper insight into the wealth of birdwatching opportunities in the Hebrides (and see what actual experts say about it), this is a great site - www.outerhebridesbirds.org.uk