Birds
Cruising around the Inner and Outer Hebrides provides ample opportunity to witness a huge variety of bird species. Whether you’re a beginner or expert birdwatcher you’ll be sure to have encounters unique to sailing with Hebridean Adventures. Each holiday is tailored to encompass some of the most biodiverse areas in the UK with opportunities to anchor in some very remote and beautiful areas, where you are surrounded by nature. The Hjlalmar Bjørge is an excellent vessel to take wildlife photography from. With high and low platforms we aim to get you close to nature whilst being ethical and considerate to the animal, all the while you’ll be able to capture some unique photos and film.
Birds of Prey
With steep rugged cliffs, vast moorlands and ancient woodlands, the Western Isles is arguably the best area in the UK for seeing raptors. The UK’s largest bird of prey, the White-tailed Eagle, despite rare, is a regular sighting on our cruises. Often nesting near the coast, they can be seen perched on rocks or flying above. Seeing the aptly named ‘flying barn door’ is an unforgettable experience. Second only to the White-tailed is the Golden Eagle. Usually soaring very high you may be lucky enough to see their mating display where they stoop and fall with great speed to impress their potential mate.
One of the birding highlights is surely seeing Hen Harriers gliding above the moors and grasslands. The male boasting a stunning grey plumage, flying like a ghost looking for prey. Occupying the same area are Short-eared Owls, a day flying owl that is very graceful and if you are lucky you may witness their wing-clapping display. Peregrines, Buzzards, Merlin and Sparrowhawks can also be seen across many islands. Mull, Skye, Uists, Jura, Rum, Canna, Harris and Lewis are some of the best areas to see large numbers of raptors.
Seabird colonies
It wouldn’t be the Hebrides without immense seabird colonies. Many of our trips visit remote breeding colonies which are very difficult to see other than from a live-aboard cruise. A particular favourite of our guests is the dramatic Shiants but we also sail to the Flannans, Barrahead, Sula Sgeir, North Rona, the Stacs at Boreray, St Kilda and Mingulay. Another favourite anchorage and landing is the Monarchs with their fabulous but vulnerable Arctic Tern colonies.
Each colony offers so much variety, with breeding Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Petrels (both Leaches and Storm), Gannets, Fulmars, Kittiwakes, Black Guillemots and Shags. Imagine sitting on deck on a peaceful overnight anchorage off the Shiants, with the sights and sounds (and smells!) of the seabirds bustling back and forth to their nests.
Out at Sea
Whilst cruising over open waters the high, flat platforms of the Hjalmar Bjørge offer the perfect vantage point for bringing our guests closer to the action. Our crossings of the Minch sail right through the heart of the spring and autumn passage of skuas, divers, shearwaters and petrels. The seas between Skye and the Small Isles and around Ardnamurchan Point can also be very good for spotting seabirds gliding over the water.
The Minch also offers excellent opportunities for encounters with seabirds such as Gannets, Manx Shearwaters, Puffins, Guillemots and Razorbills, all making feeding forays in these rich waters. We also have regular sightings of Arctic and Great Skuas following the boat before inevitably diverting to mob other unsuspecting seabirds. On migration, we’ve even caught up with the rarer Long-tailed and Pomarine Skuas, both in their breeding finery. No matter where we sail you’ll be sure to see a wealth of seabirds beside the boat.
Terrestrial Species
Our unique island Machair – fertile grassy plains – hosts significant numbers of waders such as Dunlin, Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Snipe, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Golden Plover and Corncrakes. Curlew and Twite are other scarce breeding birds which thrive in this low intensive farming regime. The evocative calls of these waders drifting over the water to our quiet anchorage is an unforgettable experience.
Whilst walking throughout these remote islands you can be sure to spot an array of passerines flying, singing and calling. You may even glimpse some of the scarcer bird species such as Crossbills, Ring Ouzel, Pied Flycatchers, Redstarts and more.
