Showing posts with label Western Isles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Western Isles. Show all posts

Sunday 31 December 2023

Pick of the year 2023 - part two 

The Western Isles

This the second of three summary posts of my trip to Scotland in 2023. As I mentioned in the previous post and repeat here, I had to do so much in the field that I seldom had time to upload posts to the Blog. So, now that it is the year's end, I have managed to organise and edit all the photographs I took during the year. This post, and the other two, illustrate some of the wildplaces I visited and wildlife I saw in Scotland in May and June. It was a wonderful trip and I covered so much ground, I can't cover everything here. 

Please browse through the pics below and join in my explorations. I haven't given away most of the locations, although I will share the one above which is of Heb Pods where I stayed for part of the trip, overlooking the Uig Sands on the Isle of Lewis. Lovely accomodation in a wonderful setting. 

Click on any of the photos to open them larger and follow the other photos as they link up.

  




























Saturday 12 October 2019

Western Isles textures


This is a follow on from the previous post, showing some detail of the islands of Lewis, Harris, Berneray and North Uist. I've not added any captions, the pictures speak for themselves. If you are inspired to go and visit the islands, please just go and explore, and find your own little details. It is much more fun than following selfie trails.

Find you own life.

   

   

 

 

   

 



     

   

   

   

   

A yellow flag to finish - a symbol of island summer.
 

Sunday 6 October 2019

Hebridean Reflections



This is a set of photographs taken during a couple of weeks I took out in the Western Isles last summer. I have only now had time to go through the shots as I have been in the field non-stop since. Now that I am back in Canberra I am busy monitoring the Tawny Frogmouths in my study area. It is ironic that I seem to upload fewer posts when I am busy out studying wildlife.


This is on the Atlantic shore of Lewis, the wild side, with big waves and a rough coastline.


Dry stone walls, over a metre thick were infilled with turf to isolate the inhabitants from the wild Atlantic wind.


The islands are still clean and rich in wildlife, such a pleasant refuge from so much worldwide human filth and destruction.


The only sounds were the soft sis of the wind through the grass and the distant sis of the waves rolling sand up and down the beach below.


What a site the iron age builders chose for this magnificent stronghold. Location, location, location.


Even older than Dun Carloway, these stones were erected in the Bronze Age. The site they stand on in the quiet western moors of Lewis is so atmospheric with views for miles and miles -  the more famous Stonehenge is surrounded by busy cross-country roads. Location, location.


This was once one the quietest beaches in Harris, but now it is covered by footprints. I went there late in the evening to avoid the heavy traffic out to the end of the twisting single track road during the day.

Loch Mharaig, north Harris.

A quite sheltered inlet of the larger Loch Seaforth. Who once lived in that cottage, was anyone ever born there? Island life has changed, has always changed and will always change.


I have been to this spot many a time and seen it in all types of weather; snow, wind, rain and sunshine, but even I had to stop and take one more photograph this day. The light was so stunning.


Sheep are a vital part of life in the Western Isles, their wool is made into Harris Tweed. And the sheep gates are part of island life too. I will upload a set of photographs of the variety of sheep gates on my ByMyEy blog site soon.


There are scores of islands in the Western Isles archipelago, so boats and ferries are a necessary part of island life. And a great way to see wildlife.


Many of the islands are mere skerries, and a multitude of rocks hide below the surface. So, the ferry takes a long meandering course through the maze, providing me with great views of terns, gannets and guillemots fishing, seals lying up on the rocks and an otter scampering over a skerry.


Open skies, seascapes and miles of open hill to roam over. A true wild place.


These hills, moors and lochs provide habitat for thriving populations of golden eagles, white-tailed sea-eagles, hen harriers, short-eared owls, red-throated divers and otters.


Generations of islanders' remains lie beneath these rows of lichen-clad headstones. A high wall surrounds the ground to keep the sheep out and the grassy sward is speckled with wild flowers. Skylarks fill the air.


The beaches on the eastern, sheltered side, of the islands are calm, shallow-pitched and they form good habitat for waders, such as ringed plover, which nest up between the spring tide-line and the soft machair, the rich sand-based grasslands of the islands.


There were hooded crows nesting on the ramparts; lapwing, redshank, ringed plover, curlew and oystercatcher all had chicks hiding in the grasses and sedges, and a corncrake was calling from the iris beds.


Grey and common seals swim here and lie up on the rocks at low tide. Otters swim by too.

The trill of oystercatchers is the morning chorus.

Thank you Al and Jo for your wonderful hospitality.