Uist: Outer Isles Birding Expedition: 24th-28th August 2026:
24th - Day 1
We all met at the Mallaig ferry terminal and started with the ferry trip to Lochboisdale. We
were greeted by lots of Common Dolphins before even leaving the harbour: Around the small
isles we saw more Dolphins, Harbour Porpoise and 2 Minke Whales as well as Auks,
Gannets, Kittiwakes and Manx Shearwaters. Red Deer were on the hills of Rum. Nearing
Lochboisdale we found more Gannets, along with Fulmars, 2 Great and 2 Arctic Skua, a few
Storm Petrels and a single Sooty Shearwater.
Onto dry land after grabbing some lunch we headed to the beach for lunch before going over
to Eriskay where we enjoyed the wildflowers landscapes and a wander on the beach.
Slowly working our way north along the west side of South Uist, we saw a couple of Ringtail
Hen Harriers, 4 Ruff, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank, lots of Sanderling, Ringed Plover
and Turnstone and Bar-tailed Godwits before reaching the hotel for night 1.
25th - Day 2
To start the day we had a male Hen Harrier on the roadside grassland before heading to the
military range on South Uist - finding 11 Juv Black-tailed Godwits and a nice flock of Golden
Plover, before we watched a Merlin chasing and failing to catch a Starling. Enroute to the
next stop we had another ringtail Hen Harrier, Snipe, Shoveler and Wigeon.
Next we had a fantastic wader spectacle at Ardivachar with hundreds of Bar-tailed Godwits
including a Norwegian ringed bird, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Knot and lots of Sanderlings,
Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Turnstone, Eider and a Red-throated Diver, before all the
waders lifted and a Merlin swooped in and chased a Starling, dramatically the pair turned
right for us in pursuit low over grass to within feet of us before lifting over the van! We heard
the rush from their wings!
Onto Benbecula we added Coot, Moorhen and Little Grebe to the trip list. Over lunch a
Hummingbird Hawkmoth was nectaring on the Sow Thistle. A nice beach walk saw us finding
lots of Sea Gooseberries! Onto North Uist after lunch where we saw another R-T Diver,
Greenshank, Black Guillemot, distant Hen Harrier, Red Deer and our first W-T Eagle of the
trip, a huge subadult perched up on a rock sunning itself!
Heading back south we had another flyover W-T Eagle and a Whimbrel in a high tide roost
on the way back to the hotel. An evening “Owl Prowl” was a success with lovely views of a
Short-eared Owl and some Red Deer at dusk.
26th - Day 3
We headed to North Uist for the day, coastal grassland habitats produced Gadwall, Teal,
Shoveler, Wigeon, 7 Black-tailed Godwits, and Snipe impressively perched on a shed roof!
Onto the next grassland and pools we had a family party of 2ad4juv Whooper Swans, a UK
rare breeder! Along with the unusual sight of a Collared Dove nesting on a road sign!
Before getting to Balranald we had brief views of W-T Eagle, before a great perched up view
of a Merlin on a telegraph pole! At Balranald we enjoyed the grassland Machair whilst
watching the Starling flocks, 8 Black-tailed Godwits and quartering Juvenile Hen Harrier,
before Theo picked up a Quail singing in the nearby fields!
After a fantastic seafood shack lunch we headed over to Berneray and saw 6 W-T Eagle - 2
perched adults and 4 immature birds before heading out to the expansive west beach for a
paddle. A Hen Harrier thermalled over the dunes and 32 Common Scoter, 55 Eider, 1
Red-throated and 2 Great-northern Divers were offshore. Heading back south from Berneray,Theo spotted a distinctive ripple in the water and 20secs later an Otter popped up! We
watched it for a while out fishing before the midges ate us alive.. Further down we had some
distant Red Deer Stags whilst a Golden Eagle was briefly over the high ground.
Back to moorland areas to finish the day we had a perched W-T Eagle and another flying by
plus a Sparrowhawk tangling with 2 Kestrels.
27th - Day 3
Back out to South Uist, we had Shoveler, Wigeon and Teal on Loch Bi and out on the military
range, Golden Plover and a perched up subadult W-T Eagle. Heading for coastal areas we
had a Short Eared Owl close to the road quartering before perching up on a rock, and further
down we had an Immature W-T Eagle perched on a big rock, great atmospheric views!
We had lovely close views of a large flock of Dunlin chattering away, mostly juveniles fresh in
from further north.
Back to Ardivachar for a scan through the waders, there had been an increase in Dunlin
numbers which paid off as Theo spotted a rare American vagrant wader, an adult
White-rumped Sandpiper which showed well feeding in the rocks through the scope! On a
beach wander we found lots of Seashore Springtails and lots more waders until they all flew
as a Peregrine flew over.
Lunch was next before heading to the east coast in search of Eagles. A coastal spot
delivered not 1 but 2 separate Otters foraging along the shoreline. We watched a couple of
Black Darter and a Common Hawker on the moorland. Over a cup of tea we saw 2 distant
W-T Eagles and a soaring Golden Eagle over the high peaks, before heading for home
spotting a final pair of W-T Eagles flying away from us over the moorland.
28th: Last day
An early start today heading for the ferry crossing back to Mallaig.
A quieter crossing this time with less seabirds, all the usuals plus a couple of Storm Petrels
and Arctic Skuas. Plus a couple of Harbour Porpoise and 2 Minke Whales.
Arriving at Mallaig we said our goodbyes after a great trip!
Comments