Coastal Birds in the Outer Hebrides

Spotting seabirds in the Outer Hebrides is a popular pastime for those enjoying birding holidays in the Western Isles.

The indented shoreline around our islands is home to many Outer Hebrides coastal birds, which depend on this rich island habitat where land and seas meet. There are opportunities to spot common Outer Hebrides seabird species and Western Isles waders all year round, making our islands a popular choice for birdwatching breaks in Scotland.

During the winter many birds move to the coast from their breeding grounds inland and further North – making the birding in the Scottish islands a great choice of holiday for ornithologists. Visitors can spot Scottish seabirds including Heron, Shag, Cormorant, Red-breasted Merganser, and Greylag Geese around the coasts of our islands.

Trying to find places to watch wading birds in the Western Isles? Large flocks can be found along the beaches and mudflats. High tide is the best time to watch waders in the Outer Hebrides as the incoming waters push them further up the shore. Beaches where large quantities of seaweed are washed ashore are some of the best places to see wading birds in Scotland, as the rotting vegetation provides food and shelter for many prey species.

Sanderling, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Purple Sandpiper, Redshank, Oystercatcher and Curlew are some of the Outer Hebrides seabird species you can expect to see.

There are also opportunities to see offshore diving ducks, with Eider and Long-tailed Ducks gathering around our islands. Other common offshore birds in the Outer Hebrides include Red-throated, Black-throated and Great-Northern Divers. Birdwatching from ferries in the Western Isles (through the Sound of Harris and the Sound of Barra) provide great opportunities to spot divers and ducks in Scotland.

Spring and autumn are the best times to spot migrating birds in the Outer Hebrides with large numbers of seabirds passing up and down the coasts of our islands on their way to and from northern breeding grounds and wintering grounds to the south.

These are both exciting birding seasons in the Outer Hebrides when almost anything can turn-up but the highlights of spring and autumn birding in the Western Isles include the passage of Skuas offshore and the flocks of geese and whooper swans passing overhead. Visit in the spring and summer to see the Outer Hebrides seabird breeding colonies of terns and gulls, which be found scattered along the coastline on headlands, beaches, islands and sand dunes.

Although most breeding colonies are found offshore they will travel long distances to feed and birdwatchers can often see seabirds in the Western Isles from the shore.

Spot Gannets in the Outer Hebrides as they make their spectacular dives after fish and keep eyes open for Black Guillemot, Guillemot, Puffin, Razorbill and Fulmars, as all are common island birds. 

The headlands of Tiumpan Head and the Butt of Lewis are particularly good areas for seabird watching in the Outer Hebrides.