The Western Isles ~ Hebridean Adventure

Our passage from Oban, along the Sound of Mull and out across the Sea of The Hebrides to South Uist, was as smooth as silk with many seabirds along the way, including Manx Shearwaters, Gannets, Great and Arctic Skuas (dark phase), Kittiwakes, Arctic Terns, Puffins, Razorbills and Common and Black Guillemots. Back on land, the treeless landscape of the Western Isles is ideal habitat for the Short-eared Owl, and so there it was on our arrival at the Isle of Benbecula House Hotel, hunting the rough grass just across the road.

This magical straw-coloured bird became a regular feature during breakfast and dinner each day. While millions down south suffered the pouring rain of a typical bank holiday weekend depression, we happy few enjoyed basking day after day in 18 hours of brilliant sunshine, thanks to a big blue cloudless sky, with amber sunsets shortly after 10pm.