THE BOOK
"A glorious little gem"
AMAZON
LOCATION
1. Pool Roag (NG275435) is a small area of intertidal mudflat. Though rarely containing large numbers of birds it is a good place to see Shelduck. It also picks up waders on migration including Knot, Black and Bar Tailed Godwits, Greenshank and Dunlin. Easily viewed from the access road from Roag village to Ardroag.
2. Loch Dunvegan (NG250470) normally provides a selection of common waders and wildfowl. Eider breed on the islands opposite the castle and there are normally a few pairs of Shelduck.
3. Loch Suardal (NG240510) is a bit of a gem. Use the car as a hide. There are invariably Whoopers in winter. Over the years it has picked up a number of scarce wildfowl including Garganey and Green Winged Teal, so check everything thoroughly. Nearby Loch Corterach is good for Goldeneye.
4. Claigan and the Coral Beaches (NG233540). The fields at Claigan often contain good flocks of Barnacle Geese which spend most of the winter on the nearby island of Isay. The walk to the Coral Beaches and Groban na Sgeire is always worthwhile with the chance of picking up Turnstone and Ringed Plover on the shoreline, as well as Great Northern Diver, Eider and Black Guillemot in the sea.
"A book such as this has to look backwards and the author does so succinctly, looking at the work of several of the pioneering naturalists before picking out the publications of JA Harvie-Brown and the Rev. Hugh Macpherson. I know this book fills a real gap in the information available for the Isle of Skye and it will surely sell well at local bookshops."
Andrew Currie Miscellany West Highland Free Press
"A total of 238 species have been recorded, with 14 of those 'red listed' as of high conservation concern ... another innovation has been the inclusion of Gaelic names for some birds. While this is not uncommon in a few other books, the addition of some regional Gaelic names is very unusual and very welcome."
Ray Collier Country Diary 'Up in the Skye' The Guardian
"Illustrated with beautiful photographs of current birdlife on the island, the publication also features sketches by Jean Thomas of The Little Gallery, Portnalong, stimulating the reader's interest further and allowing them to identify species they encounter on Skye."
The Hebridean
