Lewis Trip Report Day 4

The weather forecast for Tuesday on Lewis was to be rain rain rain followed by more rain.  We therefore decided to head to the east coast to Stornoway first thing in the morning before the rain hit there.  First port of call was the causeway which separates the Eye Peninsula from the rest of the Island.  Branahuie Banks is a good area for Black Throated Diver and it was not long before we had a few in our scopes before they drifted out into the bay.

Black Throated Divers

As we were practically on the Eye Peninsula, we thought we would carry on as far as Tiupan Head for a spot of seawatching.  En route, we scanned Loch Ant-Siumpain and found a Slavonian Grebe in with the Tufted Ducks, a great photo opportunity.

Slavonian Grebe

The sea off Tiupan Head was pretty dead, so we then decided to head back west towards the Aird Uig area on the otherside of the Island, which we had been informed was very underwatched, wild and picturesque.  Well, after a long car journey, during which we were battered by the wind and the rain, we turned onto the Aird Uig road and to be honest were not that enthralled, although I am sure it would be fantastic in the sunshine.  As the option to go for a walk was out of the question due to the lashing rain, we decided to drive to the end of the road towards the village of Aird Uig.  Upon reaching the village, we turned round and drove back out again.  We found the place to be run down, with rusting cars and minibuses parked up by the side of the road and prefabricated functional one storey houses with huge square chimneys.  The village itself was the site of an RAF base and full details about it can be found by clicking this link.

Sandwich Tern

The rain continued to fall and we therefore decided to take shelter in a local cafe, which also served as a Museum, Heritage Centre, Primary School and Community Centre.  After a cup of coffee and a mammoth bacon, egg and black pudding roll, we headed out again into the elements.  We decided to take the circular road round Nisa Mhor, as the map showed that the area held sandy beaches.  In a break from the rain, we took a look on one of the beaches at Traigh na Beirigh which proved to be very productive in giving us some more Black Throated Divers, a Red Throated Diver, rafts of Eider, Sanderlings, Dunlin and a Sandwich Tern.

The rest of the day proved to continue to be a wash-out, so we headed back to the house and over the course of the evening consumed some quantities of alcohol, while playing cards.