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Bird of Prey Trail - Loch Stiapabhat

Lionel, Ness, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, HS2 0XB

Type:Bird of Prey Trail

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White-tailed Sea Eagle © Laurie Campbell
  • White-tailed Sea Eagle © Laurie Campbell
  • Common Buzzard © Laurie Campbell
  • Peregrine © Laurie Campbell

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About

Location 1

Loch Stiapabhat is the Outer Hebrides only Local Nature Reserve, located at the Northern tip of Lewis. This area is bustling with birds throughout the year, but is particularly busy during spring and autumn migration when the birds on the reserve change daily as they stop to rest, feed and then move on. This activity attracts regular visits from hunting peregrine, white-tailed eagle, merlin and hen harrier in addition to the resident buzzards.

A new hide (The Nature Observatory) was opened in spring 2014. This hide is just a few hundred metres from the road and is situated at the edge of the loch with an excellent view over the loch, and surrounding wetland and croftland.

When to visit?

The numbers of birds of prey visiting the reserve is greatest during the winter half of the year when they have left their breeding grounds and are attracted by the large flocks of birds that congregate at Loch Stiapabhat.

Spotting Tip

Alarm calling birds and flocks suddenly taking off or rapidly changing direction are all signs that a bird of prey is about.

Other wildlife

This is a great place to watch migrating birds as they continually arrive and depart, moving north in the Spring and south in the Autumn. Perched on the North Western edge of Europe, Loch Stiapabhat often attracts rare vagrants that have become disorientated or blown off course. During the spring and summer the displays of waders and the unmistakable rasping call of the corncrake can be heard from the hide.

How to get there?

The reserve is accessed from the B8013 and is signposted from the A857 at Lionel just before it reaches the Port of Nes

 

Map & Directions

TripAdvisor

Opening Times

Open all year (1 Jan 2024 - 31 Dec 2024)

What's Nearby

  1. Loch Stiapabhat bird reserve and hide to watch golden plover, Lapwing, whooper swans,…

    0.2 miles away
  2. Tall, slim stems with pale blue flowers

    0.64 miles away
  3. The ancient church of St Moluag sits in a crofter's field.

    0.67 miles away
  1. St Moluag’s Church is a 12th century Temple, said to have been built by the son of a…

    0.7 miles away
  2. Traigh Shanndaigh (Eoropie beach) is a beautiful sandy beach in the north of Lewis, near…

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  3. Low/medium annual flowering plant with White/Mauve flowers

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  4. Based in Ness on the Isle of Lewis, Taigh Dhonnchaidh offers musical and cultural…

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  5. The working studio of this contemporary Scottish artist, warmly welcomes visitors.…

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  6. Small, working studio gallery above the beach and harbour at Port of Ness on the Isle of…

    0.78 miles away
  7. Port Nis (Port of Ness) is in the parish of Ness, the most northerly parish in Lewis.

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  8. Photograph © David Wilson

    The boathouse at the harbour in Port of Ness is the scene…

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  9. Dùn Èistean is traditionally known as the stronghold of the Clan Morrison. Archaeological…

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  10. The largest shark seen in the waters around the Outer Hebrides.

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  11. A small cove accessed on the road to the Butt of Lewis lighthouse.

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  12. Adabrock Weaving company produces a Contemporary Hebridean Tweed. Taking inspiration from…

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  13. Adabroc was based on the fictious village "Crobost", where Fin was born and brought up.

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