Rate birdingplace Monach Isles
Description
The Monach Isles have been uninhabited since 1948. The largest islands are 2 km in length and total area at high tide 348 hectares. At low tide the 3 main islands are interconnected. In autumn up to 10,000 grey seals come ashore to pup and mate. Basking sharks and cetaceans occasionally pass by. The main vegetation is machair, a mix of grasses and 200 wildflower species growing on fertile calcareous shell sand.
In the absence of cliffs, Northern Fulmar breed on the sand dunes. Other breeders here are Dunlin, Common Redshank, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Eurasian Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Common Snipe, Arctic Tern and Common Ringed Plover. There are no trees, so the herons breed in abandoned buildings. Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Peregrine Falcon and Barn Owl are occasional visitors, and a large flock of Barnacle Goose spends the winter here.
Details
Access
Boat trips run from Grimsey in North Uist, or direct from Oban.
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