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Broadford Bay

Skye  >  United Kingdom

An important site for waders and waterfowl, this is the best birding place on the Isle of Skye.

Adicionado* por Jalal Khan
Ultima atualização 4 dezembro 2022

Descrição

Skye has always been known for its beautiful landscapes and coastline, making it a popular tourist destination, but it’s often overlooked by birders in favour of other parts of Scotland. However, this Inner Hebridean island has a lot to offer in terms of bird life, including a quarter of Scotland’s recently-reintroduced Águia-rabalva population, as well as Águia-real.

Broadford Bay may not be the best spot for eagles but they are occasionally seen here and can turn up anywhere on the island. What this site does have is a variety of waders and waterfowl, particularly on passage and in winter. The intertidal zone may not be wide but the bay provides a rich feeding ground that is sheltered from south-westerly winds. Migrants get funnelled into this area, especially in autumn, and although there are rarely large numbers of birds in the bay, the rate of turnover is high.

The waders that can be seen here include Seixoeira, Maçarico-de-bico-direito, Fuselo, Borrelho-grande-de-coleira, Tarambola-cinzenta, Pilrito-escuro, Maçarico-galego and Maçarico-real. Eider-edredão can be seen year-round and other wildfowl records include Zarro-bastardo, Pato-de-cauda-afilada, Pato-fusco, Ganso-de-faces-negras and Cisne-bravo. Mobêlha-pequena are resident. A few Mergulhão-de-pescoço-castanho winter here, plus Mobêlha-grande and the scarcer Mobêlha-árctica. The nearby area of Lusa is the best place to see the latter, as well as wintering Torda-anã. Also, Ganso-patola, Skuas, Terns and Arau-d'asa-branca can be seen offshore.

In the moorland and wooded areas around the coast, keep an eye out for resident Pintarroxo-de-bico-amarelo which flock together in winter, plus other migrating passerines. Ashaig is one of the better areas to look for them. The inlets and islands around Ardnish and Ashaig are also good for waders and gulls. However, the best place to get close views of waders is in the south-east corner of the bay at Harrapool, where you can park at the Hebridean Inn and use your car as a hide.

There's potential for vagrants and scarce migrants such as Felosa-bilistada so it's worth checking the woodland near the cemetery and the hospital on the west side of the bay. Rare gulls may turn up in this area, particularly around the mouth of the Broadford River, including Gaivota-hiperbórea and Gaivota-polar. One of the more oustanding records for the bay was a Perna-amarela-pequeno in the autumn of 2018.

Detalhes

Acesso

​​Broadford Bay is on the north side of the A87, the main road going from the Skye Bridge to Portree. It is best explored both by car and on foot and can be watched from several different points including the Co-op car park at the west end and the Hebridean Inn car park at the east end.

Ardnish is best accessed from the end of Waterloo Road or from Lower Breakish. You can even wade over to Ardnish from Ashaig at low tide. Ashaig is easily accessed with ample parking at the cemetery, by turning off the A87 on the opposite side to the Ashaig Campsite. There is a coastal walk from Ashaig going east to Lusa, the best spot in the area for seawatching.

Terreno e Habitat

Floresta , Zonas húmidas , Rio , Mar , Lamaçais , Cidade/Vila

Condições

Paisagem aberta

Caminho circular

Não

é útil um telescópio?

Pode ser útil

Boa temporada de observação de aves

Primavera , Inverno , Outono

Melhor hora para visitar

Outono , Migração de outono

Rota

Estrada pavimentada , Caminho largo , Estrada não pavimentada

Caminho dificil

Fácil

Acessível por

Abrigo/plataforma deobservação de aves

Não

Ligações

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