Hen Harrier

21st July 2011

This has been the best year for breeding success for some years with 5 successful nests in the north Skye study area fledging at least 14 young. Four nests failed early in the season and again predation by foxes remains a problem with an adult female killed on a nest and the young chicks taken. At another site two chicks near fledging were killed by a fox but luckily one of the brood managed to survive. It appears to have been an exceptional year for voles and this may have contributed to the breeding success. Outwith the study area a pair bred in Strathaird for the first time in 10 years but unfortunately failed early. More promisingly a pair successfully fledged two young in Lochalsh. As far as can be established this is the first time breeding has been recorded in Lochalsh.

THE BOOK

"A glorious little gem"

AMAZON

"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