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Outer Hebrides

The main, populated islands are: Baleshare, Barra, Benbecula, Berneray, Eriskay, Flodaigh, Fraoch-eilean, Great Bernera, Grimsay, Lewis and Harris, North Uist, Scalpay, South Uist, and Vatersay.

The books are arranged by publication date with the most recent at the top of the page.

Scotland

Scotland

For books that cover regions of Scotland see:

Argyll
Ayrshire
Borders
Central Valley
Dumfries & Galloway
Fair Isle
Fife
Grampian
Highland
Inner Hebrides
Orkney
Outer Hebrides
Shetland

Light and Flight: A Hebridean Wildlife and Landscape Sketchbook

Philip Snow

2006

"From the cliffs of the Butt of Lewis to the granite outpost of Ailsa Craig, Philip Snow has captured in his stunning watercolours the whole coastline of the Hebrides. His studies of birds are the product of a lifetime of observation in the field. Most of his pictures come with field notes and anecdotes that transport the reader to the world of soaring eagles and rasping corncrakes. No other book has presented the rich wildlife of the islands so intimately and with such skill."

The Outer Hebrides, Vol. 2: Moor and Machair

Stewart Angus

2001

"This second volume [of a 3 volume series] deals with terrestrial habitats, plants, birds and animals, including the machair, the unique floriferous grassland of the Atlantic seaboard of the islands."

Birdwatching In The Outer Hebrides

Peter Cunningham, Tim Dix and Philip Snow

1995

A guide to birdwatching sites on the Outer Hebrides.

Checklist Of The Birds Of The Western Isles

Peter Cunningham

1991

Annotated checklist of over 300 species recorded on the main Western Isles.

Birds Of The Outer Hebrides

Peter Cunningham

2nd edition

1990

The status and distribution of the 286 species recorded on the island of the Outer Hebrides.

The Hebrides

J. M. Boyd & I. L. Boyd

Collins

1990

"In a style at once both readable and informative the Drs. J. M. and I. L. Boyd cover every aspect of the islands. Starting with a clear explanation of the geology, climate and hydrography, they move on to a fascinating description of the many varies habitats, from the sea and inland waters through to woodlands and moor and hill. Part II deals with the characteristics of individual islands and their species, while in part III the islands are discussed in the context of their relation to people - starting with the old naturalists, and ending on a topical note with the current interest in conservation."

Islands in the Sound: Wildlife in the Hebrides

Alison Johnson

Gollancz

1989

"Attempting to capture the atmosphere of the Western Isles, this Hebridean wildlife diary is a sequel to Alison Johnson's first book, "A House by the Shore". The book describes the seascape, a home for the seals and sea birds of this wild region, and is illustrated by wildlife artist John Busby."

Birds of North Rona and Sula Sgeir

S. Benn, S. Murray and M. Tasker

1989

A Curlew in the Foreground: An RSPB warden's summer on North Uist

Philip Coxon

1988

"When the author arrives on the island to warden the RSPB reserve for the season, he is at first repelled and then enhanced by the watery horizontals of the landscape, the unpredictability of the climate and the distinctive island community of the crofters. With growing enthusiasm he explores the western beaches where thousands of waders pick among sand worms and deep-sea kelps left by the huge Atlantic seas; rare migrants come storm-blown to find rest and shelter on the rocky headlands. The marshes, hub of the nature reserve, a complex pattern of rush and reed, lagoons and its iris beds harbouring wildfowl secretly breeding in its colourful tangle; and the haunting island moors, stronghold of the island's golden eagles who bring out a fiercely protective instinct when their nest sites are threatened. Peat-cutting on the moors and corn stacking during golden harvest days are a welcome involvement with traditional island agriculture where corncrakes and crofters, skylarks and sowers co-exist in unique harmony. In an atmospheric evocation of the island, its close knit community of crofters and its abundant wildlife,the author defines its quintessential qualities, and shares with us a summer idyll."

Birds Of The Outer Hebrides

Peter Cunningham

1st edition

1983

The status and distribution of all species recorded on the island of the Outer Hebrides.

The Natural Environment Of The Outer Hebrides

Editor: J. Morton Boyd

1979

The World of an Island

Philip Coxon

1977

Describes life (and birds) on North Uist. Philip Coxon was an RSPB warden on North Uist in the 1970s.

The Naturalist In The Hebrides

Derrick Knowlton

1977

180 pages with b/w photographs and maps.

A Vertebrate Fauna Of The Outer Hebrides

J.A. Harvie-Brown and T.E. Buckley

1888

The Birds Of The West Of Scotland Including The Outer Hebrides

Robert Gray

Thomas Murray & Son, Glasgow

1871

From the preface:

"Since the publication of the respective works of Sir William Jardine, Professor Macgillivray, and Mr Selby, nothing in a collected form on the Birds of Scotland has been brought under the notice of ornithologists. Many useful and interesting papers have no doubt appeared through various channels, but even the best of these have been restricted within comparatively narrow limits, so that a field, such as that chosen for the title of this volume, may be said to have been hitherto almost unoccupied. It is now upwards of twenty years since I formed the design of collecting materials for such a work, and during that interval it may safely be said that no exertions have been spared to make these materials serve a useful purpose. I have personally visited nearly every locality mentioned, for the express object of acquiring reliable information, and have made myself practically familiar with the birds whose names are catalogued in these pages. Having, besides, repeatedly traversed the entire coast line of Scotland, as well as rambled over the greater portion of the inland counties and their woodland and moorland solitudes, unusual facilities have been afforded me of renewing my observations on the habits of species, and on the various phases of bird life seen from observatories so varied as our country presents. No part of Great Britain, indeed, is more inviting to the ornithologist than the western mainland of Scotland and its island dependencies their mountains and rugged headlands being still frequented by eagles and lordly peregrines; their inland waters and lone sea shores visited by the stately swan; and their peaceful glens and viii PREFACE. brawling rivers enlivened by the presence of many interesting birds long since driven from the meres and sunburnt plains of the south."