Bird of Prey Trail - Sound of Barra Ferry

About

Location 12

Here golden eagles can be seen close to sea level. They are often seen hanging in the updrafts over the slopes at the southern tip of Eriskay. On the approach to Barra, look out for golden eagle, white-tailed eagle and peregrine around the larger islands.

A pod of bottlenose dolphins regularly hunts through the Sound and the area is an important breeding ground for common seals. Seals are often seen hauled out, basking on the rocks and skerries near the ferry terminal on Barra.

Divers and sea duck congregate in the Sound during winter. In spring and summer gannets, arctic terns, fulmar and other seabirds are a common sight from the ferry, along with resident cormorants, shags, and black guillemots. Look out for ‘feeding frenzies’ where large numbers of seabirds gather to feed.  This often occurs when dolphins or whales drive shoals of fish to the water’s surface.

When to Visit?

The eagle species are present throughout the year

Other Wildlife

This crossing is good for seabirds and divers. A pod of bottlenose dolphins are sometimes seen from the ferry

How to get there?

The Sound of Harris ferry is the passenger and car ferry that provides the connection between South Uist (Eriskay) and Barra. The ferry operates daily with a journey time of 40 minutes. The timetable can be found at here.